Microsoft is retiring Windows Vista on April 11, which means that if you're using a computer with the decade-old version of the OS, the time has come to upgrade. However, this is not to say that Windows Vista will stop working after its life support cycle ends. After April 11, 2017, your device will no longer receive any more maintenance, including security and performance updates, and Microsoft won't provide any kind of support.
- Windows 10 Restore Backup New Pc
- Create System Image Windows Vista
- Windows Vista System Restore Disk Download
If you want to avoid your computer quickly becoming vulnerable to viruses and other security risks, you should start planning to upgrade. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't provide a direct path to upgrade to Windows 10, but you can still make the jump and leave behind Windows Vista for good. However, it's a process that requires that you do a full backup of your data and perform a clean installation of Windows 10. We've got you covered with all the steps.
In this guide, we walk you through the steps to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10 using a clean installation.
Before you begin
If you're still using Windows Vista, it's likely that your computer has low hardware specifications, considering today's standards. Before going through the upgrade process, you have to make sure your device meets the minimum hardware requirements to install Windows 10.
These are the official minimum system requirements to run Windows 10:
Windows Vista, 7 and 8 include an option on the install DVD to perform a small number of important repair and recovery functions, but the chances are you didn't get an install DVD with your computer. In this case, you need to create a repair disc in Windows.
- Processor: 1GHz or faster processor or SoC.
- Memory: 1GB for 32-bit OS or 2GB for 64-bit OS.
- Storage: 16GB for 32-bit OS 20GB for 64-bit OS.
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.
- Display: 800 x 600.
- AOMEI Backupper Standard is the best free Windows backup software to protect files, systems and hard drives on PCs. Free download to keep your data safe.
- If you do not have the password reset disk, we can still reset Vista Password without disk. Step 1: Click “Reset Password” on your Vista’s login screen. Step 2: Insert the password reset disk and wait for initialize and receive a drive letter message.
Once you know that your device can handle the new OS, you'll need to purchase a genuine copy of Windows 10. You can get a copy of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro at the Microsoft Store.
Additionally, you'll need a USB flash drive with 8GB of storage to create a bootable media.
How to create a full backup on Windows Vista
Upgrading Windows Vista to Windows 10 requires a clean installation, which means that everything on your computer will be erased. As such, it's a good idea to make a full backup of your data and the entire computer.
To make a backup of your personal files, you can simply connect a removable storage and copy the files over. Once you complete backing up your files, make sure you have the installation files and product keys to reinstall any applications you're currently using.
You can also connect an external hard drive with enough free space and use the Windows Vista backup utility to create and restore a system image, which is a form of backup that includes a copy of everything on your computer. If you want to use this tool, do the following:
- Open Control Panel.
- Under 'System and Maintenance,' click the Back up your computer link.
- Click the Back up computer button.
- If prompted for permission, click the Continue button.
- Select the hard drive you want to use to make the backup, and click Next.
- Click the Start backup button to begin the process.
- Click Close.
Once the full backup is complete, disconnect the removable storage, and you can proceed with the upgrade process. In case you need to restore the previous version, remember that you'll need a bootable media with the Windows Vista files to use the recovery option.
![Windows vista backup disk Windows vista backup disk](/uploads/1/2/6/0/126068206/135512858.gif)
How to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10
While there is not a direct path to upgrade a decade-old OS, it's possible to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7, and then to Windows 10. But that's not an ideal approach, as you'll be wasting time and additional licenses.
The best way to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 10 is to start fresh with a clean installation, which you can do with the following steps:
- Download the Windows 10 ISO from the Microsoft support site. Note that if you're using an older version of Internet Explorer, you'll probably need to use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to load the download page.
- Under 'Select edition,' choose Windows 10 and click Confirm.
- Select your product language from the drop-down menu and click Confirm.
- Click the 64-bit Download or 32-bit Download button depending on your hardware.
- Quick Tip: Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command, type the msinfo32 command and press Enter. If your system type is x64-based PC and the amount of RAM is higher than 4GB, you can install the 64-bit version of Windows 10. Otherwise, select the 32-bit version.
- In order to burn the ISO file to a USB flash drive, download and install Rufus, which is a free and easy to use utility to create bootable media.
- Launch Rufus.
- Under 'Devices,' select the USB flash drive you want to use.
