How to Install Windows Vista

Comprehensive Guide to How to Install Windows Vista

How to Install Windows Vista – Introduction

There are four main versions of Windows Vista and this guide covers how to install Windows Vista in any of these variants.

If you are building a new PC then you can purchase an OEM version of Windows Vista.

You will find this a much cheaper alternative to the full retail version, the only difference being the lack of telephone or any technical support.
Mountains of support is available on the internet for any problem you are likely to come up against though and unless you really want to pay for this we would strongly recommend that you stick with the OEM version.
We would also recommend that you avoid the Vista ‘Home Basic’ version due to its lack of features and recommend the ‘Home Premium’ version as the most suitable for home users.
The ‘Home Premium’ option gives the best features verses price trade off.
The other thing to consider is whether to opt for the 32 bit or 64 bit version. If you have a 64 bit processor installed in your PC then you will most likely want to purchase the 64 bit version to ensure you make full use of the extra performance available to you. A 64 bit processor and operating system will also allow you to access RAM above 4GB.
Do be aware though that some of your software may not be 64 bit compatible and it is worth checking this out before deciding.
Ok, so you are probably going to opt for the OEM version but remember that the OEM version will not come with a pretty box or manual although you will save a truckload of money over the retail version.
If you are constructing a new PC then you will already be performing a clean installation but if you are simply upgrading or re-installing we would still always recommend a clean installation of Windows Vista rather than an upgrade or re-install over your current Windows XP or Vista installation.
Any problems you may have with your current installation may still be there after you re-install / upgrade and some applications may not work correctly requiring you to re-install these anyway.
A clean installation will require that you back up all your files and folders as a clean install will wipe your hard drive of everything including your settings and programs.
You can make use of Windows Easy Transfer (available from the Microsoft site) to help you with this. Windows Easy Transfer will help you to copy your data together with your program settings, email, photos etc to an external hard drive, USB drive or on to a DVD. Note that this is provided to help you migrate your files and settings from a Windows XP setup to a new Windows Vista installation.
Even with this facility available to you do please ensure that you have separately backed up any documents photos and music files etc that you simply cannot afford to lose to a safe medium that you are sure you can restore from. See our page on Data Backup to avoid any potential disasters. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Installation

Ok, so here is our OEM Windows Vista package ready for installation. 

On the back of the box is your ‘Product Key’, don’t loose this you will need it during installation and if you need to re-install.You can boot directly from your Windows Vista DVD. Insert the Vista Installation DVD into your optical drive and the installation should begin.
Note that you may need to enter your PC BIOS to change the order of boot devices if you are upgrading from XP or re-installing otherwise your PC may simply start up with your current version of Windows.
BIOS can be accessed at start up by pressing the Del, F1, F2 or ESC key dependant upon your BIOS version and manufacturer.
You should now see the following screen on your monitor; you will need to select your Language, Time and Currency format and Keyboard Country.

Now hit ‘Next’ and you will be presented with a screen inviting you to ‘Install Now’.

The next screen will ask you to enter your ‘Product Key’. Enter and tick the activate Windows automatically option if you want Windows to activate itself when you go online for the first time.

Now you have an option of ‘Upgrade’ or ‘Custom (advanced)’. The ‘Upgrade’ option is grayed out as we have bought an OEM installation disk that is for installation on a new PC only and performs a ‘Clean’ installation on your hard drive. 

The next screen asks you where you wish to install your copy of Windows Vista. We only have one option as we have a brand new hard disk drive. Hit next and wait while Vista installs itself on your brand new drive. 

Note that if you are installing on and old drive with data already on it you will get the option to install on one of the logical drives (maybe more than one logical drive if the drive has been partitioned). There will also be options available to allow you to format the drive thus erasing all of the data on it or to create, delete or expand partitions etc.By the way, to make a clean installation over an old one there is no need to delete or format the drive first. Windows will move the older version to a folder called windows.old thus preserving your data for access later if you should wish. Note though that this version of Windows will then no longer be bootable.

After a long wait you will be greeted with a screen inviting you to ‘Choose a user name and picture’. There is a password option but if the PC is purely for family use you may not require this. 

Hit ‘Next’ again and you will be asked to give your computer a name and desktop background. This name will be used for identifying the PC if it is connected to a network for instance. 

The next screen gives you three different security options. The choice is yours. Most people should go for option one and use recommended settings. We will choose option two and ‘Install important updates for Windows only’ as we will be installing our own Internet Security software and do not wish to report problems to Microsoft. 

