reformatting windows vista

[Guest]

hey
basically my problem is this i downloaded the beta version of photoshop
onto my computer and i liked it so i went out and bought the program. Tried
to install it (after the beta version had expired) and was told that it
couldnt install. i tried all of photoshops requests to use a cleaner and
clear out the registry and all that and it seemed to work. Only problem is
that the insallation will load and then close. I feel that the only way to
completely clear my system of this stupid beta version is to reformat my
computer. Since ive never reformatted windows vista before im a little scared
that i might stuff it up. I've noticed when ive reformatted windows xp in the
past it requires you to install the audio seperatley. Is this the same with
windows vista? or does it recognise your sound card and your speakers? I just
wanted to know whether i should get it off the place i got my computer or
whether its not a huge drama. thanks in advance

 

[Saucy]

hey
basically my problem is this i downloaded the beta version of
photoshop
onto my computer and i liked it so i went out and bought the program.
Tried
to install it (after the beta version had expired) and was told that it
couldnt install. i tried all of photoshops requests to use a cleaner and
clear out the registry and all that and it seemed to work. Only problem is
that the insallation will load and then close. I feel that the only way to
completely clear my system of this stupid beta version is to reformat my
computer. Since ive never reformatted windows vista before im a little
scared
that i might stuff it up. I've noticed when ive reformatted windows xp in
the
past it requires you to install the audio seperatley. Is this the same
with
windows vista? or does it recognise your sound card and your speakers? I
just
wanted to know whether i should get it off the place i got my computer or
whether its not a huge drama. thanks in advance

Yes, there is the distinct possibility that you will have to 'manually'
install at least some drivers. Collect the drivers you might need beforehand
and burn them to a CD-R or some such. Vista recognizes a lot of drivers and
Windows Update even more, but that doesn't preclude your possibly having to
install some.

Saucy

 

[Guest]

In vista it loads the drivers by itself. BUT your sound will not work until
you do the windows updates. They should download in the first batch of
downloads.

But, if you want, you can save the windows/inf, system, sysem32 and help
files and that will contain all of the drivers.

 

[Guest]

hey thanks for both replies. another question how do i get to those locations
the windows/inf, system sysem 32? I got given 3 cd's when i got the computer
4 including the windows vista cd but the 3 others are Winfast 3d Graphics
Series, A Microsoft intelliType (which im pretty sure is the keyboard cd) and
AsRock Intel-Via are any of those the audio cds? I've reinstalled a Windows
vista upgrade before without too much trouble and the audio was indeed
discovered when it was installing the updates so i didnt know how different a
complete reformation was to merely an upgrade.

One other thing i've noticed in some other threads when i had a look around
people were talking about issues with reactivation and that got me worried
because i didnt want to complete the refomation and not be able to activate
it. Does it really happen? or are people just scared and they dont know what
to do?

All in all is refomatting vista any different to reformatting xp? i feel
stupid for asking so many questions but ive only had vista for a few months
(as has everyone else) and i wanted to reformat it now but i also think its
handy information to have in the future as well. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Guest]

Those are folders in the windows folder.

the file paths are:

C:\WINDOWS\INF (this one is hidden, you will have to show hidden files)
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
C:\WINDOWS\System32
C:\WINDOWS\HELP

Just copy those four files to a cd and you will be set. But I am pretty
sure that vista will get them by itself, but AFTER you run windows updates.
I have formatted 3 vista machines (Basic, Premium and Ultimate) and have not
loaded a single driver yet.

 

[Guest]

I have not had trouble re activating. Actually the thing that Microsoft
claims that vista can not be activated on a new Mother Board has been
discreditted. I have replaced the motherboards a time or two with no
trouble. And since it will be on the same computer I see no reason you
should have a problem

 

[Guest]

thankyou so very much...but one more question is it like reformatting xp? or
is it easier then reformatting xp or is it like installing the update?

 

[Guest]

thanks so much for the reply it's helped me a lot. one more question is
reformatting vista the same or slightly easier then reformatting xp? because
i've heard that it's meant to be slightly easier or is it pretty much the
same thing?

 

[Iuvenalis]

hey
basically my problem is this i downloaded the beta version of
photoshop
onto my computer and i liked it so i went out and bought the program.
Tried
to install it (after the beta version had expired) and was told that it
couldnt install. i tried all of photoshops requests to use a cleaner and
clear out the registry and all that and it seemed to work. Only problem is
that the insallation will load and then close. I feel that the only way to
completely clear my system of this stupid beta version is to reformat my
computer. Since ive never reformatted windows vista before im a little
scared
that i might stuff it up. I've noticed when ive reformatted windows xp in
the
past it requires you to install the audio seperatley. Is this the same
with
windows vista? or does it recognise your sound card and your speakers? I
just
wanted to know whether i should get it off the place i got my computer or
whether its not a huge drama. thanks in advance

Formatting your hard disk shouldn't be necessary.
Have you looked at any photoshop user forums for advice to see if this is a
common problem?
What cleaners have you used for the registry?
All too often tech supports will advise you to format as it's the easy
option for them & it is very seldom necessary.

 

[Michael Solomon]

hey
basically my problem is this i downloaded the beta version of
photoshop
onto my computer and i liked it so i went out and bought the program.
Tried
to install it (after the beta version had expired) and was told that it
couldnt install. i tried all of photoshops requests to use a cleaner and
clear out the registry and all that and it seemed to work. Only problem is
that the insallation will load and then close. I feel that the only way to
completely clear my system of this stupid beta version is to reformat my
computer. Since ive never reformatted windows vista before im a little
scared
that i might stuff it up. I've noticed when ive reformatted windows xp in
the
past it requires you to install the audio seperatley. Is this the same
with
windows vista? or does it recognise your sound card and your speakers? I
just
wanted to know whether i should get it off the place i got my computer or
whether its not a huge drama. thanks in advance

Bluestone, if Vista has the drivers for your soundcard, it will install them
automatically and that's the same as XP. Apparently XP didn't have drivers
for your soundcard. These are the responsibility of the card manufacturer
and it is up to the manufacturer to have supplied them for inclusion in the
OS.

This is the same for Vista. You should check the soundcard manufacturer's
website for the latest Vista compatible drivers for your card. That way, if
Vista doesn't have the drivers, you can install the drivers from the
manufacturer's website.

You don't need to do anything with the inf system or help system as was
suggested in this thread. The Vista sound subsystem has been changed in
Vista and you'll need Vista compatible drivers for your card. Assuming your
card manufacturer has Vista Compatible drivers, install those drivers if
drivers are not installed automatically by Vista. If your card manufacturer
is not supporting your card in Vista, no such drivers likely exist and you
will need to consider purchasing a Vista Compatible card or one that is
being supported by its manufacturer in Vista with Vista compatible drivers.
You'll need to check manufacturer websites for that information.