Vista clean install with no CD

Hi, I was asked by a neighbor to help him with a computer issue. Basically my friend needed to reinstall Vista after he got a few nasty virus's and asked another friend to first help out. This person installed a Dell version of Windows XP with locked him out. He did not make an install CD first and then messed it up more when trying to fix it.
So now I am attempting to do a clean install of Vista for him but I do not have the install CD, just his activation Key. Is there anyway to get a Vista download? I am doing this as a free favor and I do not want to have to purchase anything. Its a Lenovo T400.
I am halfway tempted to just give him Ubuntu but figured I would make a last ditch effort here before creating more work for myself by teaching him a new OS.

hi girlGeek,
Welcome to Lenovo Community Forums!
You can get an ISO from this site
http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html
Make sure to check the version of Windows Vista on the activation key and download the matching ISO on the link
download the windows ISO and burn it to a DVD using imgburn. and use that to install windows back.
Hope this helps,
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Can't install Flash on Vista clean install

OK...I am thoroughly frustrated. I am working on a clean
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Weird. Win 7 Pro 64 installed on my T400 without any issues that I can recall. I realize that doesn't help you much
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The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc. The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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How to change startup disk for a 2012 Mac mini with dual HDD and clean installed with Windows 8.1?

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If you boot with the Option key depressed what boot options are shown?
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LowLuster wrote:
Hi Niel
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Hello,
I could use all the the advise I can get. Since switching over to the Mac, I have had to retrain my brain on how to do certain installations. I am planning on doing my first reformatting with an Apple and need some advise.
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Thanks

E30 BMW M3 wrote:
Here are my questions:
1. ... Is the Mountain Lion downlad the full version? Is there no upgrade version, like Windows? Would I need to install Snow Leopard first? Anything that I need to know?
Yes. Mountain Lion you purchase through the App Store is the full version.
No. You do not need to install SL. But there must be a volume, on the internal hard drive, formatted HFS+ with GUID partition scheme.
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2. Assuming I successfully download and install a clean version of Mountain Lion, I would like to place my backup files back on my computer. For some reason, my Time Machine has been failing on the backups. I am thinknig that I need to get a new backup drive. Also, my backups have been occurring over my wireless network. I may plan on plugging the drive directly into my computer so that it copies over a lot faster. In order to completely restore all of my files carefully, do I run a successful backup of my computer with time machine and then restore it through the disk utility? Since I need to upgrade my Parallels, would I be copying over legacy
Parallels files to my new install? If so, would those interfere with my new Parallels?
3. I am assuming that I will have issues reinstalling my old parallels and then doing the upgrade for the upgrade price. Would I have to purchase a full version on Parallels?
Usually I manually recover my documents and preferences from backups. It may seem at first a long and tedious task, but I never had any major issues that other users had in upgrading.
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I will update my MacBook pro mid 2011 with the new Mavericks OS.
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Hi Alain,
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Thanks

Vista clean install with no CD

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