Vista ISO - Download and Create Installation DVD or USB

How to Download a Vista ISO and Create an Installation DVD or USB
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   Information

Downloads are available for the 32 (X86) and 64 bit (X64) versions of Vista Ultimate only, in English, French and German, but if, during the install, you do not enter the product key when initially prompted for it then you will be asked to select the version of Vista you want to install. It can be any of these four:

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Windows Vista Home Basic​

Windows Vista Home Premium​

Windows Vista Business​

Windows Vista Ultimate​

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   Warning

You must have a valid installation key, which should be on the COA sticker on the computer, to activate the installation once it completes.

STEP ONE

To Download the Vista Setup Files

   Warning

The Vista downloads listed below seem to come and go. Right now, 10/12/2014 at 3:39PM EST they are available. I don't know of any other location they are legally available from, sorry.

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1. Downloaded the Vista X64 or X86 setup files.​

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X64 (64 bit):​

install.wim​

boot.wim​

X14-63453.exe​

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X86 (32 bit):​

install.wim​

boot.wim​

X14-63452.exe​

   Note

Both X14-63453.exe and X14-63452.exe will be downloaded as MicrosoftInstaller.exe. For consistency, please rename MicrosoftInstaller.exe to X14-63453.exe or X14-63452.exe, depending on which you downloaded.

   Warning

Wait for all downloads to complete before continuing

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2. Double click (or right click and Open) on the downloaded X14-63453.exe or X14-63452.exe. It extracts all the files into a Vista sub-folder.​

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3. If they are not already there, copy boot.wim and install.wim into the Vista\sources folder that is created when you doubled clicked on the .exe file in step 2.​

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4. Download the Windows Bootable Image Creator zip file, WBICreator.zip.​

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5. Extract the files in WBICreator.zip to a folder.​

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STEP TWO

To Create the Vista ISO File

   Warning

You can download the files on any computer but you must be running on a 64bit (X64) system to create a 64Bit install DVD or flash drive

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6. Open the folder and double click (or right click and Open) WBICreator.exe​

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7. Click Next​

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8. Select OS Type: Windows Vista (all the way to the bottom)​

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9. CD/DVD Label: VistaX64 or VistaX86​

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10. Setup Location: The Vista folder created when you double clicked on X14-63453.exe or X14-63452.exe.​

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11. Output Path: Somewhere with enough free space to hold the .iso file that will be created (X64 = 3,837,112KB, X86 = 3,013,816KB).​

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12. Click GO. When done a VistaX64.iso or VistaX86.iso file will be created in the Output Path you chose.​

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STEP THREE

To Create Vista Installation DVD or USB Flash Drive with ISO File

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13. You can use the generated .iso to create a Vista Install DVD.​

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13a. Download and install and run ImgBurn.​

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13b. Make sure you deselect anything other than ImgBurn during the install by always taking the Custom choice.​

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13c. Click on Write image file to disc​

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13d. Click the Browse for file button and selecta the ISO file you just created.​

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13e. Click Write. A nice little tune will play when the DVD create completes.​

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14. You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Vista from.​

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14a. Download and run Universal USB Installer Easy as 1 2 3​

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14b. Select Vista from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom​

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14c. Select the VistaX64.iso or VistaX86 .iso file​

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14d. Select your USB flash drive​

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14e. Click Create​

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   Information

I created a X86 flash drive and used it to install a clean copy of Vista Home Basic on my HP DV2200 Laptop. Worked great using the key on the COA sticker of the laptop.

Remember to activate after the install has completed.

Note: You may need to download drivers for the computer from the manufacturers web site so I would suggest getting the Network (LAN and Wireless) and video/VGA drivers ahead of time so you can install them as soon as you finish installing Vista.

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Thumb Drive to Install Vista with

 

[njjayt82]

Yeah that's what I was going to do tomorrow when I get my hands on a bigger thumb drive. thanks for all your help!

 

[LeifH1313]

Hi,
I'm on my 4th attempt to get this done, and each time I'm met with the same error, simply it states that the install.wim file is missing.
Any advice?

 

[Brink]

The English versions appear to be currently online.

 

[Ztruker]

Hi,
I'm on my 4th attempt to get this done, and each time I'm met with the same error, simply it states that the install.wim file is missing.
Any advice?

