2 clean install questions, OEM Key & backup up programs

[amy55407]

I did a clean install soon after I got my T60 with Vista Home Premium. As I understand I can't save the OEM key after doing a clean install.

I want to verify that I can do this if I do a clean installation from the recovery partition or discs. When my hard drive died a few months ago, someone here kindly suggested I ask Lenovo for recovery discs along with my replacement hard drive. So I have the 3 recovery discs for my laptop.

I want to follow the instructions from this forum http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783 and use the ABR utility to get the OEM key. So, my 1st question is, can I install from the recovery discs and then follow the instructions for a clean install on this forum?

My second questions is about programs. I backup my computer using Acronis every week or so. Although I want to do a clean install, there are a couple of programs I'd rather not deal with the reinstallation problems I hear about, namely Adobe CS3 web premium. If I do a clean install can I just recover those specific programs from the backup? I realize this may be a question for Acronis but I though people here would know.

Thanks so much. Amy

[erik]

1) to get your OEM key and original activation backed up, you'll have to do a recovery from the lenovo DVDs.   then you can do a clean install per stallen's instructions on NBR.

2) CS3 will have to be installed fresh.   recovery will not re-populate the necessary registry entries for software.

have fun!

[amy55407]

Well one out of two isn't bad. I'm sure I'll have a fine time doing this.

But I'll be happy once it's done. Thanks for your help.

[erik]

no problem.   i always dread buying a new thinkpad or setting up a new hard drive because i know it will eat up the better part of a few days to get the OS set up, files copies, and all of my software installed.

[pae77]

It's just like moving into a new house. (A lot of work.)