Question Need Help Installing Vista on Lenovo Laptop using Windows 10

[tnichols]

Need Help Installing Vista 32-bit on Lenovo G530- 444624U
2021-07-12, 13:13 PM
Currently running on my laptop is Windows 10 Home 32-bit.



I do NOT have Vista installation DVD's. They did not come with my laptop.

I do have the hidden Lenovo partition with Vista files.

I do have the Vista product key on the sticker on the bottom of my laptop.



I can't figure out how to restore Vista using the hidden files on my partition under Windows 10.



Here are the top directories:



09/26/2012 07:18 PM <DIR> BIOS
08/26/2012 06:12 PM 211 Boot.ini.saved
09/26/2012 07:00 PM <DIR> Drivers
09/24/2012 11:04 PM <DIR> FactoryRecovery
09/24/2012 09:43 PM 0 IO.SYS
09/24/2012 09:43 PM 0 MSDOS.SYS
08/03/2004 10:38 PM 47,564 NTDETECT.COM
09/24/2012 11:51 PM 250,048 ntldr
09/24/2012 11:08 PM <DIR> preboot
09/24/2012 11:04 PM 2 PSPHD.DONE
07/12/2021 06:15 PM <DIR> recovery
09/24/2012 11:08 PM <DIR> swtools



I found interesting files under PREBOOT/recorvery:



03/12/2019 01:48 AM <DIR> .
03/12/2019 01:48 AM <DIR> ..
10/30/2008 01:33 AM 46 mops.ini
09/24/2012 11:08 PM <DIR> nls
10/30/2008 11:27 PM 884,736 RecCD32.exe
10/30/2008 11:27 PM 1,227,264 RecCD64.exe
11/11/2008 03:33 AM 2,142,208 Recov32.exe
11/11/2008 03:34 AM 2,582,016 Recov64.exe
07/11/2021 09:06 PM 533 recre.log
11/11/2008 03:38 AM 258,048 RecRE32.exe
11/11/2008 03:34 AM 1,552,384 ShowWait.exe
11/11/2008 03:34 AM 5,139,456 ShowWait.pdb
11/11/2008 03:32 AM 2,859,008 TBSAdmin.exe
10/30/2008 01:34 AM 2,359,350 winpe.bmp



I just don't know how to use them to reinstall Vista on my laptop.



Oh the Lenovo Care Key does note work as I think that only works with the appropriate software and I don't have it.



Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

1. Why Vista?
2. Please show us an actual screencap of the existing Disk Management window.

 

[tnichols]

1. Why Vista?
2. Please show us an actual screencap of the existing Disk Management window.

Thanks for your reply.

Why Vista?

Its the only OS that I have a actual license for on this laptop. When I bought is computer new, it came with Vista pre-installed. And I am not going to pay Microsoft $139 for a Windows 10 license on a 11 year old Pentium Laptop. Although, I am looking into installing Chrome OS on it.

I will get the screen shot of the disk management window as soon as I can. I don't think it shows much.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for your reply.

Why Vista?

Its the only OS that I have a actual license for on this laptop. When I bought is computer new, it came with Vista pre-installed. And I am not going to pay Microsoft $139 for a Windows 10 license on a 11 year old Pentium Laptop. Although, I am looking into installing Chrome OS on it.

I will get the screen shot of the disk management window as soon as I can. I don't think it shows much.

How did you install the Win 10?
Is it Activated or not?


The user manual should have the info for how to invoke the resurrection of the original Vista.

But..it IS an 11 year old laptop.
Not sure what you're expecting it to do for you.

 

[tnichols]

its not letting me insert a picture. I guess they don't allow new people to post pictures.

 

[tnichols]

How did you install the Win 10?
Is it Activated or not?


The user manual should have the info for how to invoke the resurrection of the original Vista.

But..it IS an 11 year old laptop.
Not sure what you're expecting it to do for you.

Windows 10 is not activated. And I am getting tired of the watermark and no ability to personalize the system.

Yes, the manual says how to recovery Vista, but it only works if you have vista on the computer and I don't. I have win 10. So none of their procedures work.

 

[USAFRet]

To insert a pic, upload it to imgur.com and post the link here.

What are the specific steps it gives you to "recover"?


Also...Vista is long out of any support.
You'd be running a completely unprotected laptop.

 

[tnichols]

Probably the easiest thing for me to do is find some old Vista discs and make a copy. Then reinstall from disc.

 

[USAFRet]

Probably the easiest thing for me to do is find some old Vista discs and make a copy. Then reinstall from disc.

Be very careful where you source this from.

MS no longer has them available, and anywhere else is suspect.

 

[USAFRet]

Another option is Linux.

What do you use this device for?

 

[tnichols]

Right now I was using it to play with Windows 10. As I am a Windows 7 holdout. My main computer is a Dell Core i5 running win 7. it just runs and does everything I need to do and never crashes. Longer term, I will probably donate it. But I wanted to get it running well with licensed software.

 

[tnichols]

Disk Management Screen Shot as requested.

 

[USAFRet]

Not knowing the specs of your particular laptop...I have a similar era device.
Low end Toshiba L305, from 2009.

Currently running WIn 10, and it is slow.
But it was slow when it was brand new.


Donate it? I doubt I could give it away, no matter what OS is on it.

 

[USAFRet]

Disk Management Screen Shot as requested.

That 9.77GB partition should be able to be invoked from the BIOS.

It is there in the event the original OS goes south. You almost certainly do NOT need a running Vista instance to invoke it.

And also, it was there to give you a means of creating your own bootable DVD to recover.
No one ever does that, but it is there.

 

[tnichols]

Nothing against Linux, But I have just been a Windows user for years. I guess I could try to get OS/2 running. I think I still have Warp disks around here somewhere?:<)

 

[USAFRet]

Nothing against Linux, But I have just been a Windows user for years. I guess I could try to get OS/2 running. I think I still have Warp disks around here somewhere?:<)

I completely understand the Linux - Windows thing.

But unlikely you can get Warp running on that....lol

 

[tnichols]

This Lenovo takes about 4 minutes to bring up the BIOS screen, but after that, it runs Win 10 32-bit pretty good.

Lenovo Laptop G530-444624U
Intel Pentium dual-core T3400 (2.16 GHz)
3 GB Memory
250 GB HDD
Intel GMA 4500M 15.4"
Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit

 

[tnichols]

Anybody still have a copy of Windows Vista 32-bit? Or maybe the Recovery CD's or DVD's?