T60p - A couple of question before reinstalling from scratch

[Ivan Ivankovic]

Hi!

I need to do a complete reinstallation of my T60p. From scratch.
Since I've got a 2007-YLX I've got no preinstalled Windows (but I got my legal MSDNAA copy right here) I need to do the whole thing myself which is great since I can control the whole thing from the beginning to the end and I want to do a perfect install. I need your help and advice.
Now, the questions:

1. How can I get my system into "zero-day" status? Does Factory reset do the job and what does it do exactly? Will it remove the previous backup I have (made with Rescue and Recovery)?
This is really imporant since I don't want anything to "survive" from the current installation

2. Once I get my system nice and clean, is there a way to install Windows XP SP2 Pro with AHCI enabled? (since I've got no floppy,hence no drivers to provide to the windows installation)

3. After I install Windows, in which order do I install: Drivers(via Thinkvantage),Windows Update drivers?
I plan to do a backup of the system once every single driver is in place with Thinkvantage in action so I don't need to do steps 1-2-3 if I do the next reinstallation.

4. Does the battery need to be inside the computer during all of this? I work on AC and save the battery so...? What's your advice?

That's about it.
Please help and advise.

Thank you.

[Ivan Ivankovic]

oh come on...60+ views, no replies?

[EOMtp]

What you want to do is very simple ... but only after one has done it 15 times! The basic approach is the following:

1) Make certain that you have the network drivers available so you don't need to get them from the Internet when the machine has NO Internet access. Put them on a CD or partition your hard drive and place the network drivers on a partition which will not be wiped out, i.e., presumably not C:

2) Set the BIOS to SATA "Compatibility Mode".

3) Install Windows, install all Windows updates, and once the network is active, download and install whatever drivers and software you need in whatever order you want. If the order is wrong, it will be self-evident and you will be guided to the right sequence.

Alternatively, install Lenovo's System Update and let it manage the downloading and installation of the needed drivers and software.

As for the battery, just keep it in -- and also keep the AC plugged in. Period. The few minutes (or hours) it takes to do this task is not the time to be concerned about "saving the battery" ...

Good luck.

[Hellbore]

If it was me, i would download the nLite tool and use it to slipstream your windows installation

If you haven't heard the term before, slipstream means to take your Windows install CD and integrate your drivers into it, so that when you install Windows, it will already include some drivers you need.

I would do this and slipstream in the drivers for your SATA hard drive controller, that way, you can install Windows with AHCI mode already enabled, and not worry about whether you will be able to switch to AHCI later. Some people have had issues installing in compatability mode and switching to AHCI later.

Just my 2 cents.

[T23_Owner]

2) Set the BIOS to SATA "Compatibility Mode".

Can you explain why this needs to be done? I just ordered a T61 and it comes with vista business but I have vista ultimate discs here and want to install to a fresh 250gb Sata drive.


What is the bios set to from factory? Do you have to change to compatibility mode because vista discs have not drivers?

[erik]

Can you explain why this needs to be done? I just ordered a T61 and it comes with vista business but I have vista ultimate discs here and want to install to a fresh 250gb Sata drive.

What is the bios set to from factory? Do you have to change to compatibility mode because vista discs have not drivers?

compatibility mode is not required in your case because vista contains the necessary AHCI drivers.   XP and 2003 either need to have AHCI drivers slipstreamed into the installation or the BIOS must be in compatibility mode (which emulates PATA) so that AHCI drivers can be loaded post-installation and the BIOS can be returned to AHCI mode.

the BIOS is set to AHCI mode from the factory on all T6x machines regardless of operating system.

[Pascal_TTH]

Watch this : http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=50187

[T23_Owner]

Thanks guys. Very helpful information.