New Thinkpad: Windows XP Pro CD costs $45 ???

As I wanted to perform clean install of win XP on my newly purchased T60, I sent an email to my rep. how to get a XP CD from Lenovo. Following is email reply message from my rep:

The windows xp is stored on the hidden partition on the harddrive. You can make a copy of it