R51: non-R51 recovery discs vs stand alone XP Pro install?

[R51ockyMtnPad]

Please excuse my newb-ness. 4-5 years ago, I got an R51 from a member on this forum (lost my previous registration info, d'oh!) and he sent recovery discs (FRU 24R8116) which, to the best of my research is meant for a T41. It is a 5 disc set and has XP Pro SP2 on them.

Part of research also showed me that the R51 should have come with XP Home. But It came with XP Pro.

Recently, I tried installing some vehicle diagnostic software back onto the R51, that I uninstalled a couple years ago (because I didn't think I'd need it again.) Why it didn't want to cooperate this time around is a whole other story.

In the midst of trying like mad to get this diagnostic SW to install & function, I've had to uninstall and reinstall various iterations of SQL server, .NET & other select pieces of SW. I've gotten to the point where I feel the R51 needs a fresh start.

I'm under the (potentially erroneous) impression that the Recovery discs that came with the R51 won't work properly, due to the discs having been produced for the T41. What is the skinny on that, please?

Secondly, I have a stand alone disc of XP Pro SP2. Again, unless I misread something here on the boards, I'm under the (again, potentially erroneous) impression that this stand alone XP installation will fail due to a bit of firmware in the Thinkpad that only allows authorized OS installations. Please, if I'm mistaken, straighten me out.

Thank you in advance!

[dr_st]

I'm under the (potentially erroneous) impression that the Recovery discs that came with the R51 won't work properly, due to the discs having been produced for the T41. What is the skinny on that, please?

They should actually work, since the machines are not so different. Some drivers may be missing - you can always install those manually.

Then again, they might not work at all for some reason.

Then again, official recovery disks for R51 may also just not work for some reason.

In short - I don't like recovery disks and I think they suck. This is accumulated experience of several years. I'd always prefer a clean install and then get all the drivers and software I want.

I'm under the (again, potentially erroneous) impression that this stand alone XP installation will fail due to a bit of firmware in the Thinkpad that only allows authorized OS installations.

It won't fail, but you will need to provide it a valid license key is unused on another machine, for it to activate properly. Or if this happens to be an OEM install disk, it just might activate on itself without issues. Or you can use a crack / pirated key. Not strictly legal, but if your R51 has a license for XP Home, than using XP Pro recovery disks is not any more legal.

[R51ockyMtnPad]

Thank you dr_st. I appreciate your input.