Clean Install Guide (works for 32-bit or 64-bit)

i have an X300, how to know if i have Intel 900 chipset or not ?

 

I did this on my X200 with Vista Ultimate 64 bit. After just the OS install, it took about 4GB of HDD space.

After the drivers and thinkvantage apps were installed, I have used 20 GB! How is that possible????

Is this the same with everyone else?

 

my X300 out of the box used around 25GB , so i believe this is normal thats why people clean their windows

 

I was able to get around the CD/DVD issue in my clean installation by going into the BIOS, then going into the SATA menu and changing the Controller mode option to Compatibility versus the AHCI mode that had been there before

I have left it on Compatibility. Any issues leaving that choice?

 

It sounds like you have been installing XP. This guide is for Vista only.

If you want to use compatibility mode for XP, that's fine, but it's not the best. The real way is to slipstream the drivers into the XP install disk.

If you had to use compatibility mode to install Vista, something is wrong with your Vista. Also, with Vista you can put the drivers on a USB key and it will find them there.

 

I did a clean install and installed Vista Business 64. I didn't keep track of the space like you but my final result was that it used about 20GB of space. I installed SP1(and any required updates from MS) and the bare minimum thinkvantage software to get my fingerprint reader to work, thats it. Of course I installed the drivers as well for the hardware to work. I did not install any other programs and did not install any other Thinkvantage utilities. So in short your install size seems about right.

 

I wasn't installing XP. Obviously I did screw up with the compatibility change because going into the BIOS and reverting to AHCI brings blue screens and the inability to boot up. I can go back to compatibility and run.

I have installed the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Drivers a couple times but that does not solve this. Maybe you have to be in the AHCI mode for those to install correctly?

 

You need to be running in AHCI mode at the time you are doing the installation. If you change it later you need to do a reinstall. There might be some way to change the HAL after you've installed, but I don't know what it is.

The way you are running right now shouldn't cause major problems, so unless you run into anything, it's up to you. I would make sure that you can access all of your hard drive space, as I'm not sure all of the limitations in compatibility mode.

 

I was able to get into the AHCI mode and get those ACHI SATA drivers loaded by following the instructions at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 922976. Everything seems to be running smoothly for now at least.

Perhaps related to my original post on all this, here is a snippet form Wikipedia on AHCI: Enabling AHCI in a system BIOS on installations of Windows XP or Windows Vista will cause SATA Optical drives to disappear. A Hotfix for Windows Vista is available under the title: "SATA optical drives are not available after you start a Windows Vista-based computer."[5] This problem was fixed in Vista SP1.

My clean installation was done with about an 18-month old Vista 64-bit disc and I don't believe it had SP1

 

I would like to do a clean Vista install, but I don't want to lose the option of doing a recovery from the recovery partition. I figured that the reason the ThinkVantage button becomes unusable preboot is because the fresh install overwrites the MBR. This is what I found:
thinkwiki.org/wiki/Rescue_and_Recovery

It appears that you can repair the MBR with the BMGR tool. Or you can use:
www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-54483.html


I found nothing about these tools on this forum, and I am wondering if anyone has tried them, or is willing to do so now.

 

I've skimmed a few guides now, but it is still not clear to me.
If I borrow a Vista DVD 64-bit from my education - will I be able to install it on the T500, download the drivers online and then run without any problems?
The laptop I am receiving comes with Vista 32-bit pre-installed.

Also, if I on a later moment would want to use the Vista 32-bit license that came with the laptop, could I use a random Vista DVD and just type in the serial number?

If anyone could clarify this for me, it would be great.

 

I think this does get answered in the clean install guides that are posted. You will be able to install from any dvd so long as it has the corresponding version. So, Business, Ultimate must be the same, but can be either x86 or x64. You would be best off to save your key using the ABR Utility, otherwise you may have to call MS, which would suck. http://directedge.us/content/abr-activation-backup-and-restore

 

In addition to my questions regarding restoring the MBR by using bmgr, does anyone know when the Base Software Administrator tool will be updated to work with W500 systems?

And, finally, isn't it hypothetically possible to modify the recovery image like one modifies a Vista image with vlite?

 

Sorry, my mind has just been running on overdrive today... There are MBR and Boot Sector backup tools, such as HDHacker. Am I wrong to think that I could backup the original MBR and boot sector of my thinkpad, perform a clean install--keeping the partitions intact--and then simply restore the MBR and boot sector from my earlier backup to restore preboot functionality?

I'm only so familiar with virtual machines, but could any of my hypotheses be put to the test in a virtual machine?

