Restore Windows Vista configuration

Similar Questions

• Restore Windows Vista to Windows 7

  I bought my second hand computer and told me that windows 7 was already installed, even if the laptop computer used Windows Vista originally. However, the copy of windows 7 is currently installed is not genuine. I don't want to buy Windows 7 I'm going well with Vista.

  Is it possible to restore windows Vista without an installation disk?
  Appreciate any advice!

  Hello

  There are several methods to reinstall Vista.

  There is no Windows Vista downloads available from Microsoft.

  You can contact your computer manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of recovery disks.

  They should do this for a small fee.

  To reinstall Vista using their recovery disk/s, you start from the 1st recovery disk they provide and follow the manufacturer's instructions to reinstall:

  You need to change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order:

  How to change the Boot order in BIOS:

  http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/SS/bootorderchange.htm

  "How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and replace product manuals.

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/326246

  This method is probably more through the installation of Windows 7:

  And if you have never received a recovery disk when you bought your computer, there should be a recovery Partition on the hard drive to reinstall Vista on how you purchased your computer.

  The recovery process can be started by pressing a particular combination of the key or keys at startup. (Power on / start)

  Maybe it's F10, F11, Alt + F10, etc., depending on the manufacturer.

  Ask them to the proper key sequence.

  Some manufacturers have more available Vista recovery disks.

  If this happens, you may need to try this instead:

  You can also borrow and use a Microsoft Vista DVD, which contains the files for the different editions of Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) must be installed. The product key on your computer / Laptop box determines what Edition is installed.

  Other manufacturers recovery DVDs are should not be used for this purpose.

  And you need to know the version of 'bit' for Vista, as 32-bit and 64-bit editions come on different DVDs

  Here's how to do a clean install of Vista using a DVD of Vista from Microsoft:

  "How to do a clean install and configure with a full Version of Vista '

  http://www.Vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-Vista.html

  And once the operating system is installed, go to your computer manufacturer's website and get the latest drivers for your particular model or laptop computer.

  And phone Activation may be necessary when you use the above installation method.

  "How to activate Vista normally and by Activation of the phone '

  http://www.Vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-Vista-phone.html

  See you soon.

• I believe that when I had my computer reset Windows Vista has been removed from the system due to my computer with a virus. Now, I need to know how can I do to restore Windows Vista in my system?

  I need help restoring Windows Vista on my computer.  Please help this is finals week and I need my computer to take my final.

  Vista recovery media obtain and/or use the Partition Recovery Vista on your computer to the factory settings .

  There is no Vista free download legal available.

  Contact your computer manufacturer and ask them to send a recovery disk/s Vista set.

  Normally, they do this for a cost of $ small.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  In addition, ask them if you have a recovery Partition on your computer/laptop to restore it to factory settings.

  See if a manual provided with the computer or go to the manufacturer's website, email or you can call for information on how to make a recovery.

  Normally, you have to press F10 or F11 at startup to start the recovery process...

  Another way I've seen on some models is press F8 and go to a list of startup options, and launch a recovery of standards of plant with it, by selecting the repair option.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Also ask them if it is possible to make the recovery disk/s since the Partition of recovery in case of hard drive failure or System Crash when you're back running.

  They will tell you how to do this.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Every computer manufacturer has their own way of making recovery disk/s.

  Or borrow a good Microsoft Vista DVD (not Dell, HP, etc).
  A good Vista DVD contains all versions of Vista.
  The product key determines which version of Vista is installed.

  There are 2 disks of Vista: one for 32-bit operating system, and one for 64-bit operating system.

  If install a cleaning is required with a good DVD of Vista (not HP, Dell recovery disks):

  Go to your Bios/Setup, or the Boot Menu at startup and change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order, then reboot with the disk in the drive.

  At the startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, go to Setup/Bios or F12 for the Boot Menu

  http://support.Microsoft.com/default.aspx/KB/918884

  MS advice on the conduct of clean install.

  http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm

  A tutorial on the use of a clean install

  http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp

  Super Guide Windows Vista Installation

  After installation > go to the website of the manufacturer of your computer/notebook > drivers and downloads Section > key in your model number > get latest Vista drivers for it > download/install them.

  See you soon.

  Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

• Windows Vista - configuration of the updates/restart loop

  Hello
  I have a Satellite L300D (model number PLSC0E), which I believe is running on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, which is stuck in a recurring loop I'm not on. Once the computer is turned on, it proceeds to the point where it would normally provide the user to type their password, but instead displays the following message:

  * Configuring updates: stage 3 of 3-0% complete *.
  * Do not turn off your computer *.

  and after a few seconds, stops, only to repeat the process.

