Problem develops trying back up T60 with XP, please help

[Muse]

Today I got the idea to back up one of my laptops, a T60 running XP. It
serves as my data server, on 24/7. I have a 2TB external USB HD attached
to it where I keep my data. The laptop has a 340GB HD, just one
partition (around 30GB used). I decided it was time to Ghost the OS in
case something goes wrong, so I wouldn't have to basically start over
installing the OS, Windows Updates, installing stuff, yada yada.

So, I put in my Ghost CD (Norton Ghost 2003), and boot from that. To
pick a drive or partition to make an image, from I saw the main drive
and the USB drive. But when picking a place to write the image files I
didn't see the external USB drive. Guess I can't write to the main
HD if it isn't partitioned. So, I reasoned that I would have to
partition the main HD to have a separate data partition. So, I install
Partition Magic 7.0, which I've done quite a few times on my computers
and instruct it to create the 2nd partition. It was to be 210 GB,
leaving around 90GB, something like that for the boot partition. I
indicated that I didn't want to be able to boot from the new partition.
Partition Magic also saw the "Service..." partition, which is, I
suppose, the partition where recover files are located. It recommended
having my new partition AFTER the Service partition, and I accepted that
setting, clicked "Apply Changes" and let Partition Magic reboot the
machine and run its batch file that accomplishes its mission. I went to
do some errands, came back to the machine and saw an error on the
monitor that occurred some time after the batch file began running. The
message said:
- - - -
Exception C0000005 has occurred at address 011119CD (000809CD) in
xmnt2001.exe.

StackAddr:
0012F340: 00000000 00000000 01159114 00DC1CDB
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.
etc.

Insert a floppy then contact PowerQuest technical support at:
<contact info>

Error C0000034 opening the floppy device
- - - -
Now, the error opening the floppy device I think had to do with its
attempt to write an error file.

Anyway, now every time I try to reboot I get this:
- - - -
A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevbent
damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart
your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Disable or uninstall any anti-virus, disk defragmentation or backup
utilities. Check your hard drive configuration, and check for any
updated drivers. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and
then restart your computer.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203,0x8A000cA0,0xC0000102,0x00000000)
- - - -
So, I insert a Windows XP install disk and get to a prompt. Tried
running fixmbr, to no apparent avail. I don't think the parameters were
correct. Anyway, the thing appears to be that the prompt is at the C:
drive, but a dir command reveals that it's the external USB drive that's
coming up as the C: drive. The machine isn't recognizing the internal
HD.

What should I do here? I have an external 2.5" USB HD enclosure, I could
put the 340GB drive in there and attach it to one of my other machines.
I also have a caddy I could use with one of my other laptops (T60 and
T61). Assuming the HD is OK, I could partition it and format the
partitions that way and install XP anew. I have T60 XP recovery disks.
Can I install XP that way to one of two partitions on the disk?

Thanks for any help.

[rkawakami]

So, in a nutshell this is what you wanted to do and what happened:

- you intended to image the single partition main drive (XP OS) and write the file onto the external USB drive
- discovered that Ghost would not allow you to do that operation for some reason
- tried re-partitioning the main drive by putting the "new" 210GB partition after the recovery (Service) partition
- error occurred during re-partitioning
- you ran fixmbr
- now the main drive is not bootable

Ghost should have allowed you to write the image file onto the external USB drive as it was previously seen as a source drive. I think that the only way Ghost would not give you the option of writing to the USB drive is if it was the source. Note that I too use Ghost 2003 as my clone/imaging program but I use a boot floppy, not the CD (see below). My guess is that Partition Magic erred in suggesting that the 210GB partition be located after the Service partition and/or screwed up the partition table in some way.

I would at least try the following:

- from power-off condition, disconnect the external USB drive, boot the T60, access the BIOS and see if it identifies the main drive
- if it's not listed in BIOS, then something is wrong with the drive; re-seat the drive and re-boot or remove it and see if another system can see it in a USB enclosure
- if it is listed in BIOS, attempt to boot from it
- if you still get the same 0x00000024 error, Microsoft says this about it: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... 21f9087d12

If you're at the point of starting from scratch, then yes, I do believe that you can partition the drive in another computer (i.e., split the drive into two partitions) and then install XP into C: drive. I'm pretty sure that I've done that before on some of my XP systems. I know it works for Windows 98 as I just had to do this for a friend's system. Although that was using a retail copy of W98, not a factory recovery disk. And even if it doesn't work, you should be able to use Partition Magic to get everything re-adjusted.

