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    Just got my T61p, what do I do now?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by shredman, Aug 30, 2007.

  1. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    Ok, I know it sounds stupid, but before I do anything what should I do?

    It didn't come with an xp pro cd or any cds, so I think I need to back stuff up first?

    Also, there are 77 processes running and it is using 477mb page file just idling. So what can I remove?

    I'd like to get rid of norton active portion but don't know how.

    What else can I get rid of?

    Thanks
     
    shredman, Aug 30, 2007
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  2. ooxxoo

    ooxxoo Notebook Evangelist

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    ooxxoo, Aug 30, 2007
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  3. grateful

    grateful Notebook Evangelist

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    you didnt get any install cd's? then I wouldnt format
     
    grateful, Aug 30, 2007
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  4. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    ooxxoo, I saw that guide but I'm not too keen on clean install since I don't have any install cds. Should I not be worried?
     
    shredman, Aug 30, 2007
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  5. Tailic

    Tailic Notebook Deity

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    I'd find an image of the install cds, you can probably order them off MS's site.
     
    Tailic, Aug 30, 2007
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  6. halobox

    halobox Notebook Deity

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    Typically the factory install from Lenovo has a rescue and recovery area that lets you build the factory cd/dvd set. I highly recommend building that disk set as the first order of business.
     
    halobox, Aug 30, 2007
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  7. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    ooxxoo the guide you linked to is for vista only if I'm not mistaken.

    Tailic, Microsoft would have an image of the install cds?? I'll go poke around on microsoft.com and look.
     
    shredman, Aug 30, 2007
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  8. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    Halobox, I just made the Rescue and Recovery Startup disk. Now I am creating the product recovery disks ( I assume this is the software installed by Lenovo like norton, office trial, etc....)

    After that, can anyone help me to figure out how to clean this puppy up? Is it possible/advisable to try to do a clean install of xp without any cd provided? I do have a copy of windows xp from my desktop install- but obviously I am using that key. How do I find the key on my current install?
     
    shredman, Aug 30, 2007
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  9. halobox

    halobox Notebook Deity

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    You can approach this two different ways. You can use control panel to add/remove programs. I'd recommend doing that first. Be careful and go slowly. Only remove the crap you don't want. You should also take a close look at the lenovo.com download area for your machine. Lenovo is good about having all of the core drivers, power management, etc.

    After you build a nice repository of the drivers and software you want from lenovo.com (on something like an external usb driver or mem stick), you can flatten the machine and reinstall from scratch. That assumes you have the media for the OS you want to install.

    What I usually do is order an extra hard drive and keep the original intact for a few weeks while I build another one the way I want it. Depends on the resources you have. I have a TechNet subscription so I have any OS I want. Linux of course is also downloadable.
     
    halobox, Aug 30, 2007
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  10. ooxxoo

    ooxxoo Notebook Evangelist

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    Oops sorry, didn't realize it was for XP.

    Here's one:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=161612

    Has no replies, but glancing over it the information seemed to be correct.

    Basically it's the same as doing the Vista clean install but you have to get the key with magical jellybean finder.
     
    ooxxoo, Aug 30, 2007
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  11. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    Hmm, the reinstall process seems a little daunting. I do have a copy of XP Pro (I actually have it slipstreamed with SP2 also). I can definitely follow all the steps but I hate to proceed down that road with just the one guide and no feedback posted. I just got this thing and don't want to ruin it.

    If I just remove stuff, will that get me pretty close to a clean install? I mean, what is the the actual payoff for the clean install vs. just removing things?
     
    shredman, Aug 30, 2007
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  12. knightingmagic

    knightingmagic Notebook Deity

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    You can't guarantee that your system is clean with uninstalls. For example, some CD burning shovelware on my HP desktop left behind annoying file association autoplay dialogs. The one option of opening the DVD in Explorer was buried under: "Burn blank CD" "Save CD to ISO" "Open with recordnow" "check cd integrity" etc, etc. Those file associations still bug me today.
     
    knightingmagic, Aug 31, 2007
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  13. ArchAngle

    ArchAngle Notebook Consultant

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    One payoff for the clean install - removal of extraneous, potentially sloth-inducing, registry gunk, which is not necessarily removed if you simply use Window's remove program option.
     
    ArchAngle, Aug 31, 2007
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  14. shredman

    shredman Notebook Geek

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    Hmm, ok, great points so far. My big concern with a clean install is that I don't really know what I need to reinstall besides the drivers...and not even sure I will get all of those right. Also, I do want some of the thinkpad software (I think). I just mainly want the active processes stopped, like Norton and whatever else is on there.

    p.s. is the Norton just trialware? Also, is there a way to make norton just a run on command type program?
     
    shredman, Aug 31, 2007
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