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Re-Installing Vista

  • 19-02-2009 10:28am
    #1
    peustace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 331 ✭✭


    Hi guys,
    I've been looking to do a dual partition between Vista and Ubuntu. Unfortunately I'm having problems resizing my hard drive to create a second partition for the Ubuntu OS. From the Ubuntu forums I've been instructed to format the hard drive and reinstall Vista thus creating the partition for Ubuntu in the process.

    I got my laptop a couple of months back but it never came with a Vista CD. What's my best options besides buying a Vista disk costing over 100 euros to reinstall after formatting..
    Thanks


Comments

  • #2
    EKRIUQ
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,387 ✭✭✭EKRIUQ


    The vista re-install could be installed in a partition, what make of laptop is it?


  • #3
    peustace
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 331 ✭✭peustace


    Yeah there is a partition on the hard drive and its a recovery drive (Drive D)... so could I format partition C and install from partition D?


  • #4
    EKRIUQ
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,387 ✭✭✭EKRIUQ


    Yes but, Make sure to save any thing of value to you on cds/dvds. Then just follow on screen prompts and that's it.


  • #5
    An Fear Aniar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,377 ✭✭✭An Fear Aniar


    If you're not familiar with partitioning, you could try the Wubi installer, it does all the hard work for you.

    http://wubi-installer.org/

    You can uninstall Ubuntu from Windows afterwards if you don't like it.


    .


  • #6
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,786 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    peustace wrote: »
    Yeah there is a partition on the hard drive and its a recovery drive (Drive D)... so could I format partition C and install from partition D?



    AFAIK you won't be able to create a smaller C: partition then reinstall Vista from the recovery partition. I've tried this quite a few times and found that the recovery process will wipe any partitions you put on it and create a single C: drive. The computer will be rebuilt back to factory settings, just as if you took out from the box. Bear this in mind if you ever want to recover Vista after you've installed Ubuntu.

    You say you have problems resizing C:, sometimes Disk Manager in Vista won't allow you shrink the C: volume too much. Have you tried using diskpart.exe?


    Before you go any further I strongly recommend you first create some recovery dvds from your computer if you haven't done so already. Then backup your system or at least your files.

    Don't rely on the Recovery Partition (D:\), its grand so long as the hard disk is intact, however if the hd goes tits-up then you'll need recovery discs to reinstall Vista.

    Some brands supply recovery discs, some don't (as in your situation). There should be a utility installed which allows you create them; usually you need 2 DVDs, one for the OS and another for any apps and utilities installed by the OEM.

    You can only make one set of discs so keep them safe. If you lose or damage them then you will need to scrounge discs from another machine of same brand and model family. You can't use discs from other OEMs because Vista won't activate (digital cert won't match the one required by laptop's SLIP BIOS).


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