Ghost 2003: I use the boot floppy option for my systems. It allows me to clone/image drives to and from an Ultrabay HD adapter, or write images onto DVDs. You can even make the first DVD bootable by transferring the Ghost boot floppy image onto the DVD. When restoring, all you do is boot the first DVD which loads Ghost into memory and then proceed with the data transfer. For the older Thinkpads that don't boot from USB (and even some of the ones that do), I mount the laptop onto a port replicator that has one of those special external floppy drive connectors (about an inch wide and real thin). A 600-era external floppy housing (with the requisite Ultraslimbay floppy drive) has the right connector for this port. This way you get a three-spindle machine consisting of a (1) floppy with a Ghost disk, (2) the main hard drive and (3) an Ultrabay hard drive in an adapter or a DVD writer.

[dr_st]

I would suggest using different tools for the purpose.

Partition Magic has been known to screw up every once in a while - you are not the first.

Ghost as a backup solution, especially older versions of it, have always been notoriously finicky - not seeing external drives, refusing to backup to the same partition.

Acronis True Image will agree to backup a system partition, onto the same partition (or a different partition on the same drive), splitting the archive into whatever size you want, excluding any files / directories you want, from within Windows, while Windows is running.

And if you need to clone/restore a drive, which does require the preboot environment, it's set up in a smarter way - it load Windows' own drivers, and then runs the preboot. Meaning you won't suddenly run into a problem of your external drive not being visible, because there is no driver for the USB/SATA controller, etc. If Windows sees it, so will the preboot.

[Muse]

rkawakami, thank you so much for posting this. I have only now been able to access the forums, they've been down until now AFAIK, I've tried probably over 25 times. I posted at Anandtech, got >80 views but no answers. You actually took the time to read and comprehend what I did. Thank you! And thank you especially for the detailed and thought-out answer.

You appear to comprehend my situation! Excellent!!

Yes, I was confused why Ghost could see the USB drive when picking a place to image but didn't give me the option to write to it, especially strange because my image was of the internal HD. I've seen this kind of thing happen before but have no idea when or why it happens.

I don't currently have floppy disk access with the T60. It IS mounted on a model 2504 mini dock. Yes, it would add a lot if I could have access to a DVD burner or optical bay placed HD. I have both, also a USB 2.5" HD enclosure, as I indicated.

As you probably know the forums were inaccessible for several days starting over a week ago. I managed to access your post, but the threads were locked, thus I did not reply. I did prepare an answer, and I'm editing it to update to the present right now.

I have a temporary workaround, being my T61. I've attached the external 2TB data drive to it and mapped it from my other machines, so the network is up, just not using the T60 with the problem. I hope to get that fixed now so I can again make the T61 one of the "satellite" machines, not the server machine.

I just accessed the BIOS of my troubled T60. In the initial screen there's no mention of HDD's. However, when I went into the Startup menu I saw the HD in the boot sequence, so I figure it sees it, at least enough to determine the brand and model of the HD. I went to the Microsoft link you provided on the ..00024 error. I just tried their remedy, but the Windows Recovery utility doesn't detect a HD, so I had no opportunity to run chkdsk /r, the proposed fix.

I know I can install XP on a partitioned drive. What I don't know is if the recovery disks will let me do that (or the Recovery Console accessible when starting the Thinkpad) or if it insists on reformatting the HD into a single partition. The Recovery Console appears to be working (hit Thinkvantage button on boot). It has no backups registered so the only thing it appears to be able to do is restore the machine to the original factory condition, or so it indicates. I stopped short of doing that (hit Cancel) because I'm hoping to avoid that. Also, I'm not sure it can actually do it if I attempt to proceed with that. It might fail if there's something wrong with the drive. I'm also unsure, as I say, if it will let me install on the first of a multi-partitioned drive. I don't know what shape the drive is in. I could remove the HD, put in external enclosure or optical drive adapter and see if one of my other machines can see the HD or do something with it. It's a WD HD, so can run WD Diagnostics and see what I see.

