Use Recovery or Not?

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ErikD · #1 Post by **ErikD** » Sat May 26, 2007 1:46 pm

I just bought an X31 off ebay, 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB HD. My plan is to upgrade it with an extra gig of RAM, new 7K100 HD, etc. Then I will install Windows and my applications. Now this isn't my first Thinkpad, I have a T40 and X30 already. I have always in the past just done a format and install from the XP SP2 CD I have, using the key on the laptop.

Recently, for whatever reason, I began to think about the option of using the IBM recovery CDs. Is there any benefit to this? I have always avoided this because I like things to be installed on the basis that I need them, so I go to IBM and download what drivers I need. Would there be any good reason for me to buy the CDs and setup with the IBM partition and all? Up to this point I have avoided it because I don't want all of the extras that come pre-installed and think I am better off just not installing them rather than uninstall them.

Any opinions on using a generic XP install vs recovery CDs?

pphilipko · #2 Post by **pphilipko** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:06 am

Well, it's been my experience that preloaded windows are quite a bit slower than a "clean install". If it were me, I'd just do a clean install, and download the most basic drivers. Fewer processes that way, and less hassle with uninstalling junk. Hope this helps.

Subliming · #3 Post by **Subliming** » Wed May 30, 2007 11:57 am

ErikD wrote:I just bought an X31 off ebay, 1.6GHz, 512MB RAM, 30GB HD. My plan is to upgrade it with an extra gig of RAM, new 7K100 HD, etc. Then I will install Windows and my applications. Now this isn't my first Thinkpad, I have a T40 and X30 already. I have always in the past just done a format and install from the XP SP2 CD I have, using the key on the laptop.

I too have an X31 from eBay, and have been running the latest version of ubuntu happily. But I find myself having need to install Windows XP for a couple games that I want to play. This laptop didn't come with recovery CDs that I can use, but it does have the XP Pro COA sticker on the underside. I tried to use a buddy's copy of XP to install but it didn't like the key from my COA...

I too want to do a clean non-recovery install of XP and use the key on the COA sticker. Did your XP SP2 CD come from another machine, maybe a dell or something?

barrist · #4 Post by **barrist** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:16 pm

just curious did you guys get your x31s from hitechassets on ebay?

if so, how was the condition of the x31s that you got? i bought one too and should arrive soon i hope.

ErikD · #5 Post by **ErikD** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:10 pm

Yep that is who I got mine from. Still waiting on it though, just ordered Saturday and Monday was a holiday, so I think I would be lucky if I get it by the end of the week. I will post back on the condition.

As to where I got my XP CDs from I get them direct from MS. I work in IT and am an MS Partner, so I have a binder full of different MS software to play with.

cwf · #6 Post by **cwf** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:59 pm

I also just got an X31. I received it with XP Pro installed on it. The guy who sold it to me had upgraded the Harddrive and did not have recovery disc so the new HD did not have the recovery partition etc.

I thought it would be nice to do the factory preload so I bought copies of the X31 recovery discs from a guy on these forums. Unfortunately, the discs did not work and I was left with a "broken" system. So I installed XP Pro again using a OEM disc and put the COA from the laptop base. It worked. I had to activate by phoning in Microsoft. I did all the Windows Updates and then downloaded Software Update and Software Installer from the Lenovo site. It installed all the necessary drivers and factory software that I selected.

In the end I am happy that the recovery discs did not work because I now have a much cleaner install and really don't have any use for the recovery partition anyway.

Next step, install Feisty Fawn (Ubuntu 7.04)

BTW...I love the X31...my second laptop...first was a z61t I bought a few months ago. Was disappointed in that so I sold it and bought an x31...am very happy with it!

barrist · #7 Post by **barrist** » Thu May 31, 2007 9:58 am

ErikD wrote:Yep that is who I got mine from. Still waiting on it though, just ordered Saturday and Monday was a holiday, so I think I would be lucky if I get it by the end of the week. I will post back on the condition.

As to where I got my XP CDs from I get them direct from MS. I work in IT and am an MS Partner, so I have a binder full of different MS software to play with.

yeah i bought mine at the same time pretty much.. emailed them earlier in the week and said they were a bit backed up because of the holiday and would ship this (thursday) morning.

Use Recovery or Not?

Use Recovery or Not?

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