Format hard drive but keep OS

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roman8389

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Oct 9, 2009
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So I have a laptop that needs to be formatted, but I'm kind of up a creek because I don't have a Vista install disc and I don't want to do a system restore-type thing. Here's what I have:

- A laptop with a hard drive that is partitioned: Main part is 45g and "backup" part is 10g. Backup partition has already been formatted and is currently empty. The main partition that has the OS (Vista Home Basic) needs to be formatted

- 8g flash drive with all important files/programs on it - nothing else needs to be saved, other than the OS obviously

- Another laptop (mine) with 125g free

- I could get access to an external hard drive but I don't think I would need it


That's all I've got. Is it possible to format a hard drive and keep the OS without having the OS install disc to boot from? According to the Backup and Restore Center, it's not possible to back up just the Windows files (otherwise I would have done so with the separate partition), and I think it's a bit more complicated than copying C:\Windows to a flash/external drive... Doing a system restore wouldn't help because I need ALL the files deleted except the system files.

Any suggestions?
 


It's impossible.

Unless you work at the OS dev team at Microsoft.

It would be cheaper (unless you value your time at $0) to buy a new version of Windows 7 at full retail price.
 
There should be a program out there that allows you to get your Vista registration key. Then download a vista install disk from rapidshare/torrent and wipe the slate clean.
 
Thanks for the keyfinder source. Is it really safe to torrent an install disk though? And would I just copy those files to a flash drive and boot from that?
 
you could do a dirty install.
Delete the other partition then install over the top keeping the current file system. You can use any disk even a burned pirated copy and it won't make you register but will replace all the system files.

Or if you have an oem copy with no disk (one didn't come with your computer or you lost it) you could grab your current product key http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/findvistakey.htm
then download any of the same oem copy and do a fresh install using that then when it wants to activate select change product key and use your old one then activate.
 
That kind of went over my head Eli; I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have any disc, whether it be OEM or the one that came with the computer. Well, technically I DO have the install disc, but it's 200 miles away and traveling/having it shipped is out of the question for another couple of weeks. I need to format it now, not later.
 
How safe is it? Probably reletivly. You could look for an MD5 to check the iso against.

I dont see how you have much of a choice, stop being a pussy a and get it done. That or cough up some cash for a new disk.
 
roman8389 said:
That kind of went over my head Eli; I'm not sure what you mean. I don't have any disc, whether it be OEM or the one that came with the computer. Well, technically I DO have the install disc, but it's 200 miles away and traveling/having it shipped is out of the question for another couple of weeks. I need to format it now, not later.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you're missing from these replies. Just because you don't have the disc doesn't mean it won't take 20 minutes to find, download, and burn a new one. Make sure you use one of the tools listed above to get your windows key and write it down before you reformat.
 
Just look for a torrent uploaded by a 'reputable' member, there nearly always clean then. Try Demonoid or tpb, I bought 7 as it was really cheap for students in the uk.
 
Thanks for the help, all. I've actually stumbled across a Vista install disc, so I can format now. To format the main partition, since it won't let me do it in My Computer, do I just do a "format c:\" in the command prompt? Or would that be a bad idea? I've never actually formatted the main partition of a hard drive before.
 
roman8389 said:
Thanks for the help, all. I've actually stumbled across a Vista install disc, so I can format now. To format the main partition, since it won't let me do it in My Computer, do I just do a "format c:\" in the command prompt? Or would that be a bad idea? I've never actually formatted the main partition of a hard drive before.
Click to expand...

Put the install disc in your disc drive, then restart your computer. If it asks, have it boot from the CD. Vista is a little different than other Windows OS, so it's gonna ask you some install questions like your country and language before it gets to the part where it will list your drives and partition so you can format them. Select your C drive then have it reformat then proceed with new windows installation.
 
Thanks for that. New problem though.

The old OS for the laptop was Home Basic. I got a Home Premium install CD (the disc didn't say what version it was). So now the hard drive is formatted and the OS is installed again, like I wanted, but it's not taking the product key. I used the above tool to get the key before formatting, but since it was a key for Basic, it can't activate Vista since it's running Home Premium now.

First, is there any problem with not activating Vista? Can I just leave it like it is? If there will be problems, is it possible to get a key for Premium? Would I have to torrent a keygen or something? I tried using my laptop's key since it runs Premium, but it wouldn't activate either, probably because I'm still using it.

Help?
 
Install linux(free) then install any amount of cracked windows inside virtualbox.
 
neverblueSteven said:
I'd download a copy of home basic and start over with your legit key.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea, and I'll look into it if I get any problems. I used the (legit) key from my laptop and at least it's not saying "you need to activate Vista" anymore. The activation status on the System page says "Unavailable" or something, so I guess a confused OS is better than one with limited functionality.

Also, FYI: Porting Microsoft Office from one OS to another is NOT as simple as copying the Office folder from Program Files, to a flash drive, and then back to Program Files on the new OS. Learned that after 5+ hours.
 
roman8389 said:
Also, FYI: Porting Microsoft Office from one OS to another is NOT as simple as copying the Office folder from Program Files, to a flash drive, and then back to Program Files on the new OS. Learned that after 5+ hours.
Click to expand...

That won't work with pretty much any program, even from one computer to another with the same OS..
 
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