I presume that my mini-dock doesn't feature the floppy drive support that your port replicator does. Is that true?

[Muse]

dr_st, thanks for the excellent suggestions. Indeed I have Acronis True Image, even printed out the manual some time ago. The reason I haven't been using it is just that I've never used it before, I'm a certified newbie with respect to it and I have used Ghost for many years, it's so simple, but as you say far from fool proof and now I've got trouble.

The question at the moment is what to do now to get the machine working.

[dr_st]

To answer your question, you need to answer two questions first:

1) Are you still trying to salvage the existing install or have you given up on that?
2) Is there any data on that hard drive that you want to salvage, beyond the OS itself? If so, is it on the boot partition, or the other one?

[Muse]

To answer your question, you need to answer two questions first:

1) Are you still trying to salvage the existing install or have you given up on that?
2) Is there any data on that hard drive that you want to salvage, beyond the OS itself? If so, is it on the boot partition, or the other one?

1. Yes, I haven't given up on salvaging that Windows install, but I realize it might very well be impossible to do that.
2. No, there's no data on there that I'm aware of that I would care about salvaging.

If (1) is not possible, I suppose my preferred option would be to partition the HD into maybe 90GB and ~200GB and install XP on the 90GB. I think I'd prefer to do the Thinkpad install, not a generic XP install. Don't know. Of course the COA is on the machine. I have recovery CDs. The Recovery Console suggests it can restore to factory default XP installation but I don't know if it's bluffing, IOW maybe it can't, I haven't tried that, doubt the HD would accept it even if it could to a good HD. If I go forward abandoning Ghost and use WD True Image instead, I suppose according to what you say it doesn't matter if I partition the HD. I have another 320GB HD I could use if this one is unsalvagable for any reason, but I realize it probably is still usable. Thanks for the help.

[dr_st]

The recovery partition / recovery disk will wipe your hard drive clean and repartition it to a single partition + the recovery partition.

After that you are free to split the partition any way you like, except that Partition Magic may once again screw up on you. But there are other partitioning tools out there.

[Muse]

The recovery partition / recovery disk will wipe your hard drive clean and repartition it to a single partition + the recovery partition.

After that you are free to split the partition any way you like, except that Partition Magic may once again screw up on you. But there are other partitioning tools out there.

Thank you. A quick search reveals that there are a number of free partitioning utilities I can download. Guess I'll do some reading, pick one and try it.

I have a 2nd T60, was wondering if I should use that for my server machine instead, it's a T5500 with GMA950 Intel graphics. However this machine (the one with the problem) has discreet graphics, it's a T2400 with ATI x1300. My notes include something I got somewhere that suggests that discreet graphics is not suitable for my downstairs laptop, which I have in a 2504 mini-dock, DVI out going to a 23" LCD and VGA going to a 19" LCD monitor for dual monitor use. My note suggests that the discrete graphics would only let me use DVI out from the mini-dock and I would not be able to get VGA out to the 19" monitor LCD monitor. Is this true? It's not a big deal, I suppose, I can just keep using the T2400 in its current usage as the server upstairs. I certainly want dual monitor with the downstairs laptop.

[Muse]

I put the HD in enclosure, attached to this, my desktop running XP. The drive is seen but when I clicked on it in Explorer a message said it couldn't read it. Went into Disk Management and the drive is shown as healthy with 2 healthy partitions including the SERVICE partition (not the 3rd that Partition Magic was to create).

Went to command prompt and am running this:

G:\chkdsk /r J:

G: is my operating system drive. J: is where the external HD is seen. It's running, is currently on step 4 of 5, checking the data. That's somewhat slow. It's 91% complete. Don't know if this can repair damage to the MBR, I think it's supposed to fix damage to partition tables, don't know for sure. Will see what happens. Maybe I can run fixmbr or mbrfix on the HD and make it usable again without reinstalling Windows.

Edit: It finished checking the data, stage 4, and is in the final stage, checking free space. Oh boy, this looks like it's going to take a long time. It's at 3% complete after ~5 minutes. Most of the drive is indeed free space, about 90%. Extrapolating, that's another ~3 hours.