Pleaase describe exactly the steps you are doing.

If you do them as written it will work.

 

[LeifH1313]

Pleaase describe exactly the steps you are doing.

If you do them as written it will work.

Well I felt I did, but this is how I did it;

I downloaded the setup files;


I then unpacked the installer file, which setup a new folder "vista" in that directory with the following files;

Using the WBI Boot image creator I created a bootable ISO image using the above files;

Then using Imgburn I created a DVD using the above iso image and imgburn verified the burn was good.

I did this five times, each time, I did it exactly as it above, save the dutch experiment, and I funnily enough, it failed for reasons I couldn't understand ( I don't read or write dutch), but the other four times in english, it gave an error telling me that the install.wim file is missing.

 

[Ztruker]

I have all the downloaded, extracted files under one folder:



X14-63453.exe doesn't need to be there once you've run it and it's created the Vista folder but I leave it there just to keep everything together.

I run WBICreator.exe from G:\Vistabuild and also use that as the output folder when VistaX86.iso is created.

The resultant iso file is 3,837,112 KB.



install.wim is in the iso under Sources:



Are there any changes you can think of that would make any of this clearer in the tutorial?

 

[Ztruker]

I admit I am not totally versed in installing and re-installing OS's as I don't do it that often. But I have been totally confused as to why you need to create an ISO and then burn the ISO to a DVD. Seems like you are just putting the files into one format, and then undoing it. As it turns out, you don't have to do that. If you go to IMGBRN website, and look under help, they have the topic of exactly how to create a Vista bootable install disk. You don't have to create an iso. You just download the exe and two .wim files from digital river (the files given in the beginning of this thread) and then run the exe file to create the vista directory. Then you use IMGBRN exactly as they say in the help topic to create the bootable dvd from the vista directory. I did this today and it works great. This saves you some steps as it is not necessary to create the .iso.

Finally got around to looking into this and WBICreator.exe is needed because install.wim needs to be merged into the Sources folder under the Vista folder. It's not there when you run the X86 or X64 downloaded .exe file. This could probably be done manually and not use WBICreator. I wonder if there are any other changes WBIUCreator makes to the Vista folder?

 

[LeifH1313]

Ztrucker,
Thanks for the help,

I am doing this on a Window's 8 Machine, but before we go further after download, the file is named microsoftinstaller.exe, I don't end up with the instal.wim file in the vista folder that is created, is that needed I did manually place it there, and I still got the same error. Could it be a window's 8 environmental issue? I'm almost to the point where if I cant fix this tonight, I will have to go buy a new OS, this is my mum's computer, the hard drive crappd out, and as usual, HP didn't supply a set of discs.

Is it possible that the WBIcreator is doing something, or is there a setting I'm missing on it's setup menu?

Edit:
Just checked, and there is no setting other than choosing windows vista. I did have it set for vista.

Also, the resultant Vista File is 2.31GB

Leif

 

[Ztruker]

What file is named microsoftinstaller.exe? No idea where you are getting that.

For 32 bit, the downloaded files should be exactly as described in the tutorial (and as you show in the screen shot you posted):

install.wim
boot.wim
X14-63452.exe

I just changed the tutorial so the WBICreator.zip file is downloaded from here rather than Major Geeks. That should simplify things a bit.

As for size, it should be as noted in step 10.

10. Output Path: Somewhere with enough free space to hold the .iso file that will be created (X64 = 3,837,112KB, X86 = 3,013,816KB).

 

[LeifH1313]

X14-63452.exe is being renamed windowsinstaller.exe at download,

I tried it again yesterday afternoon, and It came up with the same error it for the 5th time I even included the install.wim file in the burn operation. (not in the tutorial, but in your subsequent post)

I just did it again for sport, I ended up with the same resulting file name, and the file size I quoted above was the rough size, but in the "properties" it was the 3013816KB as quoted in step 10.

I had no choice but to go buy windows 7 and install after spending Friday, Saturday and a good amount of yesterday trying to get it to work.

Thanks for your assistance, but it Isn't working, and I had to get up and running.

 

[Ztruker]

I have no idea what is wrong but there is something goofy with your computer. No way the X14-63452.exe file should be renamed microsoftinstaller.exe.