 

Has nobody had experience with this?

 

• CLICK HERE Intel Chipset Driver/INF Update Utility for ALL 900 Series chipsets this includes the T60/61: INSTALL FIRST!!!
• CLICK HERE Turbo Memory Driver (NOTE: Only install this driver on systems with Turbo Memory. This driver will also install the Matrix Storage Manger Driver.)
• CLICK HERE Matrix Storage Manager Driver (NOTE: Only install this driver on systems without Turbo Memory. Do not download/install this driver if you have installed the Turbo Memory driver.)

So if I were to get the new T400, where would I find these drivers? The links (at least some) are outdated, and I'm not sure which series chipset the new T400 uses.

 

Do I really need all the registry patches from the Matrix Page? It seems to run fine without them. Just wondering? But great intructions stallen.

Thanks

 

Stallen you are a pure genius. Thanks

 

When you install drivers, updates, etc. in Vista, it might create restore points for you, which can take up some place on the HDD. Windows Update usually also takes snapshots and create restore points. As time goes by, old restore points might be deleted, new ones created, etc.

So if you don't do anything else, just install updates you will still see a good 1-5 Gb change in free space from time to time (and I mean ups and downs, sometimes you have more free space, sometimes less).

Also remember that 64 bit Vista takes up more space than the 32 bit version. Many things live twice in 64 bit Vista - as 32 and 64 bit versions. As you apply updates some might take up twice the space compare to 32 bit versions.

Another reason could be installations. Vista caches updates and installed programs (although I don't know the details of what gets cached and what not). For example my Vista 64 has currently 4.5Gb of installation packages "cached".

If you are low on disk space you could investigate what of these things is safe to turn off, delete, clean, etc. But unless you really need the disk space, why bother? It of course can feel like a waste of disk space but it is supposed to guarantee that Windows works fine if files get lost, damaged, etc.

 

For Step 1 can I just put it all on one External Hard Drive instead of just DVD's and CD's?

 

How should I install the Iso image Vista Business that I got from MSSDNA if I want to do a clean install of my laptop that came preloaded with Home Premium?

 

I am not sure if i understand your question but the ISO image should be burned to a blank disc and you should be able to boot from the disc.

 

I think you got what I meant by booting from the disc containing the image. Would a Vista DVD be necessary to accomplish the clean install in this case?
Thanks a lot.

 

Recently got a T400 with Vista Ultimate SP1 and plan on doing a clean install to x64.

Does the download link in the first thread include SP1 or would I have to download that separately?

 

I have a questiion on the order of installation. Should I install Vista SP1 (using Windows Update) before installing the drivers OR install drivers then install SP1?

 

I am not sure if it makes a difference, but I installed all the drivers in the order mentioned in this guide, then installed all the Windows updates MS offered including SP1. I have had no problems with my Vista x64 Business clean install.

 

I guess I am confused. What do you have now? If you downloaded the files needed to make the Vista DVD then no you don't need another Vista DVD. If not, you will need to get an "anytime upgrade disc", OEM disc or retail disc to do the clean install.

 

http://msdn03.e-academy.com/elms/St....aspx?campus=utoronto_csengbus&np1=112&p=1243

Sorry about the confusions.
This downloaded image file that I put on the disk is like the vista installation DVD that you need to perform the clean install from what I understood.

 

Hi there!

In the GUIDE here is said, that I need to download Intel Chipset Driver/INF Update Utility and Turbo Memory Driver from provided links, but in my manufacturer's page [Acer] I have Intel_AHCI_v8.5.0.1032 and Intel_Robson_1.6_v1.6.1.1004.

The question is:
- do I install all four of them?
- do I install the first two?
- do I install the second two?

 

This is a Lenovo forum, so I doubt you'll find much help for your Acer laptop. Try the Acer forum

 

Yeah, posted it there, too. Just thought it will be good idea to ask this in here, where the mighty guide is, too.

 

This is a great guide. Through Microsoft's Ultimate Steal offer for students, I purchased the "64-bit Vista Ultimate w/ SP1 Upgrade" and I have the upgrade key. I also purchased a larger 320GB hard drive.

I've searched this thread and elsewhere but I'm still not sure - can I follow this guide to install 64-bit Vista Ultimate on a new hard drive on my X61s (which came originally with 32-bit Vista Home Basic) using the upgrade key?

Can I follow this process, except for the Activation Backup and Restore (ABR) steps and just enter the upgrade key during the installation? How does the installation know I had the Vista Home Basic OEM license that was on the original hard drive.