  Occasionally, he offers the following options after that initial start-up of Toshiba screen appeared:

  Launch Startup Repair (recommended) *.
  * Start Windows normally *.

  Results "Start Windows normally" in the same message - I also tried all the options available when you press F8 to initial start-up screen (for example "Safe Mode"), and that did not help either and simply translates the laptop closed.

  When 'Launch Startup Repair' is selected, it loads the utility successfully, but is unable to find errors and is unable to perform a "System Restore" to any date.

  I also tried to use "System Restore" using a "Vista system restore" disk, but this also translates into a failure to the "System Restore" caused by a "catastrophic failure".

  I know it's a pretty common problem which is supposed to be caused by a corruption by a Windows Update, but most solutions simply say to try 'System restore', which is not really useful if it doesn't work - I don't want to really try to back up data by using the command prompt, but I will not lose the data either , so reinstalling Windows is not really an option.

  Any suggestions?

  Thank you.

  Hello

  It is understandable that new operating system installation is not an option for you, but what other chance you have at the moment?
  In my opinion, your priority should be access to your backed-up data and how to save them.
  You can somehow enter SafeMode (F8 at startup)?

• Restore Windows Vista to factory settings

  Now, for a while I tried to reset my Windows Vista Setup. ERASE EVERYTHING on it. Every time I restart the computer and spam constantly F8, the debug menu appears where it has all the options. I'll choose repair your computer, but when I do, recovery appears. I do not want to restore it in time, I want to erase everything. Help, please!

  Hello

  You can contact your computer manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of recovery disks.

  They should do this for a fee, if they were to have always available.

  _________________________________________________

  To reinstall Vista with the help of their recovery disk/s if they gave them, you start from the 1st recovery disk they provide and follow the manufacturer's instructions to reinstall:

  You need to change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order:

  How to change the Boot order in BIOS:

  http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/SS/bootorderchange.htm

  "How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and replace product manuals.

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/326246

  ___________________________________

  And if you have never received a recovery disk when you bought your computer, there should be a recovery on the drive Partition hard reinstall Windows how much you bought your computer.

  The recovery process can be started by pressing a particular combination of the key or keys at startup. (Power on / start)

  Maybe it's F10, F11, Alt + F10, etc., depending on the manufacturer.

  Them or us ask the right sequence of key.

  ___________________________________

  And if you do not score a manufacturer of recovery on your hard drive, you should be able to make your own recovery from her disks to reinstall the operating system in the event of hard disk failure.

  Go to programs > name of the manufacturer of your computer > then their system or recovery tools software topics for them, depending on how it is formulated.

  If you can't find any reference to it, contact the manufacturer for advice on how to make these recovery disks.

  ___________________________________

  Some manufacturers have more available Vista recovery disks.

  If this happens, you may need to try this instead:

  You can borrow and use a DVD Vista Microsoft (selling retail or OEM System Builders License), which contains the files for the different editions of Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) must be installed. The product key on your computer / Laptop box determines what Edition is installed.

  Other manufacturers recovery DVDs are should not be used for this purpose.

  And you need to know the version of 'bit' for Vista, as well as 32-bit and 64-bit editions different DVD lights.

  Here's how to do a clean install of Vista using a DVD of Vista from Microsoft:

  "How to do a clean install and configure with a full Version of Vista '

  http://www.Vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-Vista.html

  And once the operating system is installed, go to your computer manufacturer's website and get the latest drivers for your particular model or laptop computer.

  And phone Activation may be necessary when you use the above installation method.

  "How to activate Vista normally and by Activation of the phone '

  http://www.Vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-Vista-phone.html

  See you soon.

• Windows Vista configuration

  When loading from my computer, that it says please wait the current configuration 0%, the config is not the case and the computer automatically stops and then restarts, and then comes back waiting for registration. How can I fix it?

  Follow these steps to try to solve your problems of boot.

   

  Restore point:

  http://www.howtogeek.com/HOWTO/Windows-Vista/using-Windows-Vista-system-restore/

  Do Safe Mode system restore, if it is impossible to do in Normal Mode.

  Try typing F8 at startup and in the list of Boot selections, select Mode safe using ARROW top to go there > and then press ENTER.

  Try a restore of the system once, to choose a Restore Point prior to your problem...

  Click Start > programs > Accessories > system tools > system restore > choose another time > next > etc.

  http://www.windowsvistauserguide.com/system_restore.htm

  Read the above for a very good graph shows how backward more than 5 days in the System Restore Points by checking the correct box.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   

  If the system or Mode restore safe work not and you do not have a Microsoft Vista DVD, make a repair disc to do a Startup Repair:

  Download the ISO on the link provided and make a record of repair time it starts.

