Thinkpads Forum

Did a search and found a thread on this, but it assumed I knew more than I do. New T400, want to use the MS virtual machine (Virtual PC 2004...I like the price) to run Vista Business on this. It came with the "downgraded" XP but I didn't get any media. Can I somehow make a Vista disk, use the license key on the bottom and run Vista inside of XP...w/o buying another Vista license?

Yes, basically it´s possible, but there are some prerequisites:
1. You need Vista installation media, but not the Vista recovery DVDs from Lenovo. They won´t install. Also, with that Vista installation media (retail) you won´t be able to use the key (OEM) on the bottom of the ThinkPad. In fact, there is no way to use that key unless you are internal in Lenovo
2. Refer to that guide:
2a. You need to know the on-board key from the Lenovo Vista installation, i.e. you need to have Lenovo Vista image installed somewhere in order to extract the key as mentioned in that guide.
2b. Then you need to perform the other actions described in that guide for the VM Vista install (actually matter of course).

Cheers,

Marin

Thanks Marin. Read it all....... that guide ... and all the links it took me too. I get stuck on your point 2b though. Sounds like I need to take an image of this install (already have one, I use Acronis all the time), then install Vista, extract the key, then reinstall my image, then go through the steps to install Vista and activate it on my VM.

Problem is, I don't have any way to install Vista on this ThinkPad. Got no disks with it, and the recovery partition only installs XP. I might have to break down and just buy a Vista disk/license.

Yes, exactly, I was referring to my last post in the sticky. Reading your post I assumed your machine came with the XP downgrade option, which means there should be some Vista installation on it or the option to perform factory recovery to Vista. In other words, my understanding was that your T400 came with some form of Vista included (because you mention "downgraded" XP), that means working valid Vista license. If everything Vista-related you have on that machine is solely the key on the bottom of the ThinkPad, then I´m afraid you won´t be able to use it.

As for the second part, performing factory contents "recovery" to Vista might well erase your XP install, so you definitely need to back it up, unless you have some spare laptop HD (older SATA one would also do) that you could install Vista on.

Regarding the clean Vista installation media, to my best knowledge it´s possible to obtain only the media without purchasing another license (provided you have that working Vista license). It´s available at the costs of the media, about 5$ or so.

Marin85 wrote:If everything Vista-related you have on that machine is solely the key on the bottom of the ThinkPad, then I´m afraid you won´t be able to use it.

Yea, that's the case here.

Marin85 wrote:As for the second part, performing factory contents "recovery" to Vista might well erase your XP install, so you definitely need to back it up, unless you have some spare laptop HD (older SATA one would also do) that you could install Vista on.

Good thought. I've got old laptop HD's, but not SATA. I couldn't just install to a hard drive on a USB port with this BIOS, then boot into it that way could I?

Marin85 wrote:....to my best knowledge it´s possible to obtain only the media without purchasing another license (provided you have that working Vista license). It´s available at the costs of the media, about 5$ or so.

Might try that. $5 is less than $135 for an OEM copy on the net somewhere. Thanks Marin.

mtroxel wrote:I've got old laptop HD's, but not SATA. I couldn't just install to a hard drive on a USB port with this BIOS, then boot into it that way could I?

Since you don´t have Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs nor some Lenovo Vista install, then why bothering with installing Vista on a separate HD. This would help only for Lenovo Vista image and only to extract its key. With a "standard" Vista license and (retail) Vista installation media, you can install Vista right away in VM.

It seems that PATA HDs won´t work in T400. The only way to install Lenovo Vista image on a USB HD I can think of right now is by removing the main HD, hence the install program will be forced to boot into the USB drive. I don´t know whether that would work at all. It´s well possible that the Lenovo install program may "refuse" to proceed or don´t find any suitable storage media or don´t recognize the USB HD and just pop up some error message, but at least you can try it out and let us know if it works that way (in case you get some Lenovo Vista DVDs).

Marin85 wrote:Since you don´t have Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs nor some Lenovo Vista install, then why bothering with installing Vista on a separate HD. This would help only for Lenovo Vista image and only to extract its key. With a "standard" Vista license and (retail) Vista installation media, you can install Vista right away in VM.

I would only do that temporarily, to get the real OEM product key as described in that guide as shown here:

1. While you are using your factory preinstalled Vista find out your REAL OEM product key. You can use many utilities for this, like TweakVI but the easiest one is the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder. Print or write your product key.

Have I misunderstood the whole thing or should I just go out and buy Vista for my VM?

My point was that the guide I linked to is useful only if you have valid working Vista license from Lenovo. This could be Lenovo Vista image as running OS (which is not the case for your since your OS is XP), the hidden partition as source for such Lenovo Vista image (which is not the case here either as you mention that the hidden partition contains XP) or Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs (and my understanding is that you don´t have such). Only in those 3 cases the guide can be of help. BTW, you could try to obtain such Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs from Lenovo, you need to call them and tell them your story. These Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs may not be free though, but still likely not that expensive as a new Vista license.

Marin85 wrote:These Lenovo Vista recovery DVDs may not be free though, but still likely not that expensive as a new Vista license.

OK. Thanks a lot. I'll call Lenovo. I'm not in a big enough hurry to burn $135.....

If you are unable to make a set of vista and/or XP recovery discs, contact Lenovo and explain this to them. They will help you make them and if not possible they will probably send you the set(s) for free. They might be handy in the future.
The Vista number on the COA sticker might work with an OEM Vista disc. I'd give it a shot before shelling out $135.00.

AFAIK, the key on the bottom sticker is indeed OEM, but where could one find such an OEM installation media?

I suppose ebay.

Marin85 wrote:AFAIK, the key on the bottom sticker is indeed OEM, but where could one find such an OEM installation media?

From a friend who bought an HP a couple years ago with a free Vista "upgrade" DVD. I installed it in the VM, it asked for my CD code. I plugged in the one on the bottom of my TPad. It seemed to like that and went ahead and installed. After installing I tried to activate it and it said it couldn't activate the key I used. Just for the heck of it I clicked on a link that said something like "Activate with another key". I plugged in the same key from the bottom of my TPad and it activated!

So here's what I've got now.

Good Job!