Maybe it's something to do with the anti-virus program you are using or the web browser.

Sorry we couldn't get it to work for you.

 

[LeifH1313]

I have no idea what is wrong but there is something goofy with your computer. No way the X14-63452.exe file should be renamed microsoftinstaller.exe.

Edit;

Maybe it's something to do with the anti-virus program you are using or the web browser.

Sorry we couldn't get it to work for you.

Thanks, it is renamed that by the downloader in google chrome, as an experiment, I have tried it with both IE and Opera, at all times it is downloaded as microsoftinstaller.exe is it possible that thle linked file for download is actually named microsoftinstaller.exe, that it is a different version of the file, and / or this one is flawed? Has anyone had success using this file in the last four days?

I believe someone posted that "it was back up" leaving me with the impression that it had been re-added for a download?

 

[Ztruker]

Well I'll be dipped!!! It sure enough is called microsoftInstaller.exe. Looks like they screwed it up the last time they supposedly fixed the download links.

I've updated the tutorial to indicate this and how to rename it.

Sorry for the screwup, I did not realize MS/Heidoc had made this change.

 

[LeifH1313]

Please tell me that it could have worked if it is renamed? Or don't and I'll sleep better tonight.

 

[Ztruker]

It should work even if it's not renamed, but renaming is a better way to go I think.

microsoftInstaller.exe created the Vista folder but there are no .efi files in it.

The original X14-63452.exe generated a Vista folder that contained 4 .efi files.
Not sure what the .efi files are or how important they are.

bootmgr.efi
memtest.efi
cdboot.efi
cdboot_noprompt.efi

 

[Seal228]

Cool.Thanks for this.I used it to install vista in VMware Player.

 

[riz99]

Dear Friend
I need wondows Vista 32 bit busniess .send me link on [email protected]

I have a 32bit Vista .iso made by SIW2 that has both service packs and all Windows updates up to 11-10-13
I will give the link to interested parties who contact me and not post it publicly

 

[mcassidy]

Hello.

Thank you very much for your excellent tutorial. I used your tutorial to re-install Vista Home Premium on A Toshiba Equium A200. The Toshiba refused to display some web pages. After much research and trying several registry fixes I had to bite the bullet and attempt a clean re-install. The computer belonged to my son-in-law. He didn't think any installation disks came with the computer which is now quite old. There was a product key sticker on the underside of the computer. Using the tutorial I managed to re-install the OS on the computer and I am pleased to say that all is working well.

I did have a couple of problems. I used imgBurn as suggested in the tutorial to burn the ISO. However the Toshiba refused to read the DVD. I burned the ISO again using Nero and the Toshiba read that version OK. Other installation DVD's such as Microsoft office read OK so I don't think the DVD drive is faulty.

Also Windows would not activate on the first try. A message came up stating that the product key was not valid. The key was entered without problem during the installation. I was able to activate Windows using the Microsoft automated telephone system.

Thank you once again for your help.

Maurice Cassidy.

 

[SESA207478]

The instructions allowed me to create a Windows Vista DVD but the DVD was not bootable. Here's what I had to do to make the DVD bootable.

Step One

1. Downloaded the Vista X64 or X86 setup files.

When downloading the Vista X64 setup files be sure to download all three files, X14-63453.exe, boot.wim and install.wim.

1.1 Move the two *.wim files into the Vista>sources folder. Then follow the remaining instructions. This was the only way I was able to create a bootable disk.

Thanks ZTrucker

 

[Ztruker]

I've done this numerous times and it always worked for me. I'll try it again though, maybe Microsoft changed one or more of the files.

Thanks for the feedback.

Edit: You are absolutely correct. The last time Microsoft made the X14-nnn files available, they called it MicrosoftInstaller.exe. WHen you double click on it after renaiming, it no longer copies the boot.wim and install.wim into the Vista\sources folder so it has to be done manually.

Thank you for the fix. I'm updating the tutorial now.

Edit #2: Interesting. I just did the English X64 version and both boot.wim and install.wim were copied into the Vista\sources folder. This did not happen with the X86 version. I'll have to try that one again.

I added this to the tutorial:

3. If they are not already there, copy boot.wim and install.wim into the Vista\sources folder that is created when you doubled clicked on the .exe file in step 2.