How to take out the xp installation file from IBMt42

[neo79]

Hi everyone, i am new here.

4 months ago i bought the ibmt42. it is really nice laptop, good looking and powerful.
however, i do not have a separate xp installation cd, this makes system reinstallation very troublesome, e.g backup files.....

any one know how to "take out" the xp installation file from t42 and make a bootable cd?

thanks inadvance.

[/b]

[thisrob]

Hi, you should seriously consider using the search.
You could even find stuff like:

1. do create a set of rescue and recovery cds
rescue and recovery on clean blank hard disk how it works
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=90510#90510

2. create your cd
How to Fresh Install Win XP (Step-by-Step Guide)
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=

[neo79]

hi, thanks a lot. i am reading it now.

[thisrob]

Your welcome, good luck with it!

[neo79]

Hi, i followed those steps and created the bootable xp installation CD!!!

But i wonder two things:

1. do i need to call microsoft to activate my xp each time i do a fresh install?

2. if i choose not to activate using the method in the steps, will i be able to upgrade my xp using internet?

thanks a lot.

[thisrob]

Hi, i followed those steps and created the bootable xp installation CD!!!
But i wonder two things:
1. do i need to call microsoft to activate my xp each time i do a fresh install?
2. if i choose not to activate using the method in the steps, will i be able to upgrade my xp using internet?
thanks a lot.

1. if you use the method below, your windows will be allready activated and you will NOT have to active it after installing

- use the serial which comes with the factory install:
the serial i used and works, is the one i retrieved from the factory preinstall (i recovered using recovery disks) using magic jelly bean keyfinder, the one mentioned in the fresh xp tutorial
link: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

- use a winnt.sif file
this is the one i use: http://www.lijktmeduidelijk.nl/grab/?winnt.sif
edit it using notepad for example and fill in your productkey *(which you retrieved from fact. install using keyfinder tool mentioned above), and place it in \i386 on your bootable cd image

MAKE SURE IT IS CALLED: WINNT.SIF, not WINNT.SIF.TXT (as windows might save it as a .txt)

2. i dont know

[jdhurst]

It is always valuable to have the installation CD's - so much so that I always call IBM and get them (my T41 won't make them). But a couple of things:

1. F11 from startup will recover faster than installation CD's.
2. If you reduce the C: partition (Partition Magic or some such), you can put your data on a different partition that should stay intact if you have to recover.
3. Most importantly, it is entirely possible to:
* set up your ThinkPad properly
* update all the drivers
* patch Windows completely
* patch Office completely
* secure the system entirely with antivirus, firewall and anti-spyware
* use the system sensibly
and never have to recover it again, barring a drive failure.
... JD Hurst

[neo79]

thank all of you so much for those valuable information.

[STS06]

So the alternative to creating your own is to simply ask IBM for one?...is it free (it should be free right?)?

Thanks for the help.

[neo79]

IBM only give recovery cds and never give xp installation cds.

[jdhurst]

IBM only give recovery cds and never give xp installation cds.

True, but the recovery CD's includes XP licensed for the ThinkPad.
... JD Hurst