Does anyone know if there is

[thesappster]

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

 

[z3r010]

Sorry there is no legal method to download Vista.

If your stuck for an OS while your waiting for the disk then maybe give windows 7 a try - http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/download.aspx

 

[thesappster]

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!!

 

[dinesh]

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

 

[usasma]

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.

 

[Butler]

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.

 

[thesappster]

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.