How do I create a partition on my T42p?

[Basar]

So I did a recovery of factory contents on my T42p and am wondering whether I can create a partition without losing the Recovery and my current WinXp installation and install Vista? Any guides to this?

Thanks.

[zdriver]

A search on Dual Boot XP Vista will give you much information on your question.
Also, posting this in the OS Discussion area might be more appropriate and get more responses than in this T4x Hardware forum...

[Kyocera]

Before you do anything - Do you have recovery CD's??, if not burn some or get some...vey important.

I don't know if there are any guides to do this here, but I always use Partition Commander. This makes partitioning very simple. I use one of the older versions, I think it's version 8 I bought 10 but they changed it a lot and I like the older simpler interface.

You can cut up your drive however you like without disturbing your Recovery Partition. The recovery partition will be visible and you can delete it if you want to. Acronis is good too, I 'm sure there are many out there, these two have worked virtually flawless for me over many years. I have not used windows itself to create partitions so can't comment on that and probably am better off.

EDIT: I just read your post in the OS forum. Sounds like you want to Dual Boot. Create yourself a partition and boot to the Vista CD and point the install towards the new partition. Or run the vista CD inside windows XP and install it that way (this is how I have done it and it seems to work pretty good). In the past I remember there was an issue with System Restore and dual boot scenarios with XP. They may have it fixed by now but basically every time you booted into XP from Vista you would lose your restore points in Vista, I found this out the hard way. So beware if you use SR for anything it may not be there in Vista, XP has no problems.

[Basar]

Thank you for your help Kyocera. I really appreciate it. I guess I'll buy Partition Commander and create another partition in the remaining space from Recovery. I thought I wanted to install Vista at first but after seeing how slow it is on my friend's T43 with 2 gbs memory, I think I am gonna pass on it and install a clean version of XP Pro Sp2 (from a retail CD that I got so it won't have the IBM stuff on it).

Also, one more question, can I point Windows XP to the IBMTools directory to find all the drivers it might need during install?

Thanks.

[Kyocera]

You can download all the latest drivers for your system via System Updater. I usually get the Wireless Driver and the LAN driver on a USB stick to install after XP finishes, install those drivers then head to the Lenovo web site and download System updater, or just pick and choose the drivers you want from the matrix for you your machine.

You could also copy your IBM Drivers folder (on your current XP install) and put it on the USB stick and do it that way but the drivers are probably older versions if you have not updated after the factory install. You can't point XP to the recovery partition to load those drivers, XP don't know it's there.

Now all this being said I am running Vista Business SP1 on my t42 and it is pretty fast, what config does your friend have on his machine.

[Basar]

Thanks... yeah I think I am going to get the wireless and LAN drivers on a USB stick and grab SysUpdater from Lenovo's site.

I am not sure of his system, I just know he has 2 GB memory...

Mine is Intel Centrino M @ 2.1 GHz, 2 GB DDR Memory, 80 GB 5400 RPM HD, and ATI Mobility FireGL (128MB) GPU.

I have the retail version of Vista Ultimate.