Upgrade T20 to XP

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gramfel · #1 Post by **gramfel** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 7:18 am

I own a T20 with Windows 98, and I would like to upgrade it to XP Home edition, but I know very little about laptops. Where is the best place to buy a copy of XP for this, and how do I do this? Thanks!

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 7:52 am

First, go to the IBM PC Support Site:
http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/
and put in the model of your machine (2647-41U format).

Once there, search for Windows XP updgrade information. The machine above is Windows 98, and I could find the Windows 2000 upgrade document under Hints and Tips, but I didn't seen a Windows XP upgrade document. The key here is to make sure a conversion will work before you start.

(2) Make sure your machine has ample RAM (256K absolute minimum) and ample hard drive (12Gb minimum).
(3) Obtain a full copy of Windows XP Pro. Do not use Home (crippled networking and security).
(4) Download all the newest drivers for your machine for Windows XP.
(5) Find the licensed drivers on your Windows 98 box (CD Rom drivers, etc.). They are usually in a folder like C:\IBMTOOLS.
(6) Back off your drivers, C:\IBMTOOLS (or whatever), your documents and anything else you wish to save.
(7) Set your BIOS to boot from CD, Boot the Windows XP Pro CD, format your hard drive as NTFS, and install Windows.
( 8 ) Recover your Network drivers from step (6) above, install the network drivers and make sure you have networking running. You need a broadband connection to download all the Windows updates.
(8a) If you don't have broadband, update your modem driver and make a dial-up up connection.
(9) Recover your Audio and Video drivers from step (6) above and install.

At this point, you have a working machine.
(10) Recover all the other drivers and IBM applications from Step (6) above, install and update them.
(11) Install Microsoft Office (XP - I hope).
(12) Go to the Windows Update site and update Windows and Office.
(13) Install AntiVirus and Firewall software. Norton Integrated Security is decent, but choose your own poison.

I have a T41 that came with XP Pro Preloaded. I have a spare hard drive for it. To check another problem, I loaded Windows XP Pro SP1 from a Corporate CD. When it started, there were numerous drivers in the device manager that had not installed properly (Network drivers among them). That is why it is critically important to (1) find and save your licensed IBM drivers (otherwise, there is no way to get them again), and (2) find and save all the XP drivers *before* you begin.

If you are squeamish about the above steps, perhaps get someone to do it for you. ... jdhurst

Zeitgeist · #3 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:49 am

Or much easier: try to get the IBM recovery CDs with WinXP (make sure you have a CoA sticker).

awolfe63 · #4 Post by **awolfe63** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:02 pm

I disagree. Unless you ned to work in a corporate server environment - XP Home is fine.

#5 Post by **jdhurst** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:14 pm

I'm not sure if you can get an XP Recovery CD for a ThinkPad that came with Windows 98. If you can, that is surely the easiest route. My suggestions are only for systems where you cannot obtain a Recovery CD.

On the XP Home issue: I do not work in Corporate Server environment. Still Home crippled things with enforced simple file sharing and the lack of security that brings. Home doesn't let you use standard logins (so far as I know) that goes with Domain connections if you use them. I prefer the standard logins and the extra security. People can do as they wish, but my counsel stands (based on the harsh experiences of people I know who wish they had never gone with Home). It also may be that SP2 will improve things, but that is still a while off.

... jdhurst

awolfe63 · #6 Post by **awolfe63** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:32 pm

I'm not a complete expert - but you can certainly add passwords to accounts in XP home and you can turn off any file sharing. I use offline folders - which keeps me on XP Pro and Win2K - but I have tested XP home on aver 20 machines and can't really find a downside for most users.

Conmee · #7 Post by **Conmee** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:46 pm

Folks,

I'm using a T20 (2647-L1U) with a PIII-750MHz CPU, 512MB PC100, 20GB 42k HDD, CDROM, and 14" SXGA with Savage 8MB graphics chip, and it runs Windows XP Pro just fine. This is a work machine (just got word today that my system is due for a refresh, so a new T42 is my soon-to-be company machine!!), and I've been running XP Pro for more than a year on it.

As for 'restore CDs' they aren't offered anymore for the T20. However, even if you can get a restore copy, IBM only offers Win98 or Win2K for this series, in terms of restore CDs. So you're out of luck there.

In order to upgrade, first download all the latest drivers (Chipset, Power Mgmt, Video, Audio, Modem, Ethernet) and ThinkVantage Technologies. With the exception of the new IBM Rescue and Recovery 4.0 (you can use Rapid Restore and Recovery 3 with the T20 and XP), all the ThinkVantage Technologies work with the XP/T20 configuration.

I made a CD of all the T20 drivers, and after installing XP, I installed the Software Installer program (one of the ThinkVantage Technologies), and had it install all the drivers and IBM tools from the CD. Worked like a charm.