- Under 'Format Options,' click the disk drive icon next to 'Create a bootable disk using ISO image' option.
- Select the Windows 10 ISO file you want to use, and click Open.
- Click the Start button to continue.
- Click the OK button to confirm that all the data on the flash drive will be erased and to start the process.
- Restart your computer with the newly created bootable media.
- If your device isn't booting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you power up your computer and hit one of the functions or ESC keys to access the BIOS, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more information.
- Click Next on the first screen of the Windows Setup wizard.
- Click the Install Now button.
- Enter the product key for your copy of Windows 10.
- Click Next.
- Select the edition of Windows 10 you want to install (if applicable). This selection must match the edition for which you bought the product key.
- Click Next.
- Accept the licensing agreement.
- Click Next.
- Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to start a clean installation of Windows 10.
- Select any partition on the hard drive (usually 'Drive 0') and make sure to click the Delete button to remove the partitions.
- Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).
- Click Next to begin the installation process.
Once you complete these steps, the setup will take over and finish installing Windows 10 on your Windows Vista machine. After the installation, simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the out-of-box-experience (OOBE) with the settings you want.
During the OOBE, you'll be asked to set up an account with a Microsoft account. As such, you should make sure to have this information handy. Alternatively, you could use a local account, but you'll miss out on many advanced features, including the ability to sync settings between devices.
After you finish configuring Windows 10, you'll be presented with the new experience, and the only thing left to do is to restore your files from backup, and reinstall any app you were using on Windows Vista.
It's also recommended to go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, and click the Check for updates button to make sure your device has the latest security and performance updates.
Additionally, you may want to use Device Manager to double-check that all your hardware and peripherals are correctly installed on your machine. If something didn't install correctly, make sure to use your manufacturer's support website to download and install the latest drivers.
If you can't find a driver compatible with Windows 10, sometimes drivers designed for the previous version of the OS will still work. But only try this as a last resort.
More Windows 10 resources
For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
17 January 2018 Senior Product Manager
Summary
Want to get important data back from previous Vista computer but can not login without the password which has been forgotten? Now, you can get access to Windows Vista with or without disk! No data lost or system reinstall!"Since Windows 10 released and to improve my working efficiency, I purchased a new computer which is installed Windows 10. And my Vista computer just been idle in my house. However, I want to get some important data from the Vista computer but I forgot the password of the Vista computer after a long time of no use! Is it possible to get back my data without damage?"
Here is one of the situation that our customer meet recently. Parts of Windows Vista users has met the similar situation like him. As we all know, reinstalling Windows system can help us regain access to our computer when forgetting password. However, this reinstallation will erase all the data inside the account. If we have important data inside and we have not make backup for them, we can not adapt this method.
Then you may think of taking the computer to professionals. But have you ever consider the data security since we can not make sure whether others will leak data inside.
Now, we can make use of methods below to reset Windows Vista password by our own and reserve all the data inside.
Catalog
Method 1: Reset Windows Vista Password with Reset Disk
You can reset Windows Vista password with the pre-created password recovery disk. If you have created the password reset disk when you could login the account, please find the disk out and follow the steps below. If you do not have the password reset disk, we can still reset Vista Password without disk.
Step 1: Click “Reset Password” on your Vista’s login screen.
Step 2: Insert the password reset disk and wait for initialize and receive a drive letter message.
Step 3: To launch the Password Reset Wizard, please click “Reset Password”.
Step 4: Choose the target password reset disk in “Password Reset Wizard”.
Step 5:Please wait a second and then you can set the new password for the account. After setting, please click “Next” to save the settings.
This operation will not erase or damage data inside the account.
Step 6:Then you can use the new password to login to your account in Windows Vista.
Once you change the password in Password Reset Wizard, the information in the password reset file will be different from the one in your password reset disk. So, as soon as you can login to your account, you need to create a new password reset disk at once.
Method 2: Reset Windows Vista Password with Renee Passnow
Although we do not have password reset disk, we can still reset the password in Vista without losing data. Here we need to make use of the professional Windows password reset software – Renee Passnow.
It has a built-in password reset system which can be run independently. No need to enter Windows system.
Support to reset password for local account (including administrator) in Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista/2008/2003.
Whole password reset process just take 3 minutes and will not damage data inside the account. 100% safe!
