I wanna go back to Vista, legal.

[kneel]

Ok, this is going to be hard for me to explain...but I know you guys should be able to figure out what I'm trying to say.

I have a HP a6250t (I think). It cam with 32bit Vista Premium. Well, my little IT brother in law (at the time) thought it would be a good idea to put win7 64bit ultimate on there..

Now..I know this sounds crazy...but I don't want an illegal copy of software...I just don't. I looked for the folder that was marked "old" and it's not there. I think he completely deleted Vista.

Is there anyway possible that I can get my 32 bit Vista Home Premium back? I have a legit serial number for it..I just either need the discs or a download or something...I wouldn't even take a chance and call HP as the computer was bought in Nov.2007. I hate it cuz it's activated but I can't install some updates and I can't install and Sp1/SP2, etc.

Just be blunt...am I screwed, or is there a glimmer of hope...

I'm telling you this in hopes you won't tell on me also. I didn't want him to do this in the first place.

I'm too old to be worrying about this...lol..

thanks in advance that you can give...

oh, and all the info in my specs is correct...as far as ram, hard drive, etc.

 

[fseal]

Her is a link to official and legal Vista install disks you can download and burn. (Dell web site pointing to Digital River, MSs distribution partner)

Dell Community

You can then use your original serial number to activate.

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)



or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series -  HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

 

[AddRAM]

I'm telling you this in hopes you won't tell on me also.


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

 

[whs]

If you still have the Vista recovery partition, you can go from there. It is the easiest solution. Power on and keep tapping F11. That gets you started.

 

[SledgeDG]

Just know, that everything you didn't save elsewhere (on DVDs or external drives etc.) , is GONE when you use whs' tip with the recovery partition. It wipes the disc clean and re-installs Vista like it was the first day you got it
This machine here also came with Vista that's why I left the recovery partition alone (with HP it's usually the D: drive

-DG

 

[SIW2]

I don't imagine any of the Dell F options will still be working.

He might be able to fire up the oem recov partition - if it is still there.

If not, get some Vista install media and use your legit product key.

The snag is you will probably need some drivers for that machine - so d/l the correct bit version Vista drivers first from the manufacturers web site - burn them cd.

Then reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

Download and burn the Vista installer ISO for your licensed version to DVD using ImgBUrn at 4x speed. Then follow these steps (same for Vista) to get a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[pparks1]

Ok, this is going to be hard for me to explain...but I know you guys should be able to figure out what I'm trying to say.

I have a HP a6250t (I think). It cam with 32bit Vista Premium. Well, my little IT brother in law (at the time) thought it would be a good idea to put win7 64bit ultimate on there..

Now..I know this sounds crazy...but I don't want an illegal copy of software...I just don't. I looked for the folder that was marked "old" and it's not there. I think he completely deleted Vista.

I don't think that sounds crazy at all. With the plethora of great free software that is available, I just don't see a reason to pirate any software. If the commercial version is really that much better than the free alternatives, then in my opinion it should be worth the price. I haven't used any pirated software now in years and years and years.

 

[OldMX]

Paste a snapshot of your hard disks @ Disk Management console, maybe the recovery partition is still intact.

 

[kneel]

Soo...long story short...I'm gonna have to "buy" Vista again? If that's the case I'll just buy 7...lol...

 

[gregrocker]

Who said anything about having to buy Vista again?

You own the version of Vista which came with it for the life of the machine. You only need to find a Vista installation DVD for your licensed version to clean reinstall with Product Key on COA sticker.

If you want to buy Win7 you qualify for Upgrade version whether you have Vista installed or not.

If you have questions, ask them.

 

[fseal]

Yeah, you said you had your old licence key for Vista? You can then just use an OEM Vista install disk that matches your version (Home or Pro probably) which you can DL for free...

If you had to pay HP or Dell for the recovery disks it wouldn't me much, far less than a 7 disk.