XP Clean Install on T43 - Question

[STRYPER]

I've got a T43 which i love. I am thinking about writing zero's to the hard drive and installing my own copy of XP Pro. I was planning on installing only the thinkpad features i need afterwards. Anyone done this before? Any roadbumps along the way?

[jdhurst]

The biggest bump is that a "clean" windows install is a myth. All of the work I do to make my machines run for years without software failure is within Windows. Less than 1 percent of the work is with the IBM software.

By all means, if you don't want such software, don't use it. But please don't consider the work done by installing your own XP without IBM drivers.
... JDH

[bill bolton]

Anyone done this before? Any roadbumps along the way?

Yes, there are lots of threads already here about what to do. You might also look at the sticky topics in the Windows forum.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[tric]

I did a clean install of my XP pro on my T42 (2686-M4U). No problems up to now. I found the instruction on making the XP disc somewhere here in the forum. Just search of it.

Reason why you need to make the XP disc for the serial number on the sticker on the bottom of your machine to work. Retail XP has lots of variance I guess. I tried once using our XP disc, 2nd Ed also it didnt accept the serial key on the bottom of my TP.

Good luck!

[agarza]

I much rather prefer installing XP by myself, the machine runs very fast, shutdown faster compared to the factory preinstall, I can assure you that.

[STRYPER]

I do have to say that of all the brand name pc's you can buy, IBM's preinstalled software is the best and most useful. But of course with every pc I purchase im always tempted to do things my way, at least to see the difference.

So if i "clean install" XP i can download all necessary drivers from the website?

[mattster]

You can do a clean install and then download the Software Installer program from the Lenovo website. Using that program, it will download the drivers you select from a list that it will download from them.

Very handy tool to have and makes a clean install of XP that much easier to configure on your own.....

Matt