How To Install Windows Vista?

1:Step #1: Plan your installationWhen you run the Windows Vista Setup program, you must provide information about how to install and configure the operating system. Thorough planning can make your installation of Windows Vista more efficient by helping you to avoid potential problems during installation. An understanding of the configuration options will also help to ensure that you have properly configured your system.I won't go into that part right now (I might later this month, no promises...) but here are some of the most important things you should take into consideration when planning for your Windows Vista installation:Check System RequirementsCheck Hardware and Software CompatibilityDetermine Disk Partitioning OptionsDecide on a Workgroup or Domain InstallationComplete a Pre-Installation ChecklistAfter you made sure you can go on, start the installation processStep #2: Beginning the installation processYou can install Windows Vista in several methods - all are valid and good, it all depends upon your needs and your limitations. In this manual I will focus on the simplest form of installation - directly from the Windows Vista DVD media.More on other forms of installation can be found in the Windows Vista Information, Tweaking, Tips and Tricks section.So, insert your Windows Vista DVD media into your DVD drive and reboot your computer. A black window will appear momentarily while the DVD content is read.Step #3: The GUI-based portion of the Setup programUnlike previous versions of Windows, Windows Vista does not have a noticeable text phase of the setup process, and it will boot directly into the Graphical User Interface (GUI) mode.After a few moments you will see the first prompt:Press Next unless you want to change some regional settings for the installation process.Press the Install now button.After a short delay you're be prompted to enter your product key:You can skip this part if you don't have the product key handy. if you do have a valid product key at that time (and you should have one, we're dealing with legal issues here), then by entering the right key the setup program knows which version of Vista to install.If you skip it, you'll be prompted for a Vista version that matches your product key (the one you don't have handy at that moment):You now have to accept the license terms:Next you need to press the Custom (Advanced) installation type button:The Upgrade button is disabled because this specific installation if performed on a new computer without any previous operating system on it.The next phase is to pick the installation partition. Since this computer has a new hard disk that hasn't been formatted before, you will only have the option to create a new partition on it. Had it had previous partitions on it you could have chosen to either delete them or perform other tasks. Pressing the Advanced button will bring up the following options.Since we don't need to perform any additional task we will just press on the Next button. The installation process will then create a partition on all the available disk space, and format it.The setup process will now begin to copy files from the installation DVD media to the hard disk.This will take some time:After some time (the exact amount of time will greatly depend on your computer's hardware), the setup process will install updates for the operating system.The computer will then automatically reboot.Now comes a long waiting period, where the installation process configures the system. Again, the exact amount of time will greatly depend on your computer's hardware.After the long wait, the system will then reboot once again.You will think something went wrong because of the relative long time it take the system to display anything besides the black screen, but finally, after a few moments you will note a small colored circle:A few seconds after that you will be prompted to enter a username and password for the first user on the computer.Although the setup program will let you continue without entering a password, note that it is very advisable to enter a password here, and the best option would be to choose a complex password made of at least 7 characters or more (something like P@ssw0rd or MYpa$$w0rd). Make sure you remember it.Also pick your user's display picture. This can be changed later.Pick a name for your computer. The setup program will create one based upon the username you chose in the previous step, but you can change it now (and later).Also pick a background for the user's desktop. This can be changed later.Choose what sort of protection your computer gets. The recommended settings are best for someone that doesn't plan to hide their computer behind a corporate firewall (and even then, in some cases, this would be the best option). If you plan to install a 3rd-party firewall later you can opt to be prompted later.Note that this setting will also have effect on how the computer uses the Microsoft Windows Update (Automatic Updates) features.Next comes the Time Zone settings window. Choose your location.A note for Israeli users: Finally! Windows Vista has the DST setting enabled for us!!!Done! You're prompted with the last setup screen:Again a long wait and some promotional screens you see the hourglass circling around, in preparation for the first logon.Finally, the first screen appears, you're ready to rock and roll!Note that if the computer was connected to the Internet while installing it, it will automatically download and prompt you to install any missing hotfix or update it finds for the current state of the operating system.Done!Tips & Warnings:Don't install Windows Vista on computers running Windows 2002 or older versions. Your system will not be powerful enough to run Vista and other programs smoothly.Check your computer and peripherals to make sure they will work with your new operating system by using Microsoft's "Vista Upgrade Advisor" (see Resources below). Attach all the peripherals you use to your computer when you use Microsoft's advisor.To upgrade Vista, slide the Vista disk into the appropriate drive. Follow