I had this would be possible, but then I read this and am not sure anymore:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932795

Thanks

 

Hey Stallen,
This is Renee. I just wanted to say hi. I was run over july 4th and am still in the hospital. Hope you are doing well.

 

Renee,
I don't think he has posted here for quite a while. At least not on this thread...

 

Anyone know if this clean install will work for T500? and for some reason I can recover and back up my info with the DVD-R DL cd's I just bought.

 

Yes, it should work.

 

k, but For some reason my laptop cant make the recovery disks for step 1. I have DVD/CD-RW. How does Lenovo expect me to create the disks? It says it doesnt recgonize the disks when I put them into my D drive. Or it says some operation is already in progress. I bought a bunch of DVD-R's and Im pretty sure they are compatable.

Some more information

When I select recordable drive it says HL-DT-ST- RW/DVD MU10N 1.05

 

Wow, Thanks for this guide. This is one of the best guide I've ever see.. THX very much for your effort

 

I don't think your optical drive can record to DVD media. You're going to have to make the backup discs using CD-R or CD-RW. Unfortunately, it's going to take several discs.

 

Dam... so I spent 20 dollars on CD's. Thanks for your help though. But according to Stallens prompt you suppose to use at least 2 DVD cd's?

Also my old laptop has a Burnable DVD drive is it possible to transfer all the backups to a HDD and then use my old laptop to burn the backup OS? for step 1?

 

You can also use CD's if you don't have a DVD burner. But again, I'm not completely sure. Does it say "DVD-RW" any where on your optical drive?

Is the dvd drive removeable?

 

Hi All, Im just to start doing a clean install. The only thing I worry about is to delete the hidden partition. From what I can read, the Hidden partition are recreated when you use the 3 recovery disks right? So when you do a recovery, this is done purely from the recovery disks? Then what are the hidden partition there for in the first place..?

Do I dare to delete it? Cuz I wanna be sure I can reinstall it as when I got it..
Please advice.. =) (Btw, THX for a great guide..!)

 

- First off make the recovery CDs/DVDs.
- Second it is the contents of this hidden partition on your drive that is used to make the recovery CDs/DVDs.
- From what I have read the hidden partition is recreated when you use the recovery CDs/DVDs.
- Yes, you are right, when you recover from the CDs/DVDs you are recovering from the contents of the CDs/DVDs only.
- I actually replaced my whole harddrive with another one and I don't really care if I can't recover to the original state. But I made sure I made the recovery discs first in any event, so that if I have a problem with the clean install I can go back to square one. Since I have a Vista disc and my License, I can reinstall anytime I want, so I really don't have to worry about the recovery discs. The only time I might care is if I sell the machine and want to bring it back to day one status. Also make sure to back up the files/folders mentioned in this guide like C:\SWTools and the wallpapers. This will help you bring the machine back to a factory state if you want.

 

Ok, great! But one last question. Yesterday I actualy tried to do a clean install, however my X64 disk faild for some reason. I got another one so I want to give it a new try tonight! But because I deleted the old Vista partition, not the hidden one(I forgot to!), when I then had to do the recovery, the guide asked me if I had a OS recovery disk. I diden't so it marked this with a red cross, then it asked for recovery cd's which I had and everything went fine. But I worry if I should have a OS recovery disk, what is this and why did it ask for it?

TFS, thx for youre reply, i appriciate it..! (And sorry for any wrong spelling!=)

 

That I am not a 100% sure on this, I have never personally done what you did. Are you confusing the recovery discs with the rescue disc?

 

I might, I dunno. Well, I'm gonna leave the hidden partition there just in case. Later when I wann ado a fresh install I can always delete it. Thanks for youre replyes! Im a wuzz.. =) Hopefully ee you on the other side of clean install..

 

Yesss.. Up'n running, clean install completed. I just had to burn the X64 ISO on 1xspeed. This is great! Installing drivers and favorite programs now..
Thx to you all..!

 

For Step 2 What if I dont have the same processor? DO I still install the same drive? Do i still follow these same steps even if I have a T500? or will some of the iinstallation of drives and etc be vary? My processor is a Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 2.4ghz

Also how do I know if I have Turbo Memory?

 

Can someone help me real quick?

The Matrix Driver (for non turbo systems), does it install anything or is command prompt supposed to just pop up for a split second and thats all?

When I click it thats all I see, no GUI or anything...

EDIT: this is after it has extracted and everything.

 

Congrats! Enjoy your new clean Thinkpad under YOUR control.