i followed the instruction above to integrated SP2 onto the i386 folder, since it said that i should even if SP2 is preinstalled.
after a fresh install and getting everything exactly the way you want it, you can backup the hard drive using Rescue and Recovery (RnR)
http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... AK.html%20
so you can return to the fresh installed state anytime your computer/windows decides to take a poo. all you have to do is press the ThinkVantage button at start up. it, however, doesn't restore the computer back to factory condition, only to the condition you last back it up.
personally, i found 3rd party imagining software runs much faster, such as Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage. The only down side w/ those is that you lost the ThinkVantage button function at start up. So if your OS is completely f&ck and can't even boot in safe mode or command prompt you need a recovery boot disk/cd/usb drive. So if you are not very computer savvy, i suggest just stick w/ RnR.