Question：I purchased my computer in January from Circuit City and as part of the purchase, They installed windows vista and other programs like Norton Internet Security. Recently, my system has been "acting up" and the folks at Symantec tell me I may have gotten a worm that slipped past the protections. Because this worm has now hidden from detection and most likely has corrupted my registry files, they suggested that I reformat my system and reinstall everything from the OS up. I have searched through the disks that I recieved with my pc and I have everything EXCEPT the OS! Whats worse is since their people installed it, I have the product ID code but I think there's another code for validation that I don't have. Circuit City is out of business now and I don't know what to do. I know my presently installed copy of vista is genuine, but what I need to know is if there is a way I can reinstall vista to my pc without having to buy another copy?
Answer 1：
Hi lxlthr,
Thank you for using Vista Support forum,
Please check under your laptop or behind your desktop to locate a sticker with the product key for Windows Vista. If they are existed, you can probably use another copy of Vista to install without purchase a new product key. If they are not locate on the computer or anywhere you can find then you will have to get another product key to reinstall the OS.
Note: Formatting the hard drive will wipe out ALL data, programs and user settings that you have on the computer. If there is any information on this computer that you do not want to lose, or is not backed up, you will need to make backups before proceeding with the FORMAT/CLEAN INSTALL.
Hope this help,
Kevin
Answer 2：Anything will "slip" past Norton!
Have a read on a way for you to reinstall.
You had to receive either a Vista Recovery disk or have a Recovery pertition installed on your computer:
If the computer manufacturer did not include Vista disk/s, there should be a Recovery Partition on your Hard drive.
That is the way they do it now, most of the time. We are supposed to make the Recovery Disks ourselves, with instructions included in the installed Manufacturer's Software in Start >Programs.
At the bottom of the splash Screen at startup/power on, there usually is a Key number, F10, or F11, to hit to start Recovery Process, to take it back to factory standards (out of the box).
Another way I have seen on some models is to tap F8, and go to a list of Startup options , and start a factory standards recovery from in there, by selecting the Repair computer option.
See if a Manual came with the computer, or go to the Manufacturer's website, email or phone them for info on how to do a Recovery.
Each manufacturer has their own way of doing a Recovery to factory standards.
And save all your Data before you do it, as a reinstall wipes everything from your Hard Drive..
Just in case you are infected, install and scan with these 2 Programs:
http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com
Download, install, update and scan once a fortnight..
Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can't uninstall / delete, reboot the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D while in Safe Mode.
If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:
Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating Programs to remove them.
If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking (from F8 list of Startup Options), and install, update and scan from there.
Answer 3：How can you use a different copy and use a different product key, wouldn't it tell you that the key you entered is invalid?
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