Format Vista?

Maverich · Apr 12, 2009, 20:31:56

Hi all,

Sorry if i'm posting in the wrong place but think I got it right!

My partner has a laptop which is roughly 2 years old. The OS is Vista which seems to be running so so slow at the moment which is causing major headaches! I've tried a number of things to try and speed it up but nothing seems to want to work. Is there a way of formatting the whole laptop back to its original settings?

Sebby · Apr 12, 2009, 20:49:27

The laptop should have come with either a Vista disc or some kind of recovery disc. If not, there's usually a utility pre-installed to create your own restore discs.

Failing all that, any genuine Vista disc (perhaps if you can borrow one) will accept the license key on the underside of the laptop.

As an aside, what's the spec of the computer? Vista is extremely heavy on resources and more often than not runs slow on even the best machines.

Maverich · Apr 12, 2009, 20:59:06

Thanks for the reply Sebby. The Spec is as follows,

CPU   Intel Celeron M 440 (1.86 GHz)
BIOS   Phoenix BIOS. Press F2 to enter
Chipset   Mobile Intel 943GML Express
Memory   1GB DDR2 667MHz SODIMM (2 Memory Slots)
Hard Drive   80GB
CD Drive   Dual layer DVD±RW
Screen   15.4" TFT WXGA (1280x800)
Video Card   ATI Radeon Xpress 200M (256MB shared) *
Sound Card   Realtek High Definition Audio
Modem   Not Installed
Network Card   Realtek RTL8139/810x
RaLink RT2561/RT2661 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN **
PC Card   1 x ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
Ports   1x Microphone
1x Headphone
1x VGA
3x USB 2.0
1x Kensington Lock
1x LAN
Touchpad   Synaptics Touchpad
Battery   4UR18650F-QC-PL1A
Dimensions   36 x 258 x 358 (HxWxD in mm)
Colour   Grey/Black
Weight   2.7kg
Made By   Quanta PL5C

The mrs only actually uses the Laptop for work and researching on the internet so isn't really in need of anything pretty in which Vista offers. I'm finding she now would rather use my Desktop then use her own as its that slow! After playing around I have noticed there is a Full Destructive Recovery available which may do the trick!

psp83 · Apr 12, 2009, 21:06:58

IF you dont have any discs. give this site a read : http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

Gary · Apr 13, 2009, 01:16:48

Quote from: Maverich on Apr 12, 2009, 20:59:06
Thanks for the reply Sebby. The Spec is as follows,

CPU   Intel Celeron M 440 (1.86 GHz)
BIOS   Phoenix BIOS. Press F2 to enter
Chipset   Mobile Intel 943GML Express
Memory   1GB DDR2 667MHz SODIMM (2 Memory Slots)
Hard Drive   80GB
CD Drive   Dual layer DVD±RW
Screen   15.4" TFT WXGA (1280x800)
Video Card   ATI Radeon Xpress 200M (256MB shared) *
Sound Card   Realtek High Definition Audio
Modem   Not Installed
Network Card   Realtek RTL8139/810x
RaLink RT2561/RT2661 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN **
PC Card   1 x ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
Ports   1x Microphone
1x Headphone
1x VGA
3x USB 2.0
1x Kensington Lock
1x LAN
Touchpad   Synaptics Touchpad
Battery   4UR18650F-QC-PL1A
Dimensions   36 x 258 x 358 (HxWxD in mm)
Colour   Grey/Black
Weight   2.7kg
Made By   Quanta PL5C

The mrs only actually uses the Laptop for work and researching on the internet so isn't really in need of anything pretty in which Vista offers. I'm finding she now would rather use my Desktop then use her own as its that slow! After playing around I have noticed there is a Full Destructive Recovery available which may do the trick!

With those specs I would put XP on it to be honest, it would perform much better, of try the beta of windows 7

Steve · Apr 13, 2009, 09:36:32

I agree Gary. however 2Gb of memory would make Vista possible.

Sebby · Apr 13, 2009, 11:20:04

If it's Vista Basic, I'd say the spec is okay, but otherwise, it needs another 1GB RAM at least for it to perform acceptably. If it was me, I'd try and get XP on this machine, but I realise that potentially means extra expense.

mrapoc · Apr 13, 2009, 15:39:40

TinyXp (google

)

Or just reinstall vista

Turn off all visual effects and remove all that cr*p they bundle on in the first place

cavillas · Apr 13, 2009, 15:47:53

Definitely an extra gigabyte of memory and also SP1 if it hasn't been installed. Also try and go through the system with CCleaner.

Maverich · Apr 13, 2009, 19:42:53

Thanks for all the input guys, very much appreciate. Is good to have a forum where people are so keen to help! I've reinstalled Vista on her machine and it is running slightly better. Think I might look into getting some more Ram as I think that'll be cheaper then getting XP.

Thanks again.

Gary · Apr 14, 2009, 18:45:06

Quote from: Maverich on Apr 13, 2009, 19:42:53
Thanks for all the input guys, very much appreciate. Is good to have a forum where people are so keen to help! I've reinstalled Vista on her machine and it is running slightly better. Think I might look into getting some more Ram as I think that'll be cheaper then getting XP.

Thanks again.

Someone on here saw a oem copy of XP somewhere very cheaply, I have never used Vista without at least 3GB ram so cannot say what two would be like, my present system has 4 GB DD3 so max out it out if you can and performance will be good with SP1 installed and you will be safer as well compared with xp, in theory, with your fingers crossed and when you find a four leafed clover

I would not go back to XP and like Vista and think the ram will really help