Thinkpads Forum

I just purchased x61 from an ebay seller. I have a copy of 64-bit Vista Ultimate that I want to install, but the X61 has no optical drive.

-Can I copy the contents of DVD to an external hard drive and install from there?

-Or do I need to purchase an external dvd drive?

thanks,
Tom

Pretty sure you're going to have to use an external DVD-drive.

helmet4000 wrote:I just purchased x61 from an ebay seller. I have a copy of 64-bit Vista Ultimate that I want to install, but the X61 has no optical drive.

-Can I copy the contents of DVD to an external hard drive and install from there?

-Or do I need to purchase an external dvd drive?

thanks,
Tom

You can also stick the X61 drive in the T61, install on the T61 and then switch them back. Hardware is similar enough that you shouldn't have any problems (just don't activate Windows until _after_ you switch the drive).

And if you wanted to get fancy (and really avoid the cost of a USB optical drive or dock) you can do a network install. I have done it a few times with Windows XP, but it is a bit overkill. Plus you need another computer to act as a server to hold all of the files while you do the install.

I bought a dvd drive and did it that way. Went well except I had to phone MS to activate my copy of Windows. The 7200RPM HDD really makes a difference.

I am going to do a "Windows Easy Transfer" in a few minutes to see how that goes.

mfbernstein wrote: You can also stick the X61 drive in the T61, install on the T61 and then switch them back. Hardware is similar enough that you shouldn't have any problems (just don't activate Windows until _after_ you switch the drive).

This is exactly what I'd do. Just don't install any driver that is not common across the two computers. Once you are done installing everything else that require an optical drive, switch the hard drives back.

Another way is to buy an enclosure for the ultrabay slim drive of your T61. Then it can act as the external drive. (Or, buy an external drive from BestBuy, use it, then return it.)

rhema83 wrote:

mfbernstein wrote: (Or, buy an external drive from BestBuy, use it, then return it.)

Or you could just break into a neighbor's house and steal a drive....


On second thought - maybe you could find an honest way to get this installed.

Moving the drive will probably work. Earlier Microsoft OS versions could be copied to the HD and installed. I would expect this works for Vista too. Most IT departments install from a master hard drive - portable or on the network.

someone posted directions how to install from USB drive but it looks like a PITA. I was goign to do it though, until I found out the program used to create your backup disks REQUIRES a Burner (Could not back up across the network )

Do you mean a USB CD drive? - it's trivial to install from a USB CD drive. Just boot from that drive and install.