Okay, in this tut I am going to explain how to install an OS. Vista, this time (with pics).
We're starting by Step 1:
Insert your Windows Vista DVD into your DVD capable drive. If needed, restart or if you don't want to lose any data/you have XP and Vista Upgrade version don't. This will be explained later.
Now, when it appears "Press a key to boot from DVD..", press until a screen like this appears:
Click Install Now.
Wait for the DVD to copy the required files to the memory. This may take a minute.
A screen like this will appear. Though this is for the Service Pack 1, the view is the same. Click Next through the license screens and now you may get yourself a CD Key screen.
Get your Windows Vista box, and in the back the number must be there. Write it to the field over there; as the Setup Program says, dashes will be added automatically. Click Next. Now choose between Upgrade and Clean. Upgrade can only be done on Desktop, click Clean for now.
One of the most difficult parts now, the hard drive choose and formatting. When the part of the setup appears like this:
Select your Hard Drive and click next IF you want to keep your data and let the Install create a Windows.Old folder with the previous installation. This folder can only be accessed by you.
OR
Go on Drive Options (Advanced) and click FORMAT. This process will ERASE ALL YOUR DATA FROM THE HARD DRIVE. BE SURE TO MAKE BACKUPS OF EVERYTHING IT'S USEFUL FOR YOU. Then yes, click Next.
Rightio. Now you have to wait until it installs Windows Vista, depending of your system specs, it can take up to 45 minutes or an hour. In today's PC's it may take around mid-hour.
Your PC will be restarted periodically until it finishes. There you will be able to
Choose an username, password and pic.
Choose your wireless or internet connection if any.
And finish! If you have a graphics card that Windows Vista automatically supports, Aero and special effects will be activated automatically and so will drivers. If your PC came with CD's for drivers, it's time to pop em out and install!
If Vista doesn't get your Graphics card drivers for Aero, here are a couple of links:
ATi: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ (Also for Motherboards that have it)
nVidia: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us (Also for Motherboards that have it)
SiS: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ (Also for Motherboards that have it (chipset))
ASUS: http://www.asus.com/support (Also for Motherboards that have it)
Sound cards (Most common):
Realtek: http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/
Now, to upgrade, it's exactly the same but you have to start the setup straight from an upgradeable version (XP) and do the same steps until the Clean or Upgrade part. Click Upgrade and do exactly the same, this way you don't lose your data but incompatibilities are always welcome unfortunately!
Hope it helped, questions, just ask here!
