windows vista format

[piggy]

my friend bought a laptop with vista preinstalled (no disk)and wants to re-format hard drive how do you go about it?

[Win2Win]

It should have a partition with Windows rescue on it. You can usually bring up the reinstall option by pressing F8 just before Windows boots up. If not partition he'll need the Windows disk.

[scoobydoo]

Yes as Keith says, it might be on a hidden partition. Some computers allow you to make recovery discs but you should be able to access the recovery through Windows too. Without this, as has been said...you will need a disc.