the on-screen instructions after selecting the "Standard Installation" option on the menu. Most of the information on your computer will transfer into the Vista program. You will need to provide your activation code, register the software and answer a few questions during the upgrade.You will lose everything on your hard drive during a "clean installation" of Windows Vista, so back up your files. You should back up your files on any upgrade just in case things don't go as planned.Windows Vista recommended system requirements:Home Basic:1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor512 MB of system memory20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available spaceSupport for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memoryDVD-ROM driveAudio OutputInternet access (fees may apply)Additional requirementsActual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and edition of Windows Vista will run on your computer.While all editions of Windows Vista can support multiple core CPUs, only Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise can support dual processors.Home Premium / Business / Ultimate:1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor1 GB of system memory40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available spaceSupport for DirectX 9 graphics with:WDDM Driver128 MB of graphics memory (minimum)Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware32 bits per pixelDVD-ROM driveAudio OutputInternet access (fees may apply)Additional requirementsActual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration. Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor can help you determine which features and edition of Windows Vista will run on your computer.While all editions of Windows Vista can support multiple core CPUs, only Windows Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise can support dual processors.Home Premium / UltimateTV tuner card required for TV functionality (compatible remote control optional).Home Premium / Business / UltimateWindows Tablet and Touch Technology requires a Tablet PC or a touch screen.UltimateWindows BitLocker Drive Encryption requires a USB Flash Drive and a system with a TPM 1.2 chip.Windows Vista minimum supported system requirementsHome Basic / Home Premium / Business / Ultimate800 MHz processor and 512 MB of system memory20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available spaceSupport for Super VGA graphicsCD-ROM drive2:Step 1 - Place Windows Vista DVD in your dvd-rom drive and start your PC. Windows Vista will start to boot up and you will get the following progress bar.Step 2 - The next screen allows you to setup your language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method. Choose your required settings and click next to continue.Step 3 - The next screen allows you to install or repair Windows Vista. Since we are doing a fresh install we will click on "install now".Step 4 - You can now type the product key that came with your Windows vista.Step 5 - If you do not enter the product key you can still proceed with the installation in which case Windows will ask you which version of Vista you have purchased. Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, Business etc. Select the version you have purchased and click next.Please note, although you can select any version of Windows and proceed to next stage. It is not good idea to select a different version to the one you have purchased becuase you will not be able to activate Windows at a later stage. Windows Vista can detect which version you have purchased once you enter your product key.Step 6 - Tick "I accept the licence terms" and press next.Step 7 - Choose the type of installation you want to perform. You will notice that upgrade option is disabled as we have booted from the DVD-R. Therefore we can only select Custom (advanced) option which basicly installs a clean copy of Windows from scratch.Step 8 - Choose where you would like to install Windows Vista. If you have a new upartitioned hard drive you would get your hard drive listed as shown on the image below. If have have an old hard drive with data or other partitions it will show up as logical drives. You can select the drive options (advaced) to format, delete, or create new partions. Because I am using a single new hard drive i will select next to continue. Windows will create a partition and format it using NTFS files system.Step 9 - Windows starts the installation process and starts copying all the necessary files to your hard drive as shown on the image below. It will go through various stages of the setup and will reboot your system few times. When your PC reboots it attempts to boot from CD as its the first boot device. Do not press any key during the boot prompt so Windows Vista will continue with the installation by booting from your hard drive.Step 10 - After installation copy process is complete you are presented with the Setup Windows dialogue box as show below. At this stage you need to choose a user name, password and a picture for your user account. The account you create here is the Administrator account which is the main account for your Windows Vista that has all the privilages. Click next continue.Step 11 - Now you need to choose your computer name and desktop background. Click next to continue.Step 12 - Choose wether your want to Help protect Windows automatically. Select "Use recommened settings" to continue.Step 13 - Review your time and date settings. Select your time zone, correct the date and time and click next to continue.Next screen presents you to select your computers current location. You can choose between home, work, public location. Choose home to continue. You will finally get a "Thank you" screen which confirms the end of the interactive installation process. This is not the end of the setup process. There are still many after installation configuration to be done. Click next to continue.Step 14 - Windows now runs a benchmark type of application which checks the performance of your system. You will see a status bar at bottom which shows the