New HDD - XP install

Hi,

I have a T61p 6460-D8G with a 160 Go HDD in it, and Vista Ultimate, and a Downgrade kit to XP Pro (bought with the laptop from Lenovo).

I want to keep my 160Go HDD with Vista "factory-like", to remove it from the laptop, replace it with a new 320 Go HDD (probably a WD Scorpio), and install XP Pro on this new drive. No way to get all the information I need by reading forums here and there.

My questions are:

1- Is there anything "special" to do before or while swapping the hard disk drives to avoid problems when rebooting the laptop?

2- I have an OEM XP Pro CD that I got with my desktop computer. Is there any way I can use it to clean install XP Pro on the new formatted hard disk drive in my T61p? Technically I'm sure i can of course, but how can I make it legal? The OEM key is attached to my desktop PC...The label on the back of the T61p is a Vista licence...But I have a right to use XP Pro with the downgrade kit and then I guess it doesn't matter which CD I install it from, but where do I find my product key to show Microsoft that is a genuine Windows XP and to be able to use Windows update and everything?

Thank you for your help.

 

Try the xp clean install thread.

 

The latest versions of Rescue and Recovery allow you to do a custom install, putting on only the programs you want. It's essentially a clean install without the need for a XP disc.

Some manufacturers lock their discs to their machines. Without more information it's kind of hard to say.

If the discs works the activation program allows you to change the key, at which point you could use your key. I have a XP Home disc I got when it was first released. When I do a clean install for someone I just use the key the disc came with then change it to the one on the machine. I've done this many times. It's never failed to activate over the internet. I haven't done it with Vista. You may have to get it to work.

 

Watchtower7, be glad ZaZ edited your answer, it was both rude and useless. It seems that you did not read the question before...

Thanks Zaz for your help. But my Thinkpad came with Vista Ultimate installed and the downgrade to XP Pro kit, not an XP install CD. Which means I have a Vista product key on a sticker on the laptop, but no XP product key...I guess the downgrade kit finds the key, or converts the Vista key to an XP key during the process, I don't know.

But the downgrade kit is just there to convert the Vista system into an XP system...What I'll have to do, since i'll put a new HDD in the laptop, is install XP from scratch, not convert Vista, not using R&R... So I don't think the product key I have will work since it's a Vista one, and the OEM key that came with my XP Pro OEM CD is attached to my desktop so I can't use it on the T61p...But since I am allowed to use XP Pro on the laptop (if not I couldn't use XP after the downgrade!), there must be an XP key for my Thinkpad somewhere...But how to find it???