You now have the option to set date and time but you shouldn’t need to do this as you have probably already set this up in the BIOS. 

Tick the ‘Automatically adjust clock’If your computer is connected to a network the Windows Vista installation program will detect this and ask you to select the type of network, Home, Work or Public. 

Click the ‘Start Button’You should now be greeted with a welcome screen and you’re all done! 

How to Install Windows Vista – Setting up your New Computer

Your new computer is up and running but there is a number of things that you need to do before you can put your PC to good use. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Drivers

First off we need to install the correct drivers for the motherboard, graphics card etc.Windows Vista will scan your system to see what hardware you have installed and then install the relevant drivers for these drivers. If it recognises your hardware correctly then this shouldn’t be a problem, but driver updates are pretty frequent and also depending upon what you have bought, you may not have the correct versions of drivers i.e. it may be a Windows 98 or XP driver that has been supplied on your disk and this will not work with Windows Vista.
The best advice is to see if you can go to the motherboard, graphics card etc manufacturer web site and then search for your model number. When you get to the details for your device there should be an option to download the latest drivers for your particular operating system. Download these and burn to a disk or copy to a USB stick ready for installation on your new PC.
To confirm that all of your drivers have been installed correctly go to ‘Start’ > ‘Control Panel’ > ‘System and Maintenance’ > ‘Hardware’ > ‘Device Manager’.
You will now be shown a list of all of your installed hardware devices. Click on the ‘+’ sign next to each item of hardware to see full details and look for any yellow exclamation marks that would indicate if the driver is not installed or working correctly.
If you find any exclamation marks then simply double click on the device and then select ‘Driver’ where you will be given the option to update the drivers for this device. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Anti Virus Protection

Before you go anywhere on the Internet you will need to install some form of anti-virus software. The Internet is rife with Viruses, Trojans, Spyware etc and you would be surprised at how quickly your PC will become infected if you do not have any protection.We at PC Tips and Tricks use Norton Internet Security which is a package containing anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware and hacker protection all in one package.
There are other companies providing similar packages such as Kaspersky, Bit Defender, McAfee and Panda to name but a few. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Firewall

It is a sad fact that the Internet is a haven for malicious individuals who would delight in causing havoc and damage to your PC if the opportunity arose.Windows Vista comes with its own firewall protection and if you do not have another product installed providing you with protection then you should ensure that the Windows Firewall is turned on. It should automatically be on by default but it is worth checking. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Recommended Protection

Again, as stated earlier, we at www.pc-tips-and-tricks.com use Norton Internet Security, which in its latest guise provides excellent all round protection.There are also a number of free anti-virus and firewall providers available and many people have found them to give extremely good performance. A very popular firewall protection program that can be obtained for free use is Zone Alarm.
For anti-virus protection you could look at AVG Anti-Virus. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Before Connecting to the Internet

So, you have been warned! Do not connect to the internet without installing an anti-virus program and ensuring that you have a firewall set up to protect you from hackers and the like. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Internet First Stop

When you do connect to the Internet, the first thing you must do is visit Microsoft Update. Here you need to download the latest patches and updates for your operating system, especially the security updates!You can access this easily from your Start menu. Go Start > All programs > Windows Update to be taken directed straight to the Windows Update webpage.
Here you will be invited to check your PC for the latest updates. You should set your PC to allow Automatic Updates so that you are automatically kept up to date with the latest software patches and security updates. 

How to Install Windows Vista – Anti Spyware

Spyware programs install themselves silently on your PC without you realising just by paying a visit to the right (or wrong!) website.These programs will monitor your browsing habits and history and other details and report back to their user. Some programs will install automatic pop-up adverts, which will become highly annoying and disruptive to your Internet usage.
We at PC Tips and Tricks recommend the use of Spyware and advert blocking / destroying software provided by the following two companies.
Spybot Search & Destroy ( www.safer-networking.org )
Ad-aware ( www.lavasoftusa.com )
Both of these are free to use and should be used as part of your on-line protection arsenal together with your anti-virus (mandatory) and firewall (also mandatory!). 

How to Install Windows Vista – Free Software

If you intend using your PC for word processing and database etc then you will need to purchase an office suite such as Microsoft Office. This is an excellent application but can be very expensive and you may wish to consider one of the free alternatives available.An exceptionally good free office suite is available for download at www.openoffice.org.
Open Office is compatible with Microsoft Office and you will be able to open Word and Excel documents and work on them and then save in a compatible format all for free! Go on-line and look at the reviews; it really is an excellent alternative to Microsoft Office. 

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