Making a clean vista install from the preload

[Torque]

Hi,

I've had thinkpads since I started using laptops (with XP), and have always extracted the XP installation files (from i386 directory) from the preload and made an XP OEM install disc - then installing from scratch and picking the Thinkvantage applications suited for my needs.

A buddy of mine just got his T61p the other day, with a Vista ultimate preload.
Will I be able to do the same with Vista, and how?
Any links, guides, advice highly appreciated.

/Peter

[erik]

--> this <-- is probably the easiest method and also gives you the option to go with 64-bit.

[ulrich.von.lich]

I tried to do a fresh install of WinXP using the key on the bottom of my thinkpad but it didn't work. From the guide erik provided, I saw that's because the key is not "pre-activated" and if I want to use it I'll have to call Microsoft.

Why? Will Microsoft give me a different key every time I want to reinstall it? I have a retail version of Vista and it comes with only one cd key inside and no matter how many times I reinstall it, I use the same key.

Any ideas?

[NeoMatrix]

I tried to do a fresh install of WinXP using the key on the bottom of my thinkpad but it didn't work. .....

Any ideas?

Try looking here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=119587

The actual product key is located on a file in your computer.

Good luck,
Neomatrix