T41p German model - Need English Recovery Pack?

[v_parthi]

Hi,

I am likely to buy a thinkpad T41p TC1GHGE, the one with 6-cell battery student model. My problem is that the OS is German and all the recovery software. Though I order a recovery CD, I can only get a German version!

Is it possible to get a recovery CD in English without paying the full money to IBM?

If I install it myself from a new XP english full CD, is there any document to follow to install everything from IBm downloads manually?

Thanks
Parthiban.

[G-Man]

Contact Bill (the owner of this forum: bill@thinkpads.com). He might order one for you and send it to Germany.

Regards,
G-Man

[v_parthi]

If Bill orders, then it's a full payment for a new English recovery pack. I can get it by paying the money here itself.

Why should I spend twice for software that I have to install with Thinkpad? i.e. The German XP recovery pack that comes with TP & a new English XP recovery pack?

The question was that 'Can I get a English recovery pack for T41p for the payment of disks & shipment?

I have one more question: If I install English XP from a full XP disk, is it legal to have it with TP? ie. Can I legally use English XP by paying for the German version of XP? Can I use any serial key that comes with my TP with some other German XP copy?

I hope the serial works across English XP versions, but seriously doubt the cross compatibility between German & English versions.



Parthiban

[G-Man]

That "full money" is $30 bucks (24 Euro) + shipping. I don't think that's too much for a complete Win XP Pro and all the drivers.

Regards,
G-Man

[kiig]

Here's what (I think) I know :
Basically, - there's 3 types of XP cd's, - OEM, retail and Coorporate editions. Your TP came with an OEM license, - so the sticker at the bottom is for the corresponding OEM cd. This means you'll probably get an error if you happen to have the retail edition and try to use the OEM serial from your TP. (Coorporate editions don't need activation, - I'm not quite sure if they need a product id when you install them ...?), - anyway, - apart from that, - an OEM license, - is for the licensed product (your TP) as it's configured at birth (for that specific machine with that specific harddrive)
Basically if you change the harddrive, - you don't have a license anymore.

Then, - i don't know why it's possible to call IBM to get a recovery kit for the occasion where your harddrive died or just needed to be changed, - but they might have a deal with Microsoft , - but I'm sure you only can get the same language option as your machine originally had, - in this case German.

Now, - in short : my guess is that it's not legal to install an english XP on a machine with an OEM license in German, - but as long as you find an OEM version of XP (not retail), - OEM (as in : OEM versions comes with a discount when bought with certain types of hardware (usually a pc), -but in Denmark also with a mouse i.e.) or recovery cd's from either IBM or Bill here, - then it's possible to install the english version using your 'german' product id' from the buttom of your machine....

not sure it's legal, - but it'll work, - and using the 'original' product id at least made me feel 'very close' to 'legal'

[v_parthi]

I don't mind ordering a recovery pack, if it's $30 only., but can it run with my TP serial no.? If so, I can order it. First, let me get my TP and then ask Bill about it. The dealer says that it's not possible for student models to exchange between German & English XP preload in TP that they sell. However, I the price is the BEST part of it.

regards
Parthiban.

[Roy_W]

I bought a French machine and phoned IBM to determine wether or not they would send me the Recovery CD's in English, NO NO and NO was the answer. They explained that they will NOT send any other version than the language version for which the machine was intially constructed or bought.

Subsequently I obtained the English Cd's from someone well known within this forum, installed XP and used the OEM serial on the bottom of the machine, no problems.

As long as the serial number on the bottom of the PC has never been used to activate a version of XP, everything should be OK. IBM DOES NOT activate your machine with the serial number on the bottom, they use their standard OEM methods for preinstalling your OS.

[v_parthi]

I bought a French machine and phoned IBM to determine wether or not they would send me the Recovery CD's in English, NO NO and NO was the answer. They explained that they will NOT send any other version than the language version for which the machine was intially constructed or bought.

Subsequently I obtained the English Cd's from someone well known within this forum, installed XP and used the OEM serial on the bottom of the machine, no problems.

Thank you very much Roy, and I am happy now that I can install English XP from Bill or someone with TP serial no. at the bottom. I'll do it.

As long as the serial number on the bottom of the PC has never been used to activate a version of XP, everything should be OK. IBM DOES NOT activate your machine with the serial number on the bottom, they use their standard OEM methods for preinstalling your OS.

The serial no. at the bottom should NOT be used by anybody, if I get a new TP. But the doubt which is still in my mind is whether this issue is legal or not. Seeing from an acceptable, sensible view, it seems more close to legal, but I would be happy if somebody gives me a CLEAR/CONFIRMED explanation. I am little worried in this case.

Thanks again
Parthiban