progress. Once the process is complete you will be presented with the logon screen.Step 15 - Finally you have the logon screen. Just type your password and press enter or click on the arrow to logon to Windows Vista for the first time.Step 16 - Soon as you logon you will be presented with welcome centre. You can use the welcome centre to configure, customise, and update Windows vista.Step 17 - Finally you need to check if all your hardware has been detected correctly. You can do so by checking your device manager. To access device manager click Start menu -> Control panel -> System -> Device manager. You will see all your hardware listed as shown below. You need to check if you have any yellow exclamtion marks next to the name of the device similar to "USB 10/100 LAN" on image below. This indicates the driver has not been installed for this device.At this stage you need to install Windows Vista drivers by double clicking on "USB 10/100 LAN" or your device. The properties dialog box will appear. Click on Reinstall Driver. Then you can choose wether you want to install the driver from the internet (if available) or install manually from a CD or other mediaOnce you have removed all the yellow exclamtion marks from the device manager your Windows Vista configuration would be fully complete.3:Minimum System RequirementsHome Premium, Business, Ultimate Processor: 1GHz (32 or 64 bit)System Memory (RAM): 1GBHard Drive: 40GB with 15GB available for Vista Video Card: 128MB Memory, DirectX 9 Support DVD-ROM DriveInstalling WindowsInsert your Windows Vista DVD and restart your computer. Your computer must be configured to boot from the DVD drive first. You may need to configure your computer's BIOS to boot priority to boot from the CD or DVD drive first. Please refer to your motherboard's User Manual for instructions on how to do this. If you are using an Asus motherboard, you can also continually tap F8 during startup until the machine gives you the 'BBS' or 'Boot Device Selection Menu'. In this menu, select the drive which has the DVD in it and press enter.You may see a "Press any key to boot from CD..." message on your screen. This message will only be present for a few seconds. Press a key. Once your computer boots to the DVD, the setup process will begin.Select your language, Time and Currency format, and Keyboard or Input method, and hit "Next"Click "Install Now"Type your product key that came with your copy of Vista. (Note: Your Product key is located on a label on the back or bottom of your computer. It is also available on your Puget Systems Invoice.)You must accept the terms of the End User License Agreement (EULA) before you can install Windows Vista.Choose whether you are upgrading from a previous Windows installation to Windows Vista. If you are installing a fresh installation of Windows Vista, select the Custom option.Setup will copy files to your hard drive. After the files are copied to your hard drive, setup will begin to install Windows Vista.Select the drive on which you would like to install Vista. You can delete, format, create, and extend partitions or hard drives by clicking Drive options (advanced).Setup will automatically restart your computer at various stages of the installation process. You may see a "Press any key to boot from CD..." message -- do NOT press any key. The computer will automatically continue the installation process.Setup has finished installing key components of the Vista operating system, and is now preparing to load Windows Vista for the first time to start the next phase of the installation process.Setup is finished installing Windows Vista and the main components necessary to run your computer.Setup will next guide you through creating user accounts and personalizing your installation of Windows VistaType a name for your computer and select a desktop background.You will be presented with some basic configuration options. Select how you'd like to handle Windows Updates.Create the Administrator Account on this computer by assigning a user name and a password. Other accounts can be added later on from the Control Panel.Set your Date and Time.Installation CompleteCongratulations! Windows Vista is now installed on your computer. However, we are not done yet. You may still need to install drivers for your motherboard devices, your graphics and sound cards, and any other hardware installed in or connected to your computer.Installing Hardware DriversNow that Vista is installed, the next step is to install your hardware drivers. Installing drivers for your hardware will insure that you have access to all of your computer's resources and increase the stability of your computer.Motherboard Resources Your motherboard came with a CD containing drivers for components on your motherboard such as chipsets, USB, Ethernet, and onboard devices such as audio or video. These drivers should be installed first. Use the CD to install these drivers. Later if you wish, you can update these drivers from the vendor website.Graphics and Sound (If not built into the motherboard) Install the drivers and software for your graphics and sound cards either from the accompanying software or by downloading the latest drivers from the vendor websites.Other Devices Printers, scanners, multimedia keyboards and other such devices can now be installed. Please refer to the component's user's guide for installation assistance.The Device Manager provides the best and easiest method of verifying and updating drivers. To access the Device Manager, click on the Start button, then right-click on Computer and select Properties.Select the Device Manager in the left-side column of the System Properties screen.Look for anything in the Device list showing a question mark. This indicates that a driver has not been installed.Double-clicking on the device will bring up the properties for that device and provide an opportunity to install the required driver.Windows UpdatesAfter your drivers are installed and you have access to the Internet, you will need to install any Windows Vista updates from Microsoft's website at windowsupdate.microsoft.com.