[Muse]

chkdsk/r J: finally finished. Windows XP now sees the drive and its data. Will XP boot when it's put back in the T60? Shall see presently. If not, I think a fixmbr may get it working.

Hmm. Windows offered to start in Normal Mode, could have picked Save Mode, etc. Went with Normal Mode, but the Windows startup screen just stayed there for about 10 minutes, the little left--->right therm bar doing its thing. I finally turned off the machine, started it again expecting to be able to choose Safe Mode startup, but it went right to the startup screen, where it's just sitting again...

Popping in the Windows XP OEM install disk. Will run the Recovery Console and see if that fixes it.

Whoa! A screen pops up when I ask it to recover Windows (this came up before I ran chkdsk on the drive earlier in the day before removing it from the T60, too):
- -
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.

Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.

Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3.

[ajkula66]

Change the SATA controller setting in BIOS from AHCI to compatibility and the drive will be "seen" by XP.

[dr_st]

My notes include something I got somewhere that suggests that discreet graphics is not suitable for my downstairs laptop, which I have in a 2504 mini-dock, DVI out going to a 23" LCD and VGA going to a 19" LCD monitor for dual monitor use. My note suggests that the discrete graphics would only let me use DVI out from the mini-dock and I would not be able to get VGA out to the 19" monitor LCD monitor. Is this true?

No. With a T60, both the discrete and the integrated graphics are capable of outputting to dual monitors, using any of the combinations below:

Internal LCD + VGA
Internal LCD + DVI
VGA + DVI

[Muse]

Change the SATA controller setting in BIOS from AHCI to compatibility and the drive will be "seen" by XP.

Uh, why was it working before? What has changed? I won't have time to do this until later today, but I'll try it. Assuming it works, should I leave it at compatibility? What are the issues?

[dr_st]

XP has no native SATA AHCI drivers. It is possible to install XP on an AHCI drive by injecting a driver during installation, or it is possible to install it in compatibility mode, and later add the driver. But the XP installation CD itself does not have the drivers built-in.

[Muse]

Well, I'm wondering why the machine was working before, what's changed. Anyway, I'll certainly try that. If the machine is indeed configured to AHCI, something must have removed the AHCI capability, i.e. blocked or removed the AHCI driver that was allowing it to work.

[Muse]

I changed the SATA controller setting to compatibility mode and got past that problem. When booting, the machine started running the Partition Magic 7.0 batch file. I decided to let it run. It errored out saying there was a bad sector (I have a hard time believing there's a bad sector after having run chkdsk / 4 against the drive when attached to my desktop) and it couldn't proceed and that no changes were made, press any key to continue. I press a key and all this happens again! There was a previous screen saying I could press any key to abort and I did that. Eventually I get into Windows but get an error when it opens up:

The application or DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\oledlg.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette.

I Googled this and got hits. One person said:
- -
I think you will need to run system file checker.
Put your XP CD in the drive, open a command prompt and type:
sfc /scannow

Windows checks to see if any critical files are damaged. If so, SFC will replace them.
- - - -
Another person in the same thread ( http://www.techspot.com/community/topic ... ror.16640/ ) said:
- -
I don't have that .dll on my system, and by the sounds of it (a google search) I think you are the only person on the net with it. I think the file is a virus or somesuch. I think you should virus scan your machine with an up to date anti-virus software.
- -

So, I opened MS Security Essentials and am running a Quick Scan. If that doesn't fix it, I'll try the sfc /scannow technique. Is that done within Windows at a command prompt or do I have to do that outside of Windows somehow?

There are other hits I got Googling. One recommended downloading their utility which will fix a bunch of Windows stuff, including registry entries. I'm reticent to download something I have no reason to believe is OK, although the page looks very legit:

Download Oledlg.dll Repair Tool: http://www.helpcomp.com/help/pc/f-Oledl ... Qgod73MAFA

[dr_st]

So, I opened MS Security Essentials and am running a Quick Scan. If that doesn't fix it, I'll try the sfc /scannow technique. Is that done within Windows at a command prompt or do I have to do that outside of Windows somehow?

Windows command prompt.

If that fails, you can try a repair installation from the Windows XP CD.