  Go to your Bios/Setup, or the Boot Menu at startup and change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order, then reboot with the disk in the drive.

  At the startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, go to Setup/Bios or F12 for the Boot Menu.

  When you have changed that, insert the Bootable disk you did in the drive and reboot.

  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

  Link above shows what the process looks like and a manual, it load the repair options.

  NeoSmart containing the content of the Windows Vista DVD 'Recovery Centre', as we refer to him. It cannot be used to install or reinstall Windows Vista, and is just a Windows PE interface to recovering your PC. Technically, we could re-create this installation with downloadable media media freely from Microsoft (namely the Microsoft WAIK, several gigabyte download); but it is pretty darn decent of Microsoft to present Windows users who might not be able to create such a thing on their own.

  Read all the info on the website on how to create and use:

  http://NeoSmart.net/blog/2008/Windows-Vista-recovery-disc-download/

  ISO Burner:http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html

  It's a very good Vista startup repair disk.

  You can do a system restart tool, system, etc it restore.

  It is NOT a disc of resettlement.

  And the 32-bit is what normally comes on a computer, unless 64-bit.

  See you soon.

  Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

• How to restore Windows Vista backup on Windows XP computer?

  I was about to lose my hard drive on a computer with Vista Home Premium. Stored on an external hard drive. Not able to find my Vista rescue cd, I so installed XP Professional I've had. Attached to transfer backup files, but will not transfer.

  Original title: Save transfer problemsproblems

  Hi Marty,

  Windows Vista backup files are in. Disc format hard virtual which is only supported in Vista. You would have to restore them on a computer that is running Windows Vista and then copy the contents of the Windows XP computer.

  See also: back up and restore: frequently asked questions

  How Windows Vista backup uses zip files to store backups (and how to extract the zip files)

• How to restore Windows Vista to factory settings after a format of partition?

  HOW CAN I RESTORE TO FACTORY VISTA NINE AFTER PARTICIPATION FORMAT

  original title: HOW can I RESTORE FACTORY NEW VISTA AFTER PARTION FORMAT

  Hello

  (1) what is the brand and model of the computer?

  (2) is Windows Vista come pre-installed with the computer? If so, is there a partition or a recovery disc?

  I suggest you to contact the computer manufacturer for assistance with the factory settings.

  If you have not installed an operating system you can read the following article and reinstall Windows Vista.

  Installation and reinstallation of Windows Vista.

  http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows-Vista/installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-Vista

• How to restore Windows Vista to how it was this morning?

  original title: how to restore windows

  Hello

  I installed windows vista ultimate on my desktop xps1 and and want to go back to the way the system was this morning and the needs of hep to how.

  Note: The system was purchased with Home pemium then I upgraded to ultimate using a cd in 2009. but some problems recently and I was asked to upgrade or re - install the windows that I tried this morning but many of my programs installed is not there so I want to do back and then try upgrading insteead of custom installation, I did.

  all he said it back to step I got it this morning

  Hello Jack 76.

  "I asked me to upgrade or re - install windows.

  There is a big difference between an upgrade and a reinstall.

  "How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista"

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/933168

  As you say that you did a Custom Installation, see if you have a windows.old folder that is available and the formalities required for use according to the instructions above on how to 'dismantling' to an earlier version of the operating system.

  If you do not have the above, there is nothing that can be done about it.

• Restore Windows Vista by using Windows.old?

  From: ConraDargo

  Hey everybody!

  Yesterday, alcohol (the application) disgusted so bad that I just had to reinstall everything up from my Windows Vista. Now, since I'm done with a Windows.old folder containing everything in my previous installation of Windows Vista, I was hoping that I could use it somehow for example pick up my sidebar and how I had set up how I want Windows Vista to look (you know with the types of policies and the degree of transparency windows are etc.). But I don't know how I do?

  So far I only copied the folder Windows.old in C: user - overwrite all files that could be replaced. I hope it's OK to do? One might think that the application of integrated recovery would be able to take care of that, but apparently not.

  Any help is appreciated. I would rather not sit here for like an hour or two during the attempt manually all the way back to normal!

  Thank you.

  From: Brink

  Hello ConraDargo,

  These two Microsoft KB articles can be useful for you.

  "How to restore your personal files after you perform a custom installation of Windows Vista" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932912)

  and

  "How to restore a computer to a previous Windows installation after you install Windows Vista" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933168)

  Hope this helps,

  Shawn

  Another response of the community of Windows Vista discussion groups

• back up and restore Windows Vista Home Basic - reverse did not, access is denied. (0x80070005)

  I tried for months to the opportunity to make a return to the top and I keep getting reminders to do, but the message above is what I get AFTER it went through the whole process.  I have an external hard drive that I have chosen as the backup location.