Daniel.

Zeitgeist · #8 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:54 pm

I am pretty sure that the T23 WinXP recovery CDs will also run on the T20 model.

gramfel · #9 Post by **gramfel** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:49 pm

Someone mentioned that T23 recovery cd may work on T20. Does anyone know if this will work?

lilserenity · #10 Post by **lilserenity** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:25 pm

SXGA on a T20?

I never knew that was a possible combination, I assumed that was T21 and later.

As for XP Pro vs. XP Home. I'd go for Pro any day, given that the price difference is around £20, might as well go for it. One thing that XP Home does miss out and is crucial to me is Remote Desktop, ie: being able to use the XP Pro desktop on another computer, XP Home can only run the client, not be the source machine.

Vicky

Conmee · #11 Post by **Conmee** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:59 pm

Oops... sorry.. XGA, not SXGA... lol 1024x768 to be precise.

Also, looks like T20/T21/T22/T23 CDs are still available. But, if you want T23 Restore CDs or any CDs for that matter that differ from what your system originally came with, I believe IBM is going to ask you for the model number and serial number to ensure that you're getting a licensed copy of WinXP. I'm not sure, but worth a phone call to find out.

Daniel.

#12 Post by **erik** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:37 pm

ibm won't sell recovery cds for other models (ie: a T23 cd for a T20) or for operating systems other than what your machine shipped with from the factory (ie XP for a machine with a 98 license). this would violate the microsoft license agreement.

just buy XP Pro and download the drivers from the T20 series driver matrix. it's really not that difficult to install all the drivers and lets you pick and choose what gets installed. besides, getting drivers through the driver matrix gets you the latest stuff. recovery cds are always out of date.

-erik

egibbs · #13 Post by **egibbs** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:26 am

I put retail XP Pro on my 2647-41U a couple years ago and am very happy with it. XP Home may be good enough for some people, but I needed VPN, EFS, etc. so I chose Pro.

You can buy a full retail copy of XP at CompUSA, Staples, Office Max, or any of thousands of software sellers.

Make sure you update your BIOS to the latest rev before trying the install - some of the older versions of BIOS were not compatible with XP.

I definitely recommend a clean install - back up whatever you want to save and let the installer format the drive and install XP as a new install rather than an upgrade.

XP should recognize and install your modem or network card - it did mine. The rest of the drivers are available on the IBM site.

The "free" DVD player program that came with the T20 is not available online - only upgrades that you must have the original install files to use. You should backup the contents of your C:\IBMTools folder before installing XP and then install it from there. Or just dump the crappy free DVD player and buy a decent one - I got PowerDVD and like it much better.

Good luck.

Ed Gibbs

awolfe63 · #14 Post by **awolfe63** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:24 am

lilserenity wrote:SXGA on a T20?

As for XP Pro vs. XP Home. I'd go for Pro any day, given that the price difference is around £20, might as well go for it. One thing that XP Home does miss out and is crucial to me is Remote Desktop, ie: being able to use the XP Pro desktop on another computer, XP Home can only run the client, not be the source machine.

Vicky

Once again - we yanks are getting screwed. XP pro is a $70-100 upgrade here over XP home. As I said - I use it - but I usually recommend that people think about whether or not they need any of the extra features before they spend the bucks.

n3il · #15 Post by **n3il** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:56 am

awolfe63 wrote:
Once again - we yanks are getting screwed.

I don't think so...... Try taking the US dollar prices and keeping them numerically the same but changing the currency to pounds (as is what happens in the UK) .... then you'll see who is getting screwed!!!!

For instance an X31 in the US costs US$2000 (£1100) - the equivalent X31 in the UK costs £2000 (US$ 3600). Ouch!

Neil

hausman · #16 Post by **hausman** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:00 am

awolfe63 wrote:Once again - we yanks are getting screwed. XP pro is a $70-100 upgrade here over XP home.

Not as badly as us Canucks. It's generally CA$150 (~US$110) extra up here.

awolfe63 · #17 Post by **awolfe63** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:01 am

n3il wrote:
awolfe63 wrote:
Once again - we yanks are getting screwed.
I don't think so...... Try taking the US dollar prices and keeping them numerically the same but changing the currency to pounds (as is what happens in the UK) .... then you'll see who is getting screwed!!!!

For instance an X31 in the US costs US$2000 (£1100) - the equivalent X31 in the UK costs £2000 (US$ 3600). Ouch!

Neil

Well - there is that

Some of that is all those silly VAT taxes you guys pay. If you would just sneak around the taxes like we do - it would get you 17% closer

gramfel · #18 Post by **gramfel** » Wed Jun 16, 2004 11:07 am

Thanks for all the great information. Y'all are just like a Mensa group!!
And, by the way "Y'all" sometimes stands for "You Yanks"!

Lulie

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