Bob said:
Thanks for your response. I did as you suggested and all went well
until the end. I then got an error message "Windows could not
configure one or more system components. To install restart."
When I restarted, Vista restored my previous configuration. I
rechecked the Vista advisor program and it did not identify any
software or hardware problem. I do not have much software yet. I
disconnected USB scanner and printer. I reinstalled again with the
same results.
Any idea whether the problem is software or hardware? Any suggestion
as to what to do?
When installing any operating system it is best to disconnect non-essential
peripherals such as printer/scanners and external hard drives. Try using the
method given below and when you have successfully installed Windows you can
then plug in your peripherals one at a time. Don't rush to activate - you
have upto 30 days to do so. This should give you sufficient time to ensure
that your system is working as it should.
Clean Install
Use Vista's 'upgrade' version to clean-install.
Please remember to DISCONNECT from the internet for this whole procedure.
You may reconnect at the end of the procedure when you have completed both
installations i.e. when you have completed Step 10.
Please note that you may be required to provide storage adapter drivers for
this procedure. These can be on floppy, cd or USB flash drives.
Step 1. Boot the PC from the Vista DVD.
Step 2. Select 'Install Now', but do not enter the Product Key from the
Vista packaging. Leave the input box blank. Also, turn off the option
'Automatically activate Windows when I'm online'. In the next dialog box that
appears, confirm that you really do want to install Vista without entering a
Product Key.
Step 3. Correctly indicate the version of Vista being installed i.e. Home
Premium.
Step 4. Select the 'Custom (Advanced)' install, not the 'Upgrade' install.
Step 5. Vista copies files at length and reboots itself one or more times.
Wait for the install to complete. At this point, you might think you could
'activate' Vista, but you can't. That's because you haven't installed the
Vista upgrade yet. To do that, run the DVD's 'setup.exe' program again, but
this time from the Vista desktop. The easiest way to start setup again is to
eject and then reinsert the DVD.
Step 6. Click 'Install Now'. Select 'Do not get the latest updates for
installation'. (You can check for these updates later.)
Step 7. This time, do enter the Product Key from the Vista packaging. Once
again, turn off the option 'Automatically activate Windows when I'm online'.
Step 8. On this second install, make sure to select 'Upgrade', not 'Custom
(Advanced)'. You're not doing a clean install now, you're upgrading to Vista.
Step 9. Wait while Vista copies files and reboots itself. No user
interaction is required. Do not boot from the DVD when asked if you'd like to
do so. Instead, wait a few seconds and the setup process will continue on its
way. Some DOS-like character-mode menus will appear, but don't interact with
them. After a few seconds, the correct choice will run for you automatically.
Step 10. After you click a button labeled 'Start' in the 'Thank You' dialog
box, Vista's login screen will eventually appear. Enter the username and
password that you selected during the first install. You're done upgrading to
Vista.
Step 11. If any device(s) or device driver(s) need installing, then this is
the time to do it.
Step 12. If any further user accounts need creating, then they may be
created now.
Step 13. Within 30 days, you must 'activate' your copy of Vista or it'll
lose functionality. To activate Vista, click 'Show more details' in the
Welcome Center that automatically displays on each boot-up, then click
'Activate Windows now'. If you've dismissed the Welcome Center, access the
correct dialog box by clicking Start, Control Panel, System & Maintenance,
System.
