You don't mean "recover" you mean reinstall Windows Vista I believe.

My advice is just buy a copy of Windows 8 64-bit OEM for about $90 (try pcpartpicker for links). I replaced Vista on my dad's laptop and it worked far, far better.

You can also get START8 to bypass the new W8 interface and add back the Start Menu ($5).

There are ways to get Vista back on but are a bit tricky, and involve finding the proper Vista OEM disc that will even install with no password and I'm not sure I can help there. I remember doing that for my brother-in-law and used a technically illegal copy that was hacked to install, then Activated with phone support using his code on the laptop sticker.

I had no problem with that since he was just replacing what he'd purchased already (Acer dicked him around).
 

weilin

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The install media is actually not unique in any way. What makes your copy of windows unique is just the key. You can use any Vista disk (OEM, retail etc) to actually install the OS (32bit/64bit doesn't matter, the key will work for either). You can borrow a disk from a friend, or your neighborhood pc repair guy and use it. Ideally, it will be the same edition (Home basic, home premium, Pro) as the key on the sticker of your laptop. However, if it's not, that's really not a problem either. You can easily modify the disk to install any version of Windows Vista you need. See if you know someone with a Vista disk lying around.

To emphasize, as long as you use your own key to install the OS, everything is perfectly legal.
 
Can't be done. Vista hasn't been supported in Years. If your computer is that old it is out of warranty and thus they wouldn't support you. If you didn't make a DVD as instructed when you first turned on the PC the very first day of use, then you won't be able to get Vista (not supported / produced any longer).

I would suggest buying Windows, but considering it is $179 Off the shelf while a brand new desktop / laptop i3 computer at Walmart is only $249, I would say that would be a waste of money considering how much 'more' value you would get out of a $249 PC, under warranty, already install with Windows (so no fussing with 'trying' to make it work), has 8GB RAM, 1TB Drive, and the latest iCore CPU it would perform 100times better then your legacy Vista machine.