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General discussion

Vista Install Problems

Aug 18, 2007 3:58PM PDT

For the past week I`ve tried everything to install Vista Premium on my computer. I am upgrading from Xp media center 2005. At the 27% mark of the install when windows reboots I get the good ol blue screen of death which was supposed to have died with Win 98. My system should be capable.

Specs are: Emachines t3516 (yeah I`m cheap) with a Celeron D 352 3.4gz processor, 2 Gigs of ram, 256mb Nvidia 8500GT (Ati radeon express 200 intergrated), 120gig HD, DVD/CD R-RW drive.

PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE TRY USING A BASEBALL BAT ON IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Discussion is locked

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RE: Vista Install Problems
Aug 21, 2007 8:23PM PDT

Are you doing a clean install with your upgrade Vista? If not, you will need to for the best results.

Here's how:
1. Boot from Upgrade Vista DVD.
2. Do not enter your product key number.
3. Uncheck Automatically activate windows when I'm online.
4. Choose the Custom (Advanced) install option instead of Upgrade.
5. Format your hard drive.
6. Tell it to not to check for updates.
7. Finish installing Upgrade Vista.
8. When this first install is done, run the installation again from within the first one. (Start Menu > Computer > DVD drive > Install Vista)
9. This time do the Upgrade option and enter your Product Key number in the installation steps.
10. When done installing, go to C:\Windows.Old and delete the Windows.old folder. (It's the copy of the first install.)
NOTE: Make sure you have Show Hidden files and folders checked in Folder Options. (Control Panel or Tools menu in Explorer)
11. Run Disk Cleanup
12. Check Files discarded by Windows update (It'll be about 1.51 GB) in Disk Cleanup.
13. Click OK to delete it.

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vista install problems
Aug 22, 2007 4:55AM PDT

if it makes you feel better, you are not cheap, only dollar sensible. besides, you can always try to earn more, and by the time the 120 core cpu (from MIT prototype now built) may be commercial grade, along with no-hard drives and all.

The computer market is volatile, fast-paced and sometimes intractable. I will be happy with what I have now, I did not blow too much dollar for a computer, and yet with sensible steps, may make it last "forever".

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Bios Problems with Vista
Aug 25, 2007 2:55PM PDT

i ve tried all the diffrent ways to install vista on my pc. clean installs, upgrades, and even swapping the hard drive from another computer wich i was able to sucessfully install it on even when i swapped the drive with a vista install perfect hard drive ive always a blue scrren of death with " stop: ( xxxxxxxx.x) ...) i think there must be a problem with my bios version or my mother board even though my computer shipped with dumb "Vista Certified!!!" sticker on it really makes me mad after i shelled $169 for the OS and its useless.

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RE: BIOS Problems with Vista
Aug 25, 2007 4:39PM PDT

It just me be your BIOS or Chipset drivers. I looked up your eMachines T3516 and all it had for it was XP. no Vista. You can take a look at the specs and downloads at eMachines link:

http://emachines.com/support/product_support.html?cat=Desktops&subcat=T-Series&model=T3516

You might check and make sure that is the correct model number in the BIOS. Mine was labeled a eMachines T5048, but was actually a T5048A. This made a difference for the drivers and BIOS of course.

Good luck,
Shawn