Thinkpads Forum

Hi,
I have a T30 (older model) that had Windows XP pre installed but it got erases after I attempted to reformat. I can't find the recover CDs anywhere including Lenovo or IBM. Can I simply buy Windows XP OS and install and it will work?

Thanks a lot,
Doug.

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

Two choices: use a retail copy of Windows XP (with license key) and then download and install all of the IBM drivers/software. Or use an IBM recovery disk set and your system will be restored to a factory like-new condition. You will still have to download all of the Microsoft updates since then (SP3, for example) any you may want to check and see if any IBM drivers were updated since the time that the recovery disk was made, but generally, this is the best way to go.

Get a set of recovery CDs from eBay or from Lenovo.

Or you can buy, like you said, a retail copy of Windows XP, these are quite cheap nowadays.

But I would go for the first option becuase no serial key is required and nor is activation. I just restored my HP dx2200MT desktop from Vista Ultimate to XP Pro and I was delighted to find that no activation was required!

The reason why activation is a problem is if you need to re-install Windows, and you use a retail CD and serial key, you can only use the serial key once on one machine (unless you wait a few months), and so you'll have to pay for a new key to re-install, whereas with the restore CDs, you won't.

Hope this helps!!

Check your "new messages" at the top of this page.

douggie1977, how's this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/MS-XP-Professional- ... 3efe25d903
Windows XP Pro including SP3, for $35.00?? Cheapest genuine Windows XP that I could find on ebay.com.

Where does it say genuine?
Would you honestly buy from an eBayer with username jollyroger47?
The Jolly Roger is the notorious flag with skull and crossbones, as used by pirates.
'nuff said!