Does anyone know if there is

thesappster

New Member
Good evening all,


Does anyone know if there is a downloadable version of Vista? I have a gateway laptop and had a crash. I tried to use the recovery partition and instead of reinstalling my system, it wiped it and then said something to the effect of insert you recovery cd. Well I bought my computer at Best Buy and of course they don't provide the discs with the computer!! Ahhhhh!!!! My computer came with Vista installed and I have a valid CD Key, but no disk now. I have ordered a recovery disk, but it will take up to 8 business days to get here.

Does anyone know if you can download an evaluation copy of Vista or any copy of Vista for that mater??? I figure all I need to do is get it installed and I can use my CD Key.

Any advice/help is appreciated!! Thanks!!! :D
 

My Computer

My Computers

System One System Two

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    Windows 11 Workstation
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    doofenshmirtz evil incorporated
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    Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Formula
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Thanks for the info. I was hoping there was an evaluation version or something that I could download and just use my valid key. Oh well. Thanks for the info!!
 

My Computer

You could have called Gateway and they would have given you a Vista DVD without any charge.
 

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System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq
    CPU
    intel core 2 duo T 5550 @ 1.83 MHz
    Motherboard
    intel 965 chipset family
    Memory
    2 GB DDR 2 SD RAM @ 667 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    On board upto 358 MB RAM
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15"
    Hard Drives
    160 GB WDC
There are legal versions of Vista available for download - but the cost of the subscription (Technet or MSDN) far exceeds the cost of a copy of Vista.
 

My Computer

I could be way off base here but most PCs/laptops from DELL, Gateway, and HP do come with a recovery partition now usually accessed during boot via F11 or something similar.

I guess it is too expensive or increases global warming to include and actual OS disk if you buy a PC from the above corporations.

And I do see where you stated "it wiped it" and maybe your HD has been formated so of course if that is what you meant, my info wont help you at all.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
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    Intel Core i7 920 @2.67GHz
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    EVGA X58 132-BL-E758
    Memory
    6 Gbs Corsair 3XM
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    2 Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 Core216 Superclocked
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Vizio 22 LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
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    Western Digital 640 Gb Western Digital 1.5 TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000
    Case
    Coller Master HAF 932
    Cooling
    Xigmatek Dark Knight
    Mouse
    Logitech G%
    Internet Speed
    16MB Down 1.5 Up
Thanks for the replies guys.

Yes I do have a recovery partition but it does not come with the installation files for vista on it. I learned that only after it instructed me to format my C: drive.

Yes I could have got the disks for free from gateway, as long as I called within the first 90 days. I discovered that after I had owned the computer for about a year, and finally needed the disks. The one good thing is that I will never again buy a preloaded computer without calling immediately and getting all of the disks that SHOULD be automatically included.

My hope was to simply obtain that which I have already paid for without having to pay for it a second time. I have a valid key, already paid for the software, but simply wasn't provided with the disk.
 

My Computer

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