I'm reticent to download something I have no reason to believe is OK, although the page looks very legit:

Download Oledlg.dll Repair Tool: http://www.helpcomp.com/help/pc/f-Oledl ... Qgod73MAFA

If that page looks legit to you, I have to question your judgment regarding what's legit on the internet... It may be due to inexperience.

Try these solutions from the same folks:
http://www.helpcomp.com/help/pc/f-erect ... ection.exe
http://www.helpcomp.com/help/pc/f-world ... orldhunger


General remark: downloading all sorts of dubious "how to fix problems" miracle solutions that are phrased with generic terms on unknown websites is the quickest step to render your PC unusable. Haven't you had enough of that?

[Muse]

OK, I admit, I often feel very inexperienced. However, I've got fairly decent instincts a lot of the time (I've been through a few fires, more than I can remember over the years). I did say I was hesitant to do that download. I guess you are right in saying that that site does not come off as totally legit.

Wow, I just looked at your links and have to think those people are pretty spurious. OK, NOT legit!

Well, I am glad to report that running sfc /scannow at a Windows Command prompt (had an OEM XP install disk in the drive, don't know if that helped or not) appears to have solved the problem with oledlg.dll. I did a Quick Scan with MS Security Essentials (took over 5 hours, I believe), but the problem did not go away. Every time I opened Windows a dialog opened complaining about that file, and if I closed it another one opened immediately, generally with a different title bar but the same message, ad infinitum. A reboot after running the sfc command and there are no messages, so maybe I'm out of the woods.

Question: Should I leave the BIOS SATA setting on compatibility mode or should I install something to give my ACHI compliance, i.e. a driver, presumably supplied by Lenovo? Somehow AHCI used to work.

[dr_st]

Well, I am glad to report that running sfc /scannow at a Windows Command prompt (had an OEM XP install disk in the drive, don't know if that helped or not) appears to have solved the problem with oledlg.dll.

sfc is useful in situations where system files are corrupt. It helped me more than once. It may or may not require having the XP CD in the drive - depending on how the OS was installed and whether the installation files remained on the hard drive.

Question: Should I leave the BIOS SATA setting on compatibility mode or should I install something to give my ACHI compliance, i.e. a driver, presumably supplied by Lenovo? Somehow AHCI used to work.

What happens if you just switch it now to AHCI?

[Muse]

I switched it to AHCI and after the Windows startup screen disappears the screen goes interminably blank. 10 plus minutes. I changed back to Compatibility and Windows wanted to check the drive for errors and I let it do that and Windows then booted. I have to think an AHCI driver became disabled somehow. I'll scout around for one for the T60.

Edit: Hmm. I go to Thinkvantage Productivity Center in Windows, select System Update/Get new updates and it throws an error message: An error ocurred while gathering user information... [OK] Really! I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't do a fresh Windows install. I don't do much with the machine other than do the Windows Updates. I don't browse the internet with it or do email or any of that usual stuff. It just sits on 24/7 and lets me access the attached USB big HD (shared) from my other machines. So, I figured it would be a very long time before the OS got screwed up. Maybe running Partition Magic threw a monkey wrench in the works.

Edit2: Well, going into the TPC again, I see an option to "rejuvenate" my system. Looks intriguing, so it evidently will restore from a backup and there's a handful, the last being from 2012. I figure, why not? I select it, it says to not touch the system while doing it, but nothing seems to be happening. Umm.

Edit3: I go to CP/System/Device Manager and something happens I've never seen before -- Device Manager will not open! I have to think something's really wrong. The session is hosed, I can't close Control Panel, rundll32.dll isn't working, I can't properly shut down the machine, will have to pull the power cord... Managed to reboot and get into Device Manager.

[dr_st]

If you really don't use the machine for much, and don't have any useful apps/data on it, just wipe and do a fresh install. You've wasted to much time on it as it is, in my opinion.

[Muse]

If you really don't use the machine for much, and don't have any useful apps/data on it, just wipe and do a fresh install. You've wasted to much time on it as it is, in my opinion.

I really agree. I don't want to spend more time, however it's working right now, AFAIK with the exception that AHCI is not installed, it's in compatibility mode. Is that issue, assuming it really is an issue, worth reinstalling Windows?

