new X61s without thinkvantage software. what next?

[Murcielago]

I just received my new x61s from a dealer.
it does not come with any thinkvantage software at all. basically the laptop just comes with vista biz installed and thats it.

now, i plan to reinstall XP on it but how should I do it from here?
should I install the thinkvantage software on the vista then create recovery disks. once done, reformat and do a clean install of XP + thinkvantage software then create recovery disks ?

or should I install XP + thinkvantage then create recovery disks?

[madcow]

Install XP. Then download all the drivers from lenovo.

I have done that many times.

I'm a Linux user but when I see my laptop, I end up installing XP.

[Harryc]

Does your X61s have a valid and working recovery partition? If not, doesn't matter what Thinkvantage pgms you install, you will not be able to make recovery CD's through Rescue & Recovery. As I see it, your choices at that point are;

1.) Obtain recovery discs from Lenovo or elsewhere.
2.) Clone your Vista install to another medium and save it, then install XP.
3.) Keep Vista and just install the Thinkvantage software that you need and will use. I'd still back it up using Acronis or similar just to have a copy.

[Murcielago]

Does your X61s have a valid and working recovery partition? If not, doesn't matter what Thinkvantage pgms your install, you will not be able to make recovery CD's through Rescue & Recovery. As I see it, your choices at that point are;

1.) Obtain recovery discs from Lenovo or elsewhere.
2.) Clone your Vista install to another medium and save it, then install XP.
3.) Keep Vista and just install the Thinkvantage software that you need and will use. I'd still back it up using Acronis or similar just to have a copy.

when u mean clone, I have to take out the HDD and use as external to clone it? or can i install acronis on that drive and do it?

[Harryc]

With Acronis you can either clone it to another drive to keep it as a hot backup, or you can copy the individual partitions and MBR to anywhere, including the same drive if you have free space.

[Murcielago]

well.

right now there is only 1 partition. just the vista biz on the 60gb drive.

[Harryc]

If you want to backup to the same drive you'll need to create another partition.

[hausman]

I just received my new x61s from a dealer. it does not come with any thinkvantage software at all. basically the laptop just comes with vista biz installed and thats it... right now there is only 1 partition. just the vista biz on the 60gb drive.

An authorized Lenovo dealer should not be selling new ThinkPads without the R&R partition and ThinkVantage utilities. You should insist that they provide recovery media at no charge or else report them to Lenovo.

In any case Vista recovery media won't let you install XP. As Harryc said, you'll either have to purchase XP recovery media or install standard XP manually, then download appropriate drivers and utilities from Lenovo's website.

I'm curious why you want to go to XP at this point. You can configure Vista to be XP-like by changing the user interface to Windows Classic, deleting Aero and other "eye candy", disabling UAC, etc. That's a lot less work than reinstalling XP. You won't lose any applications you've already installed nor any data you've created. And you'll be better able to upgrade to Windows 7 when it becomes available.

[Nubulin]

The rescue partition is not visible in windows. When you boot the computer and press the thinkvantage button, does it boot rescue and recovery? If not then you don't have it.

You can make a backup of the drive to a USB hard drive using Acronis without taking out the boot drive.

[paul*robertson]

The rescue partition is not visible in windows. When you boot the computer and press the thinkvantage button, does it boot rescue and recovery? If not then you don't have it.

You can make a backup of the drive to a USB hard drive using Acronis without taking out the boot drive.

If you dont have the rescue partition and want it, is your only option to buy the discs from Lenova and install/ create it. Or can only Lenova do it on site.
(i've just bought an X61 second hand, but under warranty.)