Hitachi 7K200 Drive install questions!

[WVZR1]

I've got a T60 2007-GCU that's quite fresh with nothing I care to retain from it's original hard drive. I've got the 7 disk Recovery package dated Aug '06 that covers my model #. I've also got a FRU 39T2507 DVD MUTI + that I'm quite sure didn't come with the unit originally. I've seen posts regarding the model change procedure to add hardware. Is this something I need to be concerned with or will the drive be seen and the appropriate matching "write" software be installed? I don't believe it was originally delivered with the DVD "write"!
The drive is removed from an external drive from the "Best Buy" deal that was posted. Is there any preparation that needs to be done to that drive prior to the install? Is the install pretty much just confirm in the BIOS "boot from CD" and start slipping the disks to it?
Once the install is done from the factory disks and all updates are accomplished is the capability to make a recovery disk from the machine restored or by doing the install will that option be lost? I didn't realize I had so many questions!
I've searched, read several threads and confused myself considerably! I thought it best to just ASK!

[barrywohl]

When you use the seven disk recovery set, you'll get back to an image of exactly what was delivered with the machine including:
The original hidden partition,
The original OS and ThinkVantage software,
The ability to make more recovery disks.

I did that recently to give my machine a 7K200 Hitachi drive when it came installed with a 7K100 Hitachi drive.

After installing from the recovery DVDs I got from IBM, I had to run System Update 3 to update my machine, and then I had to install software from the Lenovo website to make the UWB Bluetooth work.

I think the new DVD burner won't be installed, but I'm not sure. It might be if that drive was an option with the original machine. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

[WVZR1]

I'm guessing I was quite successful with the install. It certainly is a rather lengthly ordeal. The DVD + seems to be installed, though I've not tried it and after 80 + XP updates and nearly 20 or so Lenovo I've got only one error that I didn't recognize and that's an ATI CCC MOM.integration so I uninstalled the CCC.

I'll likely study this a bit more and attempt to put it back. The drive shows as 186 G with 168 available. Is that appropriate for the install from the 7 CD pack on a 200 G drive? Drive is very quiet

I don't notice any significant start-up savings but it's got "All the ThinkPad" features loaded presently. I've made no attempts to trim any of those "features" and I need to study that at considerable length I guess.

[barrywohl]

You might check in "Device Manager" to see that everything is installed correctly with no "Unknown Device" indications.

186 GB is fine. You have a 6GB hidden partition also. You can see this if you go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Storage | and then you can look at the space allocation on your C drive. 168 GB free is great also.

On my system, I partitioned the 7K200 drive into a 62GB C: partition and into a 120 GB E: (data) partition, on the advice of some of the local gurus here. One good thing from this partition is that it limits how much space System Restore will grab to 15% of 62 GB rather than 15% of 182 GB. This gives me fewer restore points, but plenty enough.

Check out the DVD and see if it works. If it shows up correctly in Device Manager, it will probably work fine.

[BillMorrow]

in my experience, IF that DVD drive is one that can be ordered with that T6x series thinkpad then the recovery process WILL install the appropriate drivers..

in the past, the recovery process will look to see what hardware is there and install drivers for what it sees as long as the driver is included with the recovery "image"..

[rokahn]

I've read that the only 7K200 200GB with encryption has part number 0A53070. Is this true...I don't see mention of this on Hitachi's site? Note, Newegg and most other trustworthy vendors only carry another model.

After installing 7k200 and rebuilding machine, does fingerprint reader unlock drive's encryption? Is there anything one should do to turn on encryption?