There's one app installed, and I had to uninstall it and reinstall it yesterday, a fair amount of work. However today I backed it up and all its data, so reinstalling it would be very easy if I reinstall Windows. However, absent more trouble I don't know if reinstalling is worth the trouble if it's just to get AHCI working. Would that speed up retrieval of data on the network?

One more question, please. If I do a restore off the recovery console and go to the factory default installation, will AHCI be in effect? Presumably I can change to AHCI before doing the restore and it would work?

[dr_st]

it's working right now, AFAIK with the exception that AHCI is not installed, it's in compatibility mode. Is that issue, assuming it really is an issue, worth reinstalling Windows?

Assuming the issue you refer to is AHCI, the answer is no.

[Muse]

it's working right now, AFAIK with the exception that AHCI is not installed, it's in compatibility mode. Is that issue, assuming it really is an issue, worth reinstalling Windows?

Assuming the issue you refer to is AHCI, the answer is no.

Yup, AHCI. Well, I'll sit tight and see how things go. Next sign of trouble and I'm going to restore to factory defaults, presumably after setting SATA to AHCI in the BIOS. I got the idea this afternoon that I may have backed up the partition early on after installing. I'll look around and see if I can find a backup (Ghost). Unfortunately, the first WD 2TB USB HD I had attached to that machine died and I wasn't able to retrieve a lot of the data. There may have been a Ghost of the boot drive on that drive. Thank you for your help!

[Muse]

Looking in my Ghost table (should have done that a couple of weeks ago!) I see that I made an image of the problem machine's HD in June 2012. My notes indicate that at that time Ghost 2003 also wasn't able to offer the 2TB USB HD as a write option. I worked around that by using my first external HD, a Cavalry 500GB. Therefore it looks to be possible to restore from that if and when I want to. Nothing to lose.

I'm probably going to have to do something similar with my Win7 64bit T61, which suddenly developed a bad problem a couple days ago. There were Windows Updates to install and the machine failed to properly configure them, but every time it attempts to reboot, the same message comes up. It appears to be an interminable loop. There may be another way out of it, but restoring a Ghost image is the one that comes to mind. Hopefully, Windows Update will succeed then.

[farmall]

I prefer, because speed and convenience are everything, to always be ready to nuke-and-pave, especially with XP.

It's fast, it's easy, and there is no downside. Updates download just fine at night after I go to bed.

I rescue any data using a live FalconFour or Linux CD/USB if there's anything I want, then blow it away. (Keep those handy to immediately get back on the internet or to do repairs.
FalconFour has MANY Windows troubleshooting tools applicable to XP, 7, etc.)

My T61s are fine with Windows Ultimate in clean installs. I've not had any update problems yet. (I keep a couple of USB sticks prepped for Windows 7 installs. Create an install USB by using win2flash portable or other tool, then paste in a folder with all your preferred apps and drivers. I don't bother activating online since Daz Loader is faster and if you have a valid license it matters not how you activate.)

I have imaging tools but quit using them as I now look on each clean install as an opportunity to try different applications.

As XP goes unsupported you may consider a fresh 2003 Server install for your server if you don't want to run any of the free and simple and safer Linux solutions.

[Muse]

Thanks for those comments/ideas, Farmall. Many ideas there I have little to no knowledge about. Quick question, if I want to run Windows Server 2003 on the T60 machine to run 24/7 for my home network, how would I do this? Would I have to look for a copy on ebay or something?

Edit: Actually, looks like I will have to stick with Windows. I run nothing on the machine other than standard maintenance stuff like Security Essentials, but do run one app regularly that requires Windows:
- -
System Requirements

Total Recorder Standard Edition requires: a sound card, and a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later), Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. If you want to use Total Recorder with an older operating system, please follow this link.
- - -
That link informs me that to run older Windows (e.g. Windows 2000), I'd have to run an earlier version of Total Recorder, e.g. ver. 7.1.
- - - -

Someone has suggested I look into Windows XP Black Edition, which I can torrent. It's kind of a pirate project, but I assume that once XP goes unsupported there won't be legal ramifications (or moral) and presumably someone will maintain it on some level. Well, it's a thought. Or I could maybe buy a copy of Vista or Windows 7 for that T60, if I'm concerned about the lack of support. But really, since I don't browse or do anything actively online with the machine, perhaps security considerations are not too important for it.