R500 XP Pro

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meleiche · #1 Post by **meleiche** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 3:20 am

Hello Everyone,
I got a new R500, it looks great,
but it is shipped with Windows Vista Home Basic.
I need to install XP Pro on it, I do not know how?
I purchase it from ebay last week from Canada.

dr_st · #2 Post by **dr_st** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:48 am

Welcome to the forum, meleiche.

Your license for Vista Basic does not cover downgrade to XP, so you need to purchase your own copy of Windows XP Professional.

Assuming you have such a copy, it is a matter of:

1) Installing XP (for this you may need to switch the SATA controller in the BIOS to ATA/IDE mode, because most Windows XP installation disks do not include native SATA/AHCI drivers).
2) Downloading Thinkpad System Update from the Lenovo Site (for this you may need to first install the network card driver, otherwise you won't be able to connect to the internet)
3) Running System Update to download all the drivers for the hardware (automatic process)
4) Installing any service packs / Windows updates

Good luck.

#3 Post by **ZaZ** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:57 am

Assuming you have a disc, you can slipstream service pack three into the installation disc using nLite. SP3 has the SATA drivers you need for XP to see the hard drive. You can do just the SATA drivers if you prefer.

meleiche · #4 Post by **meleiche** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 11:16 pm

Thank you All for reply,
OK, I've an XP license, and I'll go through the hard task and install it myself.
I really appreciate this informative forum,
Regards

meleiche · #5 Post by **meleiche** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:46 am

XP installation on SATA is problem,
to overcome it, I changed in the BIOS: SATA to "Compatible",
and installed XP SP2, SP3 did not work

!

Please follow this link:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... 70477.html
under Clean Install/Windows XP

R500 XP Pro

R500 XP Pro

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