Hi there,
as i recently purchased that model I was wondering about two things- will the laptop support a 320GB hdd and also is there anything I have to know in order to freshly install windows XP- what I mean is, is there any difference in installing it than installing it on normal PC/laptop. I am asking about installing, because read some things about factory resets and things like that. Thanks.

Welcome to the forum!

As long as the hard drive is PATA/IDE in 9.5mm/2.5" format, it will work just fine.

You need an external drive - or an Ultrabase - to install the OS on X3x series, but that's about it. No different from any other computer in other respects.

Is it possible to re-install with a USB flash drive instead of an external CD ROM or docking base?

Yes...installing LInux is easy with a USB flash drive. Windows is doable, but not so easy. I've done Windows once a few years ago, but recently just borrowed a friends USB CD/DVD drive for the few hours I needed it to install Windows.

that's bad. as i don't have an external cd drive and don't know anybody who does. Is there a topic here in this forum where I can read the whole process of installing win XP on x31 via USB flash drive? cheers

You can probably pick up an ultrabase with a media drive for X3x series for 10-15 quid nowadays...not a bad thing to have, just in case...

Found one for £9, but just can't afford it now and the thinkpad is comming tomorrow probably

Here are some how to's on installing XP from a flash drive:

http://www.techtipsgeek.com/install-win ... drive/559/
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/26245 ... lash-drive
http://myeeeguides.wordpress.com/2008/1 ... ash-drive/

I don't remember now which method worked for me. I do remember that several methods I read about on-line would not work for me. But, after much trial and error I finally found stumbled across something that worked.

Should be same for the x31?

Just one more thing- is there a boot mode botton on the x31 or I have to use the BIOS Mode in order to change the first boot device?

Yes you'll have to set it up in BIOS.

Or, press F12 at the IBM splash, for boot options.

ok. thanks

Hi,
just tried to boot from usb memory stick( san disk 2GB), but there is no USB HD option in Boot Menu. in REMOVABLE DEVICES menu there is only floppy drive. what to do, any help will be welcome

Look under hard drives in BIOS, it should be there.

hi,
downloaded the ibm bios utility and updated my bios. now i see a -USB HDD option, but weird or not don't know how to select it. tried with pressing ENTER but nothing. just used the arrow kyes to go over that option and then pressed f10 to SAVE AND EXIT, but when restarted it doesn't boot from the USB.

Edit: Managed to select the USB drive, but when it starts booting what i see is a black screen with flashing Under_score like this "_" at the top left and nothing happens...

Try a different method of preparing the USB drive. Like I wrote before, most of the methods I tried didn't work for me either, but I finally stumbled upon one that did. Just don't remember which it was.

I've used this once or twice:
http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/120444- ... -with-gui/
(I used beta6 or 7)

Managed to do it. Guess didn't use the right program to create the flash USB drive.

There is just one thing that make me wonder- during the installation I wasn't ask for serial key, and there should be a serial as the key is on the bottom of the thinkpad. that's weird... do you know why

EDIT: is it normal for XP installation+SP3 to be 3GB?

Congratulations on completing the installation!

About not needing a serial key, the IBM recovery discs don't need a key to install, but I doubt that is what you used. Genuine Microsoft installation media will always, AFAIK, require a key to install.

And, yes, a fresh install of XP is often about 3GB. Don't worry, it will soon grow to be much larger.

Thanks. Used a genuine XP disc that came with the thinkpad together. I am asking about the size of the xp install folder, as at the boot screen I have the option to choose between two win xp professional OS and i am sure i completely wiped the whole HDD before installing the new one.

P.S. tried to open xp install folder in C:/, but i only hear a beep sound and the folder doesn't want to open. Is it from the thinkpad( some sort of protection) or it might be software issue???

You've kind of lost me now...Was this a single XP install disc? Is it a factory pressed disk with the Microsoft hologram on it? Or, a ThinkPad factory pressed recovery disc set? Or something else?

Sure looks like you have two XP installations. What method did you use to "wipe" the HDD before installing the new XP?

Hi,
got two cd's with the thinkpad together. the guy I bought the thinkpad from said they are Windows XP+SP3 disc. One says its automated and the other one manual. On the disc you can see the windows logo and also windows professional title. It also says FOR USE WITH THINKPAD X31 ONLY.

To wipe the HDD i used the option provided in the XP installation, the part where you choose on which drive to install it. I have only C: and choose the FORMAT( not the quick format option). that's why i was think the hdd should be completely wiped.

P.S. if there are two XP installations isn't the used hard drive space to small for both of them. There are only 3GB of used space.