Thinkpads Forum

Long story short, a friend gave me an R32 laptop with a failing HD and FANTASTIC battery (20 min life on full charge). Replaced HD with a larger one, installed XP and used COA key on bottom of laptop. Works fine until i try to activate. From the forum i see i may need the OEM version from IBM for key to work.

Anyone help me out with a link or a copy?


(This is going to be a gift for a friend, so i'm about to give up and try installing 98 on this machine, so a quick response would be appreciated).

Thanks a lot!

the key on the thinkpad os for the original OS.. not XP..
you need to use the key for that copy of XP or pay bill gates for a copy of XP..
then bill and melinda can use your $$ to buy some african school children some computers..

or you can buy a used copy or you can dig up a set of recovery CD's and use the original OS..

Hmmmmmm

Well, the COA says it's for XP pro...

I guess i'll just change it to 98...

Thanks anyway!

i see yoor title here is "Need OEM disc(s) for R32", what they are usually called is "recovery CD's"..

it it SAYS XP PRO, on that thinkpad, then what you need is the recovery CD set..
run that and VIOLA!, you get your OS..