Reinstalling Vista without deleting all my programs

[Donnell]

I have purchased a Dell XPS laptop that came with Windows Vista preinstalled on it and dell had also sent me the original DVD with it and I am still having it with me. So I was trying to do the upgrade install but if I try to do that then I get a message that the upgrade mode is disabled. So, what am I supposed since I dont want to delete all my programs or files? Actually, I want to reinstall Vista because after when I boot into normal mode then everything stops respoding for 20 seconds and after sometime the screen will go black. So can anyone help me sort out this problem.

[PeterAGASSI]

If you have a Windows Vista installation disc:

1. Insert the installation disc.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button, and then click Restart.
4. If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.
5. Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
6. Click Repair your computer.
7. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
8. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.

More information here - http://windows.microsoft.com/is-IS/w...sked-questions

[Zachary]

If you have a full version of Windows Vista then I would have done a reinstall in the same directory and then I did it with an upgrade version.

[Maxforu]

It seems to me that you are trying to do an "upgrade" install by booting from your CD drive? That is why the Upgrade Install wont be available. You should actually do an upgrade from within a running version of Windows Vista. You should start vista and then insert the disk quickly and then you will be able to do it. Note that you will not be able to do it in Safe Mode.