Clean & Perfect Install of Microsoft XP Pro?

Ok, my computer came with Windows XP Home and upgrade to XP Pro by doing a fresh install. Now, to my understanding, reformatting and installing XP Pro on C:\ isn't a problem. However, the D:\ (IBM Service partition) contains recovery data and just about everything else to help your system recover to the original factory settings (XP Home settings). Is there any way to format the IBM Service partition so that it helps you recover your system to the new fresh copy of Windows XP Pro and not factory bloatware infested XP home settings? Also, will the Thinkvantage button work during boot if I do a fresh installation of Windows XP Pro? I hope someone understands my questions even though it's long winded and confusing ...

 

I am not sure but I don't think that is possible. It's possible to alter some portions (perhaps updated softwares and drivers) of the recovery image inside the recovery partition but to change the whole operating system inside the image might be next to impossible. If it might help, you can download the ThinkVantage Deployment Guide here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-63827
But If I were you, I won't ever touch the recovery image. Mine came with Windows XP Pro but I do not use it to recover my system to factory settings cause I made a custom DVD to intall Windows XP Pro. But I leave the recovery image in the harddrive, just in case.

To make the ThinkVantage button work even after installation of Windows XP Pro, you need to fix the MBR. You can download the MBR repair kit here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-62978
You need a floppy disk drive in the kit. Since T60 don't have one, what I did was run it on a Thinkpad A22m. Then I made a Windows Millenium boot disk on my desktop. Then made a Bootable CD using the Windows Millenium boot disk image then incorporated the MBR repair files. Use the CD to boot the T60 to repair the MBR. The next time you boot, the "Press F11" message will appear. Press F11 to enter Rescue and Recovery. Reboot. You ThinkVantage button will now work. Maybe there's an easier way to do this, but this is how I did it so I can enter the Rescue and Recovery partition using the ThinkVantage button after a fresh installation of Windows XP using my custom DVD.

 

What's on the disk, a bootable DOS system and an app or two?

You can use winimage to make a blank floppy image, and then use virtual floppy drive to mount that and collect the data from the Lenovo executable. Then you can make a free dos bootable CD with those files.

Regarding the original question, it appears Acronis has a recovery manager which will accomplish this or something similar, though I don't know exactly how it works.

 

I incorporated the MBR repair files into my WinME bootable CD.
Good links you posted. But I'm pretty content with my WinME bootable CD with the MBR repair kit. It works perfectly on mine.
I also thought of using a virtual floppy drive so I could extract the MBR repair kit, but I happen to have A22m available back then so I used it to make a MBR repair disk. Plus WinImage is not free. I also thought of free DOS but I also happen to have a WinME bootable disk I made a long time ago but a WinME bootable disk image can be downloaded somewhere (just google).. I think it's simpler cause it's got built-in CD drive support. plus it comes with ramdrive where you should copy the MBR repair files from the CD you made (i forgot to mention this in my first post) cause the MBR repair program needs to have read-write access on the drive it is run.

 

even with the IBM Service partition, do I need to download and install Rescue and Recovery and make a recovery disk(s) before trying to wipe out the C:\ partion and do a fresh install of windows xp pro? I don't think my T60 came with a preinstalled Rescue and Recovery program. IT only came with Thinkvantage productivity center.

 

I think that would be a good idea.
You can make a set of recovery discs for your original factory installation (which is XP home). Then wipe out the whole harddrive to make some more room. Then install Windows XP Pro. Then when you've installed RnR, make a Rescue Media in the "internal hard disk drive" but make sure to check the "do not destroy existing data" (just to be sure). It will then make a hidden partition area for the Rescue and Recovery workspace. I think it will fix the MBR for you so you can access the RnR workspace it created. If it doesn't you can use any of the tips above. I haven't tried it cause I used PartImage Linux utility (using SystemRescueCD) to copy my hidden partition to my new harddrive then used MBR repair kit so I can access it.

 

I probably won't even need rescue and recovery since it's a new computer and I dont have anything on it at all. I think I will just go into the BIOS and disable the hidden partition that way windows xp pro setup will recognize it. That way I can combine the partitions (C:\ and D:\) into one big partition and install xp pro on it after a full reformat. From then on, after installing Windows XP Pro, I'll use Acronis Imaging software and make a backup image on an extra external hard drive I have. That way if anything goes wrong, I'll just revert back to the image on the external drive. I really don't want to mess with IBM's proprietary rescue and recovery app. I don't care for Windows XP Home anyways, I got it with the intention of upgrading. Any comments or suggestions before I get eliminate the IBM service partition with no way to possibly recover it again? If I don't care about XP home, and I can download all drivers from IBM's website and can make backup images of my drive with Acronis, why do I even need IBM service partition and the Rescue and Recovery program?