Read the entire thing and if there are any problems, let me know and I will try to correct them.
The easiest way to do it (how I did it for my t41):
First I would recommend that you create recovery disks if you don't have them already if you ever want to resell it.
1) Use a program to find the product key that was used to install windows - it is probably not the same as the one on the bottom - write it down and put it somewhere safe.
2) On your c:\ drive, there should be a "i386" folder, this is the windows install files for the OEM disk - copy them to a safe place on a different drive (external) or just burn them to CD and keep it in a safe place. That was my mistake, I do not have the original, only edited ones.
3) Download nlite - you will use this to create the iso image
4) Move the i386 folder into it's own subfolder, c:\winxp or something like that, and include any other files that you may want – I put in the latest media player and internet explorer.
5) Download the full install of any recent service packs (probably only sp3 for you)
6) Run nlite, and direct it to the spot that you put the i386 folder (in this case c:\winxp), and it should tell you everything about the install files (service pack, type xp pro or home)
7) Tell it that you just want to integrate a service pack and write a cd. For some reason I have never gotten it to do any of the auto install options (key, name…), but feel free to try.
When it asks, tell it where the service pack file is located, then give it some time to extract and update the install files.
9) Next it should come up and ask you what you want to do – create an image, burn a CD. I would recommend creating an image, saving it to an external hard drive for backup purposes, and then burning the CD.
- Now you have an install disc.
10) Copy the “oemtools” and “drivers” folders to the external hard drive, for insurance.
11) Backup all of your settings, files, e-mail, favourites and anything else that you may want, and make a list of all the thinkvantage utilities you want.
If you feel that you are ready to wipe everything, proceed to the next step
12) Put the install CD that you created into the CD drive and restart the computer – make sure that you have unplugged any external devices (the external hdd, any flashdrives…)
13) Press f12 at the bios and choose to boot from CD
14) Follow the instructions on screen, Do not choose repair at any screen. After the licence agreement, it will come up with a list of partitions – since you have the recovery disks, I would recommend wiping everything, so systematically delete all the partitions, including the recovery partition since it does not work after a clean windows re-install (you may have to change security settings in the bios to do that). After everything has been erased, choose the empty space “unpartioned space”, it should be the only option, and tell it to format as NTFS. I would recommend a full format, but if you are stuck for time, you can do a quick format on unpartitioned space.
15) Perform a regular windows re-install, but use the key that you wrote down instead of the one at the bottom. You do not need to activate that key, but if it does not work, use the one on the bottom. While it is loading, if you have access to another computer, I would download the most recent drivers and thinkvantage utilities that you want during this time.
16) Once you have the windows desktop, go to the drivers folder that you copied, and install a network driver, or if you downloaded new ones, install those.
A list of drivers that I would recommend as a minimum are:
- Touchpad
- OSD
- Video
- Network – wired and wireless
- Power manager
- Active Protection
- Chipset
- Any others, but remember that if you find you need it, you can install it later.
17) Restart the computer again, just to be sure
18) Load all your programs – office… and your files/settings and customize it to your liking.
If you have any questions/comments, post them and I will try to answer them.
I don't want the money, since I would have really wanted a specific one when I did it.