Following a disastrous Windows Update of a Vista Home Premium laptop, it seems that some of its critical Windows files have been damaged. I've tried doing System Repairs and restores from Restore Points, but to no avail. I need to keep the user data, if at all possible.
Consequently I want to perform a parallel installation of Vista into a different folder, say C:\WinVista instead of the current C:\Windows, but booting from my Vista-with-SP2 ISO DVD comes up with the scary "Install now" message. Googling doesn't really give me what I expect, talking about installing to second partitions, and the like. There's no problem with installing to a different folder in Windows 7 - so is there with Vista? If someone is a better Googler than me, and can point to a tutorial with appropriate instructions, they will receive my thanks! (Did I mention that I hate both laptops and Vista?!)
Installing Vista in a parallel folder
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Installing Vista in a parallel folder
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
-
- Panoramic Lounger
- Posts: 8197
- Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
- Location: retirement
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
Why not just slave the problem disk to another PC, remove the data, then wipe it clean and reinstall Windows properly?
Ken
Ken
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
Why not indeed? But it would be simpler if I could just install a fresh copy of Vista in the current C: drive!
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
-
- Panoramic Lounger
- Posts: 8197
- Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
- Location: retirement
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
but I bet my suggestion would be quicker
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
No, it wouldn't. I don't have a spare 2½" USB caddy...
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 7220
- Joined: 15 Jan 2010, 22:52
- Location: Middle of England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
Could you copy the existing ..\Windows folder to another folder, e.g...\Windows_Old, and then just go with a 'standard' reinstall?
Leif
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
That would be a good idea - provided the partition is not formatted by the install! I will see what happens...
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5685
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 19:16
- Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts,USA
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
Why not purchase an "Imaging" software like True Image or Shadow Protect?John Gray wrote:Why not indeed? But it would be simpler if I could just install a fresh copy of Vista in the current C: drive!
Inexpensive enough and easy to use.
BOB
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
The problem is that Vista is, at present, very flaky, occasionally just stopping. It seems to work, mostly, in Safe Mode, so I can do Robocopies - albeit agonising slowly.
Any reinstallation from either the Dell DVD or any other appears to require that it clears out <all the files and programs, etc, which I wish to keep> from the partition.
I can't see what Imaging software would do! There's no advantage in keeping the current Vista installation; I need a clean installation on the same partition, without deleting all the other directories.
Any reinstallation from either the Dell DVD or any other appears to require that it clears out <all the files and programs, etc, which I wish to keep> from the partition.
I can't see what Imaging software would do! There's no advantage in keeping the current Vista installation; I need a clean installation on the same partition, without deleting all the other directories.
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5685
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 19:16
- Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts,USA
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
I can see your intent John, but if you create an image of your system partition, while it's in good working order, restoring it will give you back a perfect copy including all other programs, settings and all.
BOB
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
______________________________________
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
-
- PlatinumLounger
- Posts: 5431
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 08:33
- Location: A cathedral city in England
Re: Installing Vista in a parallel folder
I eventually had to bite the bullet, and found that a fresh installation of Vista very usefully managed to put
in C:\Windows.old
in C:\Windows.old
- \Windows
- \Users
- \Program Files
- \Program Data
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.