Hindus ~ What Form/Shape Did Hinduism Exist In, Before The Advent Of The Holy Vedas?

What I am trying to ascertain is did Hinduism actually begin with the birth of the Vedas or did it exist before the birth of the Vedas.....The Vedas were given to us by Rishi Ved Vyasa...But where and how did Rishi Veda Vyasa acquire all his knowledge from?