Installing Windows Vista

Return to Home Page |  Announcement


Vista Product:  Installing |  Ghosting |  Hardware |  Software |  Appearence |  Legacy |  Tricks |  Drivers |  Updates |  Tools

I elected to install windows Vista Home.
The code is released on a DVD rather than on a CD.

I continue to follow my earlier model for system deployment.
That is all of my operating system and applications are installed in the root partition.
Because I want to be able to Ghost this drive and quickly restore it.
All documents, music and video data are stored in their own logical drive.

Would everyone please quit bitching about Microsoft.
Windows Vista is so good and so powerful Microsoft has totally redeemed themselves.
Microsoft allows the purchaser of any version of Vista to use their code free for 90 days.
You can install Home, Business or Ultimate and try them for 90 days free of charge.
Yes an authorized copy is not free but none the less the user is given great latitude.


Important Consideration
  1. If you have Windows XP installed on your first hard drive and want to install Windows Vista on a second hard drive you must deactivate the Windows XP drive.
  2. I did this by removing the drive-in-a-drawer. You might have to unplug the data cable.
  3. Doing this will insure that the install of Windows Vista does not link to the Windows XP boot disk.
  4. That is to say both Windows XP and Windows Vista will be stand alone, each on their own bootable hard drive.
  5. The chosen Operating System then is controled from changes made to the ROM-BIOS.


Installing Vista All Versions
  1. Boot from the install DVD
  2. You will see the black and white loading files screen.
  3. Bypass the Product Key. You will use slmgr later to install the Product Key. Or the Paradox crack to bypass activation.
  4. Set the proper time zone when asked.
  5. Make adjustments to the desktop and screen resolution.
  6. Save a copy using Ghost.


Copying Your Source DVD
  • Use UltraISO to create an ISO image of the DVD on one of your hard drives.
  • Then again using UltraISO create a DVD from this image.
  • The Paradox Crack bypasses authorization so a Product Key is no longer needed.
  • To make an Iso image:
    1. Click the Make icon (6th from left).
    2. Select source (usually your DVD drive) and target (usually your largest hard drive).
    3. Click Make Button.
  • To make a bootable DVD
    1. Double click an Iso Image in bottom pane (usually on your hard drive).
    2. Click Burn Icon


Using SLMGR
  1. slmgr -ipk [Product Key] = Installs the Produck Key that came with your DVD.
  2. slmgr -ato = Activate your copy of Windows Vista.
  3. slmgr -xpr = tells you how long the current install is good for.
  4. slmgr -rearm = Extends the grace period by 30 days. This can be done only 3 times.

  5. The default keys, cannot be activated.
    They can be used as part of the crack and are the same on ALL source DVDs.
    Microsoft can not trace your "cracked" system with these product keys for that reason.


Using DISKPART to Prepare a Partition
Not since Windows 98 SE has there been a toolkit like this
More at Windows PE 2.0
  1. You may want more control over the Partition into which you will install Windows Vista.
  2. From the Product Key entry screen press Shift+F10.
  3. This will take you to a command line. Next type DISKPART.
  4. LIST DISK will show you the disks attached.
  5. SELECT DISK 0 selects the first disk.
  6. LIST PARTITION will show partitions on this disk.
  7. CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY will create a primary partition if one does not exist.
  8. LIST PARTITION will show you what you just created.
  9. SELECT PARTITION 1 will select this partition.
  10. ACTIVE will make this partition an active partition such that it is a bootable partition.
  11. FORMAT QUICK will format the partition NTFS. This is the fastest formatter I have ever seen.
  12. LIST VOLUME will show you what you have done.
  13. EXIT then another EXIT will take you back to the Vista install where you left off.