unable to reinstall windows due to error message

hello, i formatted my hardrive and started to reinstall windows vista, all seemed to be going fine until an error message popped up saying there is a corrupt or missing file. I belive maybe the disc is damaged as it is in a poor state, i wondered if there is anyway of getting a replacement as i do have a serial key, this version of windows come with computer when i purchased it. Cheers for any help.

Try giving the disc a rely good clean and attempt an install again before downloading and burning a new disk.

If just dirty, wash the disk with mild soap and water, then polish dry with a soft, clean microfiber cloth. If there are small scratches in the disk, you can often rub and polish them away with plain white tooth paste and your thumb. I've done this for years. Just ensure you thoroughly wash and dry the disk after that. Note tooth paste works great on scratched watch crystals too! Also, if the drive is old, it likely has had a lot of dust sucked into the works by the computer case fan. A good blast with compressed air might help there.

If you do not have a Windows Vista installation DVD (or a damaged one), you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Download Official Windows Vista RTM with SP1 Setup Files (32-bit and 64-bit).

Only Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1 (X64 or X86) download is available, but if, during the install, you do not enter the product key
when initially prompted for it (which you must have to use the download), then you will be prompted to select the version of Vista you
want to install. You can activate once the install is done.

Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Ultimate

Downloaded the Vista X64 or X86 files.

X64:
install.wim
boot.wim
X14-63453.exe

X86:
install.wim
boot.wim
X14-63452.exe

Double clicked on X14-63453.exe or X14-63452.exe. It extractes all the files into a Vista sub-folder.

Downloaded Windows Bootable Image Creator zip then extract the files to a folder:

Open the folder and run WBICreator.exe
Click Next
Select OS Type: Windows Vista
CD/DVD Label: VistaX64 or VistaX86
Setup Location: The Vista folder created when you double clicked on X14-63453.exe or X14-63452.exe.
Output Path: Somewhere with enough free space to hold the .iso file that will be created (X64 = 3,837,112KB, X86 = 3,013,816KB).
Click GO.

When done a VistaX64.iso or VistaX86.iso file will be created in the Output Path you chose.

You can use the .iso as input to a burner program like ImgBurn to create a Vista Install DVD, or you can use it as Input to
Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 to create a Vista install flash drive.

I created a X86 flash drive and used it to install a clean copy of Vista Home Basic on my HP DV2200 Laptop. Worked great using the key on the COA sticker of the laptop.

Remember to use the X64 or X86 version of Vista you currently have.

Note: You may need to download drivers for the computer from the manufacturers web site so I would suggest getting the Network (LAN and Wireless) and video/VGA drivers ahead of time so you can install them as soon as you finish installing Vista.

thanks for all the advice, tried cleaning the disc up but a few nasty scratches i think its had, think ill have to download it, cheers