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Here is a tutorial with pictures how to install windows vista. We have wrote similar article about windows xp installation here. So let’s start about Windows Vista now.

Windows Vista setup.

In this tutorial we will use Windows Vista Retail DVD, that includes all windows vista versions. We will setup windows vista home premium version (Steps to setup windows vista are the same to all versions). Further details about each windows vista version you can read here in Microsoft Web site. In default windows vista is available only in DVD disks but there is a possibility to order setups disks in CD format.

Getting ready for windows vista home premium setup.

1. Before start windows vista installation you must make sure that you computer have minimum technical recommendations.
Processor: 800Mhz (Windows Vista Premium: 1Ghz)
RAM: 512MB (Windows Vista Premium: 1Gb)
Video card: 64MB video memory, DirectX 9 support (Windows Aero Interface: 128MB video memory, DirectX 9, Pixel Shader 2.0)
Hard disk: as minimum 15GB free space
Optical device: DVD-ROM
further details in official site

2. Make sure that all your computer parts are compatible with windows vista. You can do it using Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor. This is a free tool that will show further details about all problems that can appear if you install windows vista on your computer.

3. You need to download drivers that are for windows vista from producer’s site for all your computer’s components.

4. Make sure that you computer can start installation from optical device (DVD-ROM or DVD+/-RW). Do some changes in BIOS configuration if needed. Further details about BIOS configuration you see here
How to install Windows XP (in fourth step).

Let’s start…

Comparing with Windows Xp installation, Windows Vista installation is much easier and also faster (about 25-40 minutes). There is no need to sit at computer and all the time after some time answer to some configuration questions. WindowsVista configuration is divided in two parts: first part in installation start and second part at end.

1. Insert Windows Vista installation disk in disk drive and restart your computer. If on screen appears caption that asks to press any key to start setup press any key.
On screen will appear caption “Windows is loading files…” after that installation will starts.

2. Choose an installation language, time, currency and keyboard layout configuration. When you have selected needed configuration click NEXT to continue.

3. Setup or repair windows vista
In this installation part you must choose between Install now and Repair your computer that is provided for problems disposing with existing windows vista (for example: windows vista don’t starting or some files are damaged).
Click Install now to continue installation.

4. Type in your serial key or don’t type in anything.
After some time will appear window where you must type in your serial key and choose to enable automatic activation or not.
In contradistinction to previous windows versions there is a possibility to don’t type in serial key, you can do it later.
Click Next to continue.

4.a. If you chose to don’t type in serial key you can choose which version of windows vista install.
There will be two windows:

If you didn’t type in serial key there will be an announcement that will ask to you if you are sure about your choice and maybe you want to type in serial key.
Click NO to continue.

Than you will see a menu where you can choose windows vista version that you want to setup. Off course you must choose version that you have bought but you can choose any version in testing purpose. Remember that your serial key is only for version that you have bough, you wouldn’t use other version with your serial key.

When you have chose than select I have selected the edition of Windows that I purchased and click Next to continue.

5. Accept license.
To continue installation you must agree with Windows Vista End User License Agreement (EULA) license’s conditions. Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate un Vista Business version have different license’s conditions.
Select I accept the license terms and click Next.

6. Choose a setup type.
You can choose Upgrade or Custom (advanced) that we choose at this time. This is the only one option because upgrade is available only starting installation from windows.
Choose Custom (advanced).

7. Where you want to install windows vista?
In this step you must choose on which disk (if you have more than one) or disk part setup windows vista. If needed you can divide your disk, to do that open Drive options (advanced) section.

There is three options there:

Refresh – Refreshes disks list or changes that you did.
Load Driver – Choose this if windows vista haven’t found hard drives that are connected.
Drive options (advanced) – use if you want to divide hard disk or delete parts of it (partitions).

Delete – Deletes selected disk part.Format – Format selected disk or part of it. Formating disk all data will be deleted. You can format only in NTFS file system.New – Create new parts of disks.

Extend – Increase partition’s size.

Click Next to continue.

8. Windows installation
Start all needed file copying and windows vista is being installed.

9. Installation end.
When installation is completed you will need to do some more configuration steps.

Choose a user name and picture that will be shown when logging in

Type a computer name and choose a desktop background

Configure windows vista protection level
preferable to choose Use recommended settings

Review your time and date settings

Select your computer’s current location

Click Next to continue.

Then vista will check your computer’s performance (1-5 minutes).

Congratulations you have installed windows Vista!

What you must do after installation

Make sure that all devices works correct and if needed install drivers. If you have Internet connection vista will try to download newest drivers from Internet.

If you want to check if vista have found drivers for all your appliances open Device manager and make sure that there isn’t a yellow exclamation mark at any appliance. If there is exclamation mark at any appliance you need to setup drivers for this appliance.

You need to install antivirus as well. Windows vista already have firewall and protection from spyware and malware but windows vista hasn’t antivirus.

Here is a joke about windows vista installation: How to setup windows vista in two minutes