Is installing Vista the same as installing XP? I've never worked with Vista before but my friend has a computer with Vista that needs to be reformatted and reinstalled. So is it the same, just change the boot settings so it boots from the CD and insert the CD and go from there or is it different?
The computer should have came with a Restore CD that includes Vista and all the drivers as well. Boot with that CD and follow the instructions.
Yeah, we have the CD but I just have never worked with Vista before. So the CD will have the OS and the drivers? It's an eMachine desktop.
I would use another working computer and download at the very least the NIC drivers and put them on a USB key. That way if vista doesn't detect any drivers you can get networking. With the Vista install, it's pretty much as straightforward as you can get. Some might say a little more simple than XP even. Good luck and have fun.
It should restore to the day your friend got the computer and turned it on. Drivers and everything. You probably don't even need to make CD bootable, since it's probably set that way already. If it isn't, make it bootable.
^ Pun's friend shouldn't even have to do all that; maybe just read the instructions of how to do a "restore CD" or "restore disk" on the manuals or front of the CD? I see you're not afraid to "work with new things", Lil Pun, but... what can you lose if the machine is shot already? Give it a try.
If the regular installation process doesn't work then you might have to go into the BIOS and change the HDD settings (from SATA to ATA or AHCI). Better hope the BIOS you are working with will let you change those settings...some of them don't.