  Hello

  make backups on an external hard drive or DVD

  see if this information helps you

  How to make a backup of your data (all Vista versions)

  http://www.vista4beginners.com/how-to-backup-your-data

  How to restore your files

  http://www.vista4beginners.com/how-to-restore-files

  If you have problems with the repost of process above in forum microsoft link that is specific to the backup below questions

  "This forum supports questions for the default backup utility in Windows Vista, Server 2008 and beyond."

  http://social.technet.Microsoft.com/forums/en-us/WindowsBackup/threads

• If I install Windows 7 on a computer with Windows Vista, it erases the manufacturer partition that allows me to restore Windows Vista?

  I have windows vista basic on my laptop & also my laptop can reinstall vista (I think that it is on a separate partition) so for my question I want to install windows 7, if I have it will remove this partition that can re - install vista?

  original title: installation using Windows 7

  Hello

  It depends on your computer maunfacturer as to whether you will be able to always use the vista recovery partition after installing windows 7

  Hewlett Packard machine; No, you can not

  Read about this HP:

  Solve a common problem of recovery.
  If the original operating system is changed to a non - Vista OS, the Recovery Manager cannot be launched either office or by pressing f11 at startup. You can use the recovery disk to restore the computer to the original state of Vista. If you are using a non - Vista OS, you can use a third-party partition management program to recover hard disk space.

  ________________________________________________________________

  Here are the different ways to reinstall Vista

  Contact the manufacturer of the laptop computer and ask them to send you to vista recovery disks to reinstall the operating system back as it was when you bought it

  they do it for a nominal cost of $

  ____________________________________________________________

  also ask them if you have a recovery partition on your hard drive to get back to the way you bought

  you would normally press F8, F9, F10 or F11 or Alt + F10 or 0 to start to start the recovery process according to the manufacturer

  Ask them of the exact key sequence

  __________________________________________________________

  or borrow a vista microsoft dvd; not a HP, Acer recovery disk etc

  Make sure that you borrow the correct 32-bit or 64-bit microsoft dvd to your computer

  they contain all versions of vista

  This is the product key that determines which version of vista is installed

  http://www.theeldergeek.com/Vista/vista_clean_installation.html

  ____________________________________________________________

  How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs and replace product manuals

  http://support.Microsoft.com/kb/326246

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  Information of Windows 7:

  so eager to upgrade to Windows 7, it will depend on if the manufacturer of your computer/laptop has windows 7 drivers available for your computer/laptop as to whether Windows 7 will work properly on your machine

  check with them

  and read this

  Windows 7 upgrade advisor

  http://www.Microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=1b544e90-7659-4BD9-9e51-2497c146af15

  Windows 7 system requirements

  http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/products/system-requirements

  Windows 7 upgrade paths

  http://TechNet.Microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772579 (WS.10) .aspx

  Compare editions of Windows 7:

  http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/products/compare

  Windows 7 Compatibility Center to check software and hardware compatibility:

  http://www.Microsoft.com/Windows/compatibility/Windows-7/en-us/default.aspx

  Windows 7 price:

  http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/en_US/list/CategoryID.50726100

  _____________________________________________________________

  and the link below is to an instance of installation of Windows 7 for any other questions about the installation of Windows 7

  http://answers.Microsoft.com/en-us/Windows/Forum/Windows_7-windows_install?page=1&tab=all

• Restore Windows Vista from Windows 7 backup

  We have two computers a main computer (laptop) with Win 7 which we travel around with. We also have a desktop with Win Vista computer to which we would like to restore the backup for even less risk losing our data. I need help on how to restore from your external hard drive made of win 7 to Win Vista.

  Thank you

  Hi Fred,.

  You can connect the external hard drive to your Windows Vista-based computer, navigate to the location where the data is stored and copy the content, and save it on the Vista computer.

  For more information, you can consult the following article:

  Restore files from a backup

  How to back up files and recover data

  Hope this information is useful.

• Windows Vista stopped working, had to restore Windows Vista

  I tried the system restore, which failed.
  I retried then system restore using a previous restore point, which also failed.
  I received the error message - system restore has failed.  System files and settings were not changed.  An unspecified error occurred during system restore.

  I then tried VAIO Recovery Center
  System Restore has failed.  I tried this action twice, both of which failed.

  VAIO hardware diagnostics
  Hard drive check and fix
  Drive C ok
  However, this has not solved the problem.

  I was not able to run the computer in Mode safe.

