How to Reinstall Your Vista Laptop
Reinstalling an operating system is never ideal, but often it is the last resort if a computer becomes overrun with viruses or bogged down with too many old files. Reinstalling Windows Vista to your laptop is a fairly easy process using your original Vista installation CD. Remember to back up all of your data before reinstalling; the process wipes your hard drive clean.
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Instructions
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Insert the Vista installation disc into your laptop. Select "Run setup" from the dialog box that appears.
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Select "Install now" from the installation screen. If Vista's User Account Control warnings pop-up, select "Allow" to proceed with the process.
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Select "Go online to get the latest updates" when given the option. This will download the software updates that have been released since you purchased your copy of Vista.
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Enter the product key when you are prompted. There should be a sticker on the underside of your laptop containing your product key; if not, it will be on the packaging for your Vista installation CD. After entering your product key, accept the End Use License Agreement.
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Select "Custom" and select your C: drive as the installation destination and select "Next." You will be warned that a copy of Windows already exists on this drive; select OK." Select "Next" to begin the installation.
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Enter an administrator name and password when prompted (after the computer has reset a few times). Your computer will then boot into your fresh Vista installation.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have one, back up your important data to an external hard drive.
After installation, eject your Vista CD and keep it somewhere safe in case you have to reinstall again.
