Recover factory contents - clear security chip?

[tripalthreat]

I never activated the security chip on my old T42 so this is new to me...

I need to do a restore to factory contents after school gets out, because I messed a few things up on my T60 while I was playing around. I am using the secure chip with the fingerprint reader and all that.

Do I have to (or should I) clear the security chip before reformatting? If I don't, will it still have all my old passwords and fingerprints from the old install? I plan on buying a 2nd hard drive to install vista Ultimate on, so I will already be using the chip for 2 operating systems... I don't want to have outdated codes on it.

How does the chip work? If I reformat will it keep the old encryption key? Or will the new install just use the existing key?

Thanks.

[tripalthreat]

Anyone have any idea? I'm sure many of you have reformatted before.

[jjesusfreak01]

Do not take my word for this, because I am not sure about it.

I believe Windows Vista tends to like to have full control of the chip. I am not sure it can be used with 2 OSs.

[tripalthreat]

Do not take my word for this, because I am not sure about it.

I believe Windows Vista tends to like to have full control of the chip. I am not sure it can be used with 2 OSs.

Anyone have both Vista and XP on at the same time? And use the secure chip with both?

If that's true, I just won't install the client security solution for XP.

Thanks for the help on this.