Preload partition

[j-dawg]

I'm hopefully going to receive a new X61T in the mail in the next few weeks, and I'm thinking about how to set it up once it arrives so that I get good performance from the start. I plan to fiddle with the Base Software Administrator tool to slim down the preload image and then do a restore from the partition, so that I get a fresh install without most of the crap.

First question: will this work? I've heard it really helps cut down on all the background processes in Vista on a new Thinkpad.

Second question: if I burn and use the restore discs, will they restore the preload partition? I may do some fiddling around that may result in my formatting the drive, but if it permanently cost me the preload partition I'd rather not. The restore discs claim to restore the computer to factory condition--does this include the preload partition and the associated Thinkvantage button boot/restore abilities?

Final question: what's a good program to modify/create/delete partitions on a drive? It would be nice to be able to restore my installation but keep all my documents/media on a separate partition to make transitioning back easier. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Greg Gebhardt]

The restore disks will bring your computer back to out of the box condition including the restore partition. I, too am interested in deleting this partition

[ducky2802]

If you get vista business or ultimate, it has a really cool complete pc recovery. What I do is load up my entire system, delete everything I dont want, install all programs I do want, and do a vista complete backup. Then when I swap hdds on my main drive (I dont do this often, but I do get a new hdd every once in a while), I can just boot from my vista disk and restore my entire hdd image just the way I saved it.

I think the vista new logical disk manager lets you modify partitions without the need of additional software.

Good luck!