Re-installing Vista Problem

[Alex92]

My problem happened yesterday when I went to re-install Vista on my computer
in an attempt to wipe the drive.

I inserted the Windows Vista installation DVD into my computer, followed the
instructions and then clicked the 'Custom' button on the menu which said I
could start a clean copy of Vista, or something like that. So I did this and
it asked where I wanted to do this, I selected the /C disk partition (I think
it's called). After about 20 minutes it finished and when the computer
restarted everything was deleted and wiped as I expected but I could not
connect to the internet. This is what I didn't expect. I have a broadband
connection wired into my computer (not WiFi) so I saw no reason it should
have terminated my connection or something, but Internet Explorer said to
make sure that Work Offline wasn't checked, which it was. I unchecked it but
when I did a menu appeared that asked for a username and password. I'm not
sure which username and password it means. I understand everything is erased
but I just want to be able to connect to the internet again. Also I'd like to
note that the software (games, etc.) fail during there installation. I am at
a loss of what to do and any help is appreciated.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you are unable to access the Internet and IE is requesting a user name
and password then you need to type in the user name and password allocated
for you by your broadband ISP.

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John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Alex92]

I checked my Device Manager and the network driver is not present. I found a
folder naned ''Windows.old'' and it contains all the programs, etc. from
before I attempted to re-install Vista. I am wondering if there is some hope
of restoring my computer to its original state since there is a folder with
everything there, as this was a big, stressful, and fatal mistake it seems.
So, is anything recoverable?

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If you have 'windows.old' folders you actually installed Vista over the top
of the original copy and reverting it can, unfortunately, be just, if not
more, stressful (see this link: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=933168 ).
What type of Vista media are you using, a full retail copy (in other words
you purchased Vista yourself from a store) or one supplied pre-installed by
the manufacturer? The best option, with a retail copy of Vista, would have
been to do a 'clean' install. Doing it this way you would have reformatted
the hard drive and got rid of all the vista files. Take a look at this link
from my website: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_vista.htm


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--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..