installing Win 7 over a Vista

[RoWin7]

I'm about to wipe a Vista computer completely with a new Win 7 Ult SP1 disc, not an upgrade version, that I bought it some time ago. The Vista was given to me, and it has better hardware than this one(see my sig,) but there's nothing on the HD to save.

I've read through this tute:
Clean Install Windows 7
It tells about doing it on a version prior to Vista. Is that different from doing it on Vista? Are there are any caveats before I begin? I'm afraid of turning my machine into an expensive doorstop.

 

[townsbg]

It doesn't really matter what OS is on it if you want to do a clean install. In fact since you are on Vista you can do an upgrade as long as you use the same edition (32-bit or 64-bit). I have never heard of a Windows clean install physically damaging hardware. Worst case scenario the install messes up and you have to do it again.

You do need to make sure that you have all of the drivers from the manufactuer's website preferably for 7 however I have had Vista drivers work on 7.

 

[RoWin7]

Thanks. I don't know how to do an upgrade. I've been putting it off for many months. Will report back if this goes well... or if it doesn't.

The original owner's husband passworded himself as the only admin long ago. I can't install my usual driver-saver program, WinDriverBackup. How would I save the drivers?

 

[SIW2]

export drivers to a FOLDER on usb/external hard drive using dism++.

Boot up this media. Open dism++ ( it is on the desktop - ignore what it says about less than 5gb space - that is only required if you are doing a full update session).

17514x86.iso

17514x64-v8.iso

Clcik on the windows partition displayed along the top of dism++.

Click Open Session

Click Drivers in the left pane.Tick them.

Click Export.

Piece of cake.

Alternatively:

Go to manufactureres website and download the drivers from there. Get the drivers before installing

 

[RoWin7]

I can't install Dism++ or any program. Can I run it without installing it?

 

[SIW2]

Boot up the boot media I linked to.

It includes dism++

 

[SIW2]

I have just tested - dism++ does not do driver servicing on Vista. It is for win7 and newer. ( I think earlier versions of dism++ used to )

I will include another driver tool in upcoming boot media.

 

[SIW2]

Included drivergrabber and doubledriver

17514x64-v9.iso

 

[RoWin7]

So your angry bird face is just a mask?

 

[RoWin7]

I know it's an avatar.

SIW2--what does doubledriver do?

I'm waiting till I have a lot of time to do the install.

 

[SIW2]

SIW2--what does doubledriver do?

Point it at your windows folder and it can back up the third party drivers.

What did you think it was for?

 

[RoWin7]

Didn't know.

 

[RoWin7]

I forgot to mention. I'm on a tight budget. The 7 disc with product key is 64, but the Vista machine is 32. Will it install? I don't care if it runs at 32, because most of my programs run at both 32 and 64, and it's only my secondary computer.

 

[SIW2]

Product key works with either bit version.

Most hardware will support 64 bit.

Alternatively, you can use that product key with 32 bit installation media.

 

[RoWin7]

I've been waiting for a break in my work, so I actually got started today. I tried opening 17514x86.iso and the 64 one, and Vista says it can't open it. The owners never installed any zip file openers, in fact nothing except a few games. Is there a built-in zip opener in Vista?

 

[SIW2]

Why do you want to "open" it?

It can be burned as an image to create a bootable cd/dvd. That requires an image burner
free one:
Free ISO Burner

Or extracted to create a bootable stick using rufus or similar
Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

17514x86.iso is repair media. It is not installation media.

 

[RoWin7]

I don't know how to back up the drivers except while in the OS. Won't the bootable CD be working in DOS? I can't figure out how to use these files anyway.

I managed to install WinDriverBackup, my preferred program. I backed up to the flashdrive. Thanks for your help. Ready to boot from the CD, using the tutorial here.

 

[RoWin7]

Sigh... the BIOS is set to boot first from the CD, but it won't. It was the iso you gave me a month ago, so it should be good.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi RoWin7,

Sigh... the BIOS is set to boot first from the CD, but it won't. It was the iso you gave me a month ago, so it should be good.

Are you saying that it boots directly into the OS after you have inserted the CD/DVD and then switched the computer on, even though it is set to boot from the CD/DVD first?

Have you tried inserting the CD/DVD and switching on the computer, pressing F12 [I can't remember what it is for you computer] to get into the boot menu, and then selecting the CD/DVD?

Does it give any errors, like BootMgr is missing?

I hope this helps!

 

[RoWin7]

No errors. I already checked the Boot Up Sequence in the BIOS. Someone gave me that computer. They're clueless and usually just throw their computers out if anything goes wrong, so I don't know if it has hardware issues. It eventually got past the boot last night, and Windows started installing, then stopped and said it couldn't install. And I'm leaving the whole thing right there. I don't have the time.