  I then tried the Windows Recovery CD
  Windows Vista Home Basic
  Successful recovery system.

  I went to Microsoft Fix It

  I downloaded start up, repair tool.

  I tried at the start of Windows Update, however, I got the message - unable to download updates because the service is not running.  You may have to restart your computer.

  Since the recovery of Windows, I
  Check the disk for errors - C drive
  No errors
  However, despite all of the above, I continue to encounter the following issues

  Windows Update
  Problem with automatic updates
  When I click on Windows Update, it takes about 15 minutes to load
  The Red Cross and the error - cannot currently check updates
  -0x800A0046 error code
  Also does not Update History

  Windows Defender
  Although the program is designed to automatically download the updates, updates do not download and error message - the program can't check for definition updates
  Error detected
  Code 0 x 08000408

  Windows runs very slowly, and I constantly get the message - does not

  I have not received an Operating System Recovery for Windows Vista Home Premium DVD when I bought Sony VAIO laptop
  Where can I download the recovery DVDs

  Loading desktop, an error message appears - Marketingtools.exe CLR error 80004005 the program will end now

  An other error message that has emerged recently is - explore
  Access to the 0000314E address violation.
  Read of address 0000314E

  Windows Vista mouse settings have been affected.  Instead of the blue circle, I used to have when the computer was busy, I now have a white old style timer symbol.  I'm not as able to change the mouse settings

  PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP?  I'M SORRY, HE DIDN'T THERE WAS SO MORE DETAILS, HOWEVER, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE INCLUDED EVERYTHING THAT COULD BE RELEVANT TO THE PROBLEM

  "I have not received an Operating System Recovery for Windows Vista Home Premium DVD when I bought Sony VAIO laptop.
  Where can I download the recovery DVDs.

  There is a Startup Repair (Neosmart, wrongly named Recovery disk) Disk, a disk of "Recovery to factory settings" and a disc of Microsoft Vista.

  Read the information below on how to do the recovery in the way you bought:

  Vista Media recovery obtaining and/or using the Vista recovery on your computer Partition to factory settings .

  There is no Vista free download legal available.

  http://eSupport.Sony.com/Perl/select-System.pl?PRODTYPE=1, 24,26,66,9,70,5,72

  Contact your computer manufacturer and ask them to send a recovery disk/s Vista set.

  Normally, they do this for a cost of $ small.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  In addition, ask them if you have a recovery Partition on your computer/laptop to restore it to factory settings.

  See if a manual provided with the computer or go to the manufacturer's website, email or you can call for information on how to make a recovery.

  Normally, you have to press F10 or F11 at startup to start the recovery process...

  Another way I've seen on some models is press F8 and go to a list of startup options, and launch a recovery of standards of plant with it, by selecting the repair option.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Also ask them if it is possible to do the recovery disk/s for the recovery Partition in case of a system Crash or hard drive failure.

  They will tell you how to do this.

  Every computer manufacturer has their own way of making recovery disk/s.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Or borrow a good Microsoft Vista DVD (not Dell, HP, etc).
  A good Vista DVD contains all versions of Vista.
  The product key determines which version of Vista is installed.

  There are 2 disks of Vista: one for 32-bit operating system, and one for 64-bit operating system.

  If install a cleaning is required with a good DVD of Vista (not HP, Dell recovery disks):

  Go to your Bios/Setup, or the Boot Menu at startup and change the Boot order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the boot order, then reboot with the disk in the drive.

  At the startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, go to Setup/Bios or F12 for the Boot Menu

  http://support.Microsoft.com/default.aspx/KB/918884

  MS advice on the conduct of clean install.

  http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm

  A tutorial on the use of a clean install

  http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp

  Super Guide Windows Vista Installation

  After installation > go to the website of the manufacturer of your computer/notebook > drivers and downloads Section > key in your model number > get latest Vista drivers for it > download/install them.

  Save all data, because it will be lost during a clean installation.

  See you soon.

  Mick Murphy - Microsoft partner

• Install Linux without risking the "Restore Windows Vista" partition! Pavilion 6540eo

  I would like to install Ubuntu on my laptop.

  But a friend of mine, earlier employed by a call to HP support, said that if I mess with the partition table, even if I do not change the recovery partition itself, I could ruin the restore function.

  If this is the case of tha then it is a problem since Linux wants to add a swap partition.

  Someone can confirm if this is true or not?

  Stefan

  Yes, this is usually the case. Only way to run the recovery partition after changing is to "Mark as active" the recovery partition and restart.

  If you do not have yet_Make your Vista recovery cd/DVDs, then he wll be as simple as boot from to restore the original configuration:

  http://tinyurl.com/2y4rub