[Evogan13]

Hi! I'm new here and went here on the soul fact that I really need help. Ok I got an acer desktop computer that I got 4 years ago. Over the years I didn't care about it so it got slow and it runs pretty bad. I just want to erase the whole hard drive and start new. The fact is that when I got it, vista was already loaded on it and it never came with a disk for the OS. But the product key is on a sticker on the outside of thr tower. And I can't reformat it because the OS is on the hard drive (I have two hard drives in this computer) So what do I have to do to start all over again? Some how get a recovery disk from the Internet with the drivers on it? I don't know where to start. Any help will work! Thanks!!

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Welcome at G2G!

I think the easiest way is to ask a neighbour/friend/relative for a Vista DVD. Then you can just format and reinstall with your own cd key.

[Aaron]

Welcome at G2G!

I think the easiest way is to ask a neighbour/friend/relative for a Vista DVD. Then you can just format and reinstall with your own cd key.

[Ztruker]

If you do not have a Windows Vista installation DVD, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Download Official Windows Vista RTM with SP1 Setup Files (32-bit and 64-bit).

Only Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 (32-bit or x86) download is available, but if, during the install, you do not enter the product key when initially prompted for it (which you must have to use the download), then you will be prompted to select the version of Vista you want to install.

• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Ultimate

There is no .iso to download, you download 3 files for X86 or X64.

X86:

• X14-63542.exe
• boot.wim
• install.wim (this is the bigest one)

X64:

• X14-63543.exe
• boot.wim
• install.wim (this is the biggest one)

Then as is stated on the site,

If you want to create a setup disc for clean installation, run the EXE file and it'll extract the required setup files in a folder which can be used to create a setup disc using a freeware given here.