Get Free Version152419 people has downloaded and reset Windows Vista password successfully!
How to Reset Windows Vista Password without Reset Disk
Preparation – Create New Windows Vista Password Reset Disk with Renee Passnow
- Renee Passnow (Download now!)
- Windows PC which can login and work normally (The Windows version of the computer you are using to create the Windows password reset USB does not matter.)
- USB stick (Please backup data inside beforehand. All data will be erased when creating the reset disk) or CD/DVD (Need 200MB at least).
New Password Reset Disk create process: (No need to provide any possible password)
1. Choose creation method: USB or CD/DVD.
2. Connect the USB/CD/DVD to your computer and then please click “Create USB” or “Create CD” to process the creation directly.
Whole password reset disk process with Renee Passnow does not need to provide any password or account information.
How to Reset Windows Vista Password with the New Created Password Reset Disk
Step 1: Boot the target PC from the created password reset USB/CD/DVD.
1. Connect the new password reset disk to the target Windows Vista computer you want to reset password for.
Please hold a Hot key to enter the BIOS menu.Please click here to find how to change the boot order of your computer brand.(Can not find your brand? Please refer to your PC manual to find out the method.)
Change the boot order of the target PC in BIOS.If the bootable drive is not the first in boot order, your PC will start “normally” (i.e. boot from your hard drive) and will not check other drive.
After successfully changing the boot order in BIOS, please save the settings and reboot your PC.
Step 2: Select “PassNow!” function after booting from the bootable media you created.
After loading into main interface, please select the “PassNow!” function.
Step 3: Select target Windows Vista system in the list.
Step 4: Choose the target account then click “Clear Password” to reset its login password.
After reset successful, please restart your PC. Before restarting the computer, please disconnect the bootable USB/CD from your computer. Then your computer will boot normally.
Also, you can click “Create new account” to make a new administrator with Renee Passnow and then reset the password with this new created administrator.
The new account named “Reneelab” you created with Renee Passnow is enabled with administrator privilege. And the default password is 123456789.
How does Renee Passnow work on resetting password
By modifying the SAM file which saves the related Windows login information, Renee Passnow can reset the login password or create a new account. The modification of the SAM file will be in a professional and logical way to reach the password reset goal. We have test it millions times in different system and devices.
SAM, shorts of Security Accounts Manager, is a database file which saves user password in Windows system. It can be used to authenticate local and remote users. This file can be found in windows/system32/config in system disk. However, it is not allowed to change the information inside by computer users who do not have related professional knowledge. Once it has been replaced or modified without professional knowledge, your computer could be corrupted.
Windows 10 Restore Backup New Pc
Password is case sensitive. You may activate the Caps Lock carelessly, which could lead you to enter the wrong password.
Solution:
Please pay attention to the Caps Lock when you entering the password. Usually, the notification of “Caps Locks is on” will be shown once you activate the Caps Lock when entering password.
Please pay attention to the Caps Lock when you entering the password. Usually, the notification of “Caps Locks is on” will be shown once you activate the Caps Lock when entering password.
If your password is combined with numbers and characters, you may be notified the password is not correct if you do not active the Num Lock. Computer will not activate the “Num Lock” automatically when starting.
Solution:
Activate the “Num Lock” manually and re-enter the password.
Activate the “Num Lock” manually and re-enter the password.
After trying every possible combination, you are still notified that the password is not correct. However, you do not want to pass through your computer to others because you saved lots of personal files insides.Although they make promise, who knows?
Solution:
You can reset the password with Renee Passnow in 4 simple steps (Please refer to Method 2). Of course, it is much economical when comparing with system reinstall and send the computer to professional.
You can reset the password with Renee Passnow in 4 simple steps (Please refer to Method 2). Of course, it is much economical when comparing with system reinstall and send the computer to professional.
Create System Image Windows Vista
Renee Passnow is suitable for professionals and newbie. It does not need to make complicated steps like coding or changing CMD command. All you need to do is simple clicks and selection.
Forgot login password of your Vista computer is not such a big deal now! With this guidance, you can remove Windows Vista password without losing data! Whether you have password reset disk or not, you can find perfect solution here! No password reset disk? Download and create a new one by yourself now!
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Windows Vista System Restore Disk Download
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