You can install Windows Vista either from the bootable DVD or through a network installation using files that have been copied to a network share point. You can also launch the setup.exe file from within Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Vista to upgrade your operating system.

The Windows Vista DVD is bootable. To start the installation, you simply restart your computer and boot to the DVD. The installation process will begin automatically.

Clean Install: Collecting Information
When you boot to the Windows Vista installation media, the Setup program will automatically start the Windows Vista installation. In the Collecting Information stage of the installation, you will select your language and locale settings, enter your product key, accept the license terms, select the type of installation, and specify the install location.
The following steps are involved in a clean installation of Windows Vista (click Next after completing each step):

1. Insert the Windows Vista DVD in your computer. Restart the computer, and boot to the DVD drive. Alternatively, you can run setup.exe from the Windows Vista media or a network share. However, for this walk-through, we will explain how to boot to the Windows Vista DVD.

2. The Setup program will start automatically and begin loading files. At this point, the computer is running the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE) operating
system.

3. The Install Windows dialog box will appear. You can select the language to install, the time and currency format, and the keyboard or input method.

4. The Install Now button will appear in the center of the screen. In addition, two options will be available in the lower-left corner: What to Know Before Installing Windows, and Repair Your Computer.

5. You will be prompted to type your 25-character product key for activation. You can find the product key on a sticker on your computer or on the installation disc folder. Unlike previous versions of Windows, the product key is one long text box rather than five separate text boxes. As you type the 25-character product key, the dashes will be added for you utomatically. There is also a check box to automatically activate Windows when online.

6. The Microsoft Windows Vista license terms will appear. The installation will not allow you to click Next until you have accepted the license terms.

7. You will be prompted to select the type of installation you want to perform. A Custom installation will install a clean copy of Windows Vista and will also allow you to select the installation location or make changes to disks and partitions. This option is also required for multiboot installations.

8. You will be prompted for the location where you want to install Windows Vista. This will list all existing disks and partitions on your computer. To add, delete, format, or extend a partition, select the Drive Options (advanced) option.

9. If an existing installation of Windows is located on the partition you selected, a dialog box will appear warning you that files and folders from your existing installation will be moved to a directory named Windows.old.