Repair or Re-install Windows Vista?

Question

I've just upgraded to Windows Vista Business from Windows XP and after the upgrade I've run into a few problems. 1 problem is that the Turn Windows Features On or Off utility does not work, Windows Sidebar does not recognize the .gadget files to add new gadgets and Updates don't configure properly after restart and vista is forced to revert to original settings and does not apply the updates. I use an administrator account to use try enabling/disabling features, I go onto the microsoft gallary to get sidebar gadgets which work fine on my other vista pc and updates are always downloaded and installed on an administrator account. I would like to know how would I be able to repair my entire vista installation like xp and not loose my files and programs. I am also concered if I have to re-upgrade because a few people I kno who re-installed vista had activation problems and vista would not re-activate after installing. So I am very concered if I have to re-install vista and activation does not re-activate my copy of vista again. So what options are available to me and if I have to re-install vista what options are available to me if vista refuses to re-activate my product key?

Answer 1

Lirbrian you need to call Microsoft Tech Support at 1-800-936-5700.



Good Luck

Answer 2

About backing up:

If you have a disc burner, you can back up to discs.

If you have another physical hard drive, you can back up to that.

If you have a flash drive (a.k.a. thumb drive) you can back up to that.

If you have anything else (except the original hard drive on which Vista is installed) you can back up to it.



Important note:

Be sure to back up all of your files (but not programs) before repairing or reinstalling Vista. I say don't back up programs because that will be a waste of time: The registry entries that tell the computer that the programs are actually installed will disappear when you reformat the hard drive and/or reinstall Vista. If you keep the installer programs (like me) , though, you can keep those so you don't have to keep downloading them.



About repairing Vista:

If you kept the original Windows Vista Installation disc, you can boot to that. Act like you're going to install Vista, and you should get to a screen that says the install program found this existing installation of Vista and would you like to repair that instead of installing a fresh copy. Try that.



About reinstalling Vista:

If repairing doesn't fix the problems, you'll have to reinstall Vista. Be sure to reformat the hard drive to get rid of the original installation first.

Answer 3

First, extra recent computers have the gadget preinstalled, 2nd in many circumstances the producer has blanketed a restoration partition to do an entire production unit Default fix, third maximum of those computers have a software interior the menus to make a collection of workstation restoration cd set for the owner. unquestionably everyone says use the CD that got here with the workstation. this would not advise that's one to place it back to the way it replaced into, in maximum circumstances it is going to in common terms set up the homestead windows working gadget that replaced into put in on the workstation. The question is which course do you pick to pass? See if there's a d: partition on the frustrating rigidity which you have not placed archives on. it extremely is the restoration partition. The function keys required are diverse on diverse computers. producer based, because they could assign what key are used. Dell Ctrl+F11 for XP contineous F8 at boot for Vista Gateway F11 EEEPC Esc key Compaq F11 on a similar time as booting up. This wipes the full frustrating rigidity and re installs Window sparkling. in common terms an epidemic difficulty? acquire DrWeb LiveCD and use your cd/dvd burning application to burn image to CD, then boot with this CD and enable it look after the Virus issues.