How To Install Windows Vista

How To Install Windows Vista With the roll out of Microsoft Vista, the whole world is going to have to learn to install a new operating system. If you're like me, this is like pulling teeth. You may not want to have to navigate around the Microsoft site trying to learn what you need to know. So here's a how-to guide on installing Microsoft Vista to your old computer.

Don't worry; if you want to , you can keep Windows XP and all of the information you have stored in your computer. Here's a list of the essential materials you'll need.

Materials Needed

1. You will need the "name" of your computer.

To get your computer's name, you will need to look in the Properties section of your computer. Right-click on the My Computers icons, then click Properties. A "computer name" tab will pop up, which should contain the name.
Click the Start button (found between the "ctrl" and "alt" buttons on your computer.

2. Windows Vista installation disk.

Yes, you will need to buy the product. I'm not advocating the pirating of technology here.

3. Windows Vista product key.

This is found on the Vista installation disk at the store, or with a newly bought computer. This key is 25 characters long, containing a combination of letters and numbers.

Upgrading Your Operating System

1. Place the Windows Vista disk in the computer's CD player.

2. An "install windows" or "install windows vista" box should come up. Click on this box.

3. An "updates" box will come up. You should probably click "yes" on this box, making sure you have the latest updates. It may seem like a waste of time, but you might as well get these out of the way all at once. Otherwise, you're likely to be bombarded with updates requests until you click on them some later day.

4. An installation key box will come up. This is where you type your installation product key. Make sure you type this in, so Microsoft knows who you are and when you installed. This could be important if service issues come up later.

5. Click on the "I accept terms and conditions" box. Just a little secret; no one reads all that stuff. You could be signing your child up for boot camp, for all I know.

6. This is where you will be asked if you are wanting to upgrade your operating system. Remember to click "yes".

7. There may be other instructions which come up. Follow these, which are mostly common sense.

Clean Installation

This process should be used in three situations. One, if your computer doesn't have an operating system, use the clean installation method. Two, if you want to delete your current operating system altogether. Three, if you want to partition the operation system set-up on your computer, using Windows Vista on one or more of these partitions.

If you to keep the files and settings of your old operating system, you will need to save them and back them up. So make sure this is what you want to do before you perform a clean installation.

Alright, here's how we do it.

1. Turn on your computer. Place your installation CD in the CD player on your computer.

If your computer has no operating system, place the CD in the player and then turn on the computer. Your computer will reboot from the installation CD.

2. The Install Windows page will come up. There will be a series of simple instructions, most of which that will require you to click on "Next". Click on next. Eventually, you will be given the opportunity to click on the "Install Now" button. Click on this.

3. This bring you to the "Get Important Updates". You can either choose to get these or not. If you don't, believe me; you'll be asked to install the updates plenty of times later. I would suggest doing it now, while you have set aside "computer time".

4. You will encounter the "Product key registration" page. This is where you type in your 25 word activation key. This isn't essential, but it's always a good idea in case service issues come up later.

5. Click "I accept the license terms" button. Once again, no one ever reads through all of these, though it's probably a good idea to know what you're getting into.

6. You will be asked what kind of installation you want. This is where you click on "Custom". You will need another operating systems on your computer to perform a custom installation. If you want to do this for some reason, you'll need to purchase other operating systems.

7. You'll be asked where you want to install Windows Vista next.

Click "next" if you don't want to partition your operating system setup. Remember that this will automatically install Vista, but also remove other operating system.

You can create a partition using the multi-boot or dual boot option.

8. There may be other instructions afterwards. These are simple "next" type instructions. Simply follow these.

That's it! Windows Vista is installed an you will never need another operating system. (Yeah, right.)