XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option

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lutami · #1 Post by **lutami** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:09 pm

Found this...looks good but has anyone tried this?

Fred Langa shows you how to completely rebuild, repair, or refresh an existing XP installation without losing data, and without having to reinstall user software, reformat, or otherwise destructively alter the setup.

http://www.informationweek.com/windows/ ... &queryText

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:18 pm

I have not tried it, but if it is from Fred Langa, it should work as advertised.

lutami · #3 Post by **lutami** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:38 pm

GomJabbar wrote:I have not tried it, but if it is from Fred Langa, it should work as advertised.

That's good news then...i've read through and seems i may be asked for CD key...i've used the reformat discs before so never need it...took hours saving everything and getting it all back on.

Do you know if this will this work with the pre-installed OS...if i use a friends XP disc with the licence number from the bottom of my laptop.

Giovanni · #4 Post by **Giovanni** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:17 pm

It looks like it ought to work, but it'll only be useful if you created a reinstallation of XP disc since Lenovo doesn't give you one, and it won't help you for those people who want a fresh install to remove the OEM junk.

The license key bit will probably not be bypassed on a Thinkpad, you'll most likely have to enter the key from the bottom of the machine.

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:26 pm

It is the "repair" option which can correct problems, but is not a true "rebuild" because it doesn't correct non-Windows problems, or problems with Windows setups (which are not corruption, but just user issues). It is certainly worth a try, but just be aware of the limitations. If it works, great. ... JDH

lutami · #6 Post by **lutami** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 6:26 pm

Cheers...i'm going to give it a go as soon as i get the time... have already removed all the OEM installs that i don't use.

I'll update this when it's done..if it all goes ok it'll save hours

#7 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:47 pm

The OEM install uses a volume license key not the one on the bottom of your Thinkpad. Using the key on the sticker may not work when repairing the OEM install. I would use the Magical Jellybean Keyfinder to extract the volume license key before doing a repair.

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:10 pm

carbon_unit wrote:The OEM install uses a volume license key not the one on the bottom of your Thinkpad. Using the key on the sticker may not work when repairing the OEM install. I would use the Magical Jellybean Keyfinder to extract the volume license key before doing a repair.

I used an OEM install CD that I received with a desktop PC to reinstall Windows XP on my T42. It was the product key on the sticker on the bottom of the T42 that worked. The product key that Magical Jelly Bean found did not work with that OEM CD - I tried it first.

Giovanni · #9 Post by **Giovanni** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 8:13 pm

GomJabbar wrote:
carbon_unit wrote:The OEM install uses a volume license key not the one on the bottom of your Thinkpad. Using the key on the sticker may not work when repairing the OEM install. I would use the Magical Jellybean Keyfinder to extract the volume license key before doing a repair.
I used an OEM install CD that I received with a desktop PC to reinstall Windows XP on my T42. It was the product key on the sticker on the bottom of the T42 that worked. The product key that Magical Jelly Bean found did not work with that OEM CD - I tried it first.

That is also similar to my experience, I tried to integrate the key found with Jellybean into my XP installer disc that I made and it didn't work. I had to activate Windows and so I tried using the key on the bottom of the machine and it worked.

#10 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:12 pm

Right! A volume license key only works with a volume license OS. Single license key only works with a single license OS. OEM can be volume license or single license. The preinstall on thinkpads is volume license, the sticker on the bottom is single license. Volume license does not have individual stickers it has a document with a key that will work for a set number of installs.
Check your install and if it is OEM the key number will not match the sticker.

#11 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:48 pm

Yep, I kind of missed the word volume in your post.

Nevertheless, I wonder how many people have access to a Volume License OEM CD vs how many people have access to a Single License OEM CD?

I imagine if you use UCI_MECH's method of building a bootable CD from the files on your ThinkPad, then the Volume License Key would be the one to use. However, it is simpler to use a Single License OEM CD if you have one available.

dsigma6 · #12 Post by **dsigma6** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:38 am

I don't get it...was this article supposed to be groundbreaking? I thought he would show some new trick or something...

I think most of us know how to click R and a few other buttons, right?

XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option

XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option

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