New T400 Questions

I just ordered a T400. Ship by date on the order says 10/9, but hopefully I will get it sooner, much sooner..

Anyway, instead of making a bunch of new threads for random questions I have, I will include/update this thread with my questions regarding my new T400. I know a lot of you on here are experts and it's been awhile since I've been "into" computers, so I apologize in advance if any of these questions are dumb or have already been answered.

Now for the questions:

1. I chose to have XP installed (Vista Business downgrade). According to the sales rep, this means it will be kind of a dual boot setup. Will it be pretty obvious how I select to boot to either XP or Vista?

2. Recovery disks: From what I've read on here, one of the first things to do is to burn some recovery disks. Is everything I need to build recovery disks included with the laptop?

3. Does this mean that I have to make a set of recovery disks for Vista and a separate set of recovery disks for XP?

4. After building recovery disks of factory conditions, I think I might attempt a clean install of Vista and XP. Do I need anything other than what's included in the package to do this?

5. After a clean install, I should burn two more sets of recovery disks, right? This would be to be able to recover to the clean install state as opposed to the factory state, if I am understanding this correctly.

6. In another T400 thread on here I read that someone broke a tab while attempting to install RAM. Was that just bad luck or is it very difficult to install?

Thanks in advance for answers to any of these questions. I will probably update this first post with answers so that people aren't answering the same things over and over.

 

1 It will not be dual boot. XP will be installed.

2 You'll need some discs. Also make a copy of the SWTools folder. It contains all the applications and drivers installed on your machine.

3 You should get the Vista recovery discs if you have XP installed.

4 A Windows OEM disc. The recovery discs do not do a clean install, but return your machine to it's factory state.

5 You can only make one set of recovery discs, but you can back them up.

6 Probably a tab on the palm rest, which needs to be taken off. I've done it myself. As for the memory, I don't think it's rocket science by any stretch.

 

I see. With the option I ordered (XP/Vista Business downgrade) is it possible to install both XP and Vista? Would I need to purchase anything extra?

Is that something I purchase from Lenovo?

I'm assuming I wouldn't be able to use the OEM XP OS CD that came with my other laptop, correct?

I am a little confused about what you mean. Are you saying that I am unable to create a recovery disk right away (factory state), and then later create a separate recovery disk with clean install?

Thanks for the answers!

 

1. You would need an OEM copy of Vista to dual boot. Would have to have the machine in XP and install the OEM copy of Vista on a new partition. If you can aquire a Vista install disk you can use the key on the bottom of the laptop (although you will have to call MS to activate, it is simple though).

2. No, your machine will come with the Vista Recovery disks. I did mine a bit differently, my machine came with Vista Business installed and the disks for XP. If the disks don't come with the system give Lenovo a call they will give them to you for free.

3. That is correct, you are not provided a key for XP like you are for Vista.

4. He means that once you run the program to make the recovery disks it will not let you make them a second time. However you can just direct copy them and back them up.

 

OK, I think I am going to forget Vista for now and maybe do a dual boot of Windows 7 and XP.

So pretty much I will have XP factory installed. I make my own XP recovery disk to recover to XP, and use the factory supplied Vista recovery disk if I want to recover to Vista?

This means that I cannot do a clean install of XP without purchasing a new standalone XP disk/license?

If something tragic happens and I lose my disks (and all backups of the disk) then I am SOL?

Thanks!

 

I added Ram just last week. Removing the palmrest(and later putting it back on) isn't as easy as it could be, and I can see the scenario where an impatient person would break the plastic tabs.

Just go gentle, and don't force anything too much. Putting it back on so it fits perfectly flush with the body requires some ninja finger skills

 

I will be careful with the RAM..

So, even though I bought the XP downgrade I do not have a key for it? Any other option other than buying a brand new XP license/disk?

How is Lenovo going to handle the Windows 7 upgrade? Will they send out upgrade disks to eligible customers?

 

It was bad luck lol. I was getting pretty annoyed and it was my first laptop. But my lappy is still working 100% fine, so I'm not worried

 

The Vista key on your machine will activate XP Pro. You may have to call Microsoft to explain the situation, but Vista includes the right to downgrade to XP Pro. If you can find an OEM Windows disc that's an option.

 

Forgive my ignorance here, but what specifically is an OEM disk? Will the XP OS disk I got with my old HP count as an OEM disk for this?