im trying to erase my hard drive

[thomasejk]

i don't have any re boot Cd's and i want to put vista on hard drive a friend put a temp windows xp on and i didn't register it  i bought vista and cant load it because the start up page is locked till i register xp i just want it off please help

[drmsucks]

This will completely erase all data on your hard drive.

http://www.dban.org/download

[Broni]

Wait a sec....it doesn't boot to Vista DVD?

[thomasejk]

no it is locked in start up page that wants me to reg windows xp and wont let me open any thing or laod any thing till i register xp so i cant put vista on till i get xp off

[Broni]

You're doing something wrong.
Do you have Vista DVD in DVD drive, while restarting computer?
Do you press "any key" to boot from DVD?
If so, it should show Vista installation screen, not XP.
If XP loads, it means, your boot order in BIOS is incorrect.
Do you know how to access BIOS?
What is the brand, and model of your computer?

[Broni]

wants me to reg windows xp

I don't understand. What is "reg"?

[thomasejk]

lets start over i bought an dell latitude notebook and it needed a new hard drive so i bought a new one my friend put his copy of xp on it to see if it would work it worked but you have to register the software after so many days after a few months i Finley bought vista and went to start up the laptop and it said i had to register it before it would let me open any thing and it stays at the start up page and i do not now how to get to the bios section please help thanks

[Broni]

You didn't answer any of my questions from my reply #4

[thomasejk]

yes i have the vista  cd in dvd drive and it sounds like its loading but the xp still cums up,and i dint now how to access bios, the brand is dell latitude cpt

[Broni]

Please, answer ALL my questions.

[thomasejk]

yes vista is in
no i dont pres any key
no i do not now how to access bios
the brand is dell
model is latitude cpt
thank you for your help

[Broni]

You should be able to access BIOS in that particular model, by pressing, or tapping F2 key while computer is starting.
When you get there, make sure, boot order is set as follows:
- floppy
- CD drive
- hard drive
When done, make sure, you save settings.
Now, you should be able to boot to Vista DVD.
Watch the screen for:
Press any key to boot from CD

[thomasejk]

thanks i Will try and let you know thanks again

[Broni]

Sure thing. See ya tomorrow...bed time.

[thomasejk]

i tried it but it said that windows had an unexpected error it might be from recent soft ware changes insert disc or contact your administrator for disc any other thoughts iv got to go to bed for work will contact you tomorrow thanks