Thinkpads Forum

I love this notebook. It is truely amazing, but I need to do a fresh install of windows xp. I like to install windows in my own anal retentive way. I read that you can order a cd for a small fee, but customer service said that was a big NO. They offered recovery cd's for $45. The same ones you can make for free as long as you are still under warranty, but I need an actual windows cd. Here is my question. I have a couple retail cd's and Dell OEM cd's laying around. Can I use one of these with the cd key that came with my thinkpad. I would like to know for sure before I begin the install process. I guess if I can't I will just be installing Linux, eventhough I would like to dual boot. Thanks in advance for any help.

The license that is for your machine applies only to the copy that came on the machine or the restore image.

The OEM or Dell versions you have are supposed to stay on those machines too.

However, there is no reason that a generic OEM version of Windows XP would not work on your ThinkPad except that it might not work with the product key on the sticker.

It might work, or you might have to use another key.

And $45 *is* the small fee. Much less than $300 for a copy of XP Pro in the box from Best Buy.

A retail CD will certainly work, but definitely not with the code on the sticker on the machine. There are retail keys and OEM keys at least.

I'm dual booting with Fedora Core 6 on my T60. Check out www.thinkwiki.org for information on using Linux on your ThinkPad.

Welcome to the club!

Also, instead of paying the fee, you could ask around here and I am sure some members would be happy to send you the RnR disks for your X60 for the cost of shipping.

You can make your own OEM Windows XP CD from the I386 directory and some utilities on the Web. Instructions are posted on this forum somewhere. You should also make a note of the Product Key in the unattend.txt (different one than on the COA on the bottom of the Thinkpad). The key in the unattend.txt doesn't require activation. The key is specific to Thinkpads so won't install on Dell, etc.

I didn't know the key from unattend.txt is specific to Thinkpads. Is it also unique to the original Thinkpad, or will it work on all Thinkpads? I have some older units that have lost the original I386 directory -- could I use the same key for all Thinkpads I have?

Btw, how does the WinXP setup know what kind of computer it is installing on? Is there some hardware signature that is detected?

er ... I would take the serial is the same for, at least a batch of the same machine, with the same hardware. Someone confirming ?

I did a fresh install without bothering about the .txt file. I'd like to be lead toward a solution retrieving it (in case it is still possible)

Regards

Tam