Getting Vista installed

ennogs · 21 Feb 2010 at 22:48

A friend of a friend had a problem with his laptop. He gave it to somebody to look at. That person decided it need formatting and Vista reinstalling. However he did not make recovery disks before formatting. He then struggled.

I have now been given the laptop to look at. It seems to be working ok but obviously has no OS installed. Luckily I have the original install key on a sticker underneath the battery.

The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1545 and it came with with Windows Vista Home basic installed.

Am I ok to download Vista home basic from microsoft and make my own disk to do the install and use the laptop install key?

ennogs · 21 Feb 2010 at 23:11

Actually I cannot see a way to download it from Microsoft. What is my best option now?

eXor · 22 Feb 2010 at 11:05

Did it not come with a DELL Reinstallation DVD?

This software is already installed on your computer. Only use this DVD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC.

This DVD is not for reinstallation of software or drivers

When you install, it will check for a DELL OEM BIOS and should install without prompting for a key and without requiring activation.

SiriusB · 22 Feb 2010 at 11:13

Dell are very good with this and actually provide a disc - not like all the other manufacturers who expect you to make you own! Cheap gits! :mad:

Finding that disc will save you a big headache. A standard OEM disc will not work on a Dell machine [I have the mental scars and hours of wasted time to prove it!] so your only other option is a new Retail copy. Since the key on the bottom wont work with a Retail disc, you would have to buy a new one!

Find that disc!

robinbredin · 22 Feb 2010 at 11:14

The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 1545 and it came with with Windows Vista Home basic installed.

Hi, You can get your drivers from HERE. But, you will have to give Dell support an ring HERE to get an reinstall disc for your system. If you know somebody with an dell system, borrow their disc to install Vista, it will work, or look on ebay.

Brian Stuart · 22 Feb 2010 at 12:33

SiriusB said:
Dell are very good with this and actually provide a disc - not like all the other manufacturers who expect you to make you own! Cheap gits!

Finding that disc will save you a big headache. A standard OEM disc will not work on a Dell machine [I have the mental scars and hours of wasted time to prove it!] so your only other option is a new Retail copy. Since the key on the bottom wont work with a Retail disc, you would have to buy a new one!

Find that disc!

This is not true. I have install both XP and Vista on Dells, both laptops and desktops using my own slipstreamed copy of windows and used the serial key on the PC. The only difference is that sometimes it will not activate over the net and i have to phone activate.

SiriusB · 22 Feb 2010 at 12:38

I have had to do a couple of Dells recently and had such a ballache with the OEM discs we had at a clients. None would work with the laptops. In the end we managed to dig out a Dell OEM disc and it worked fine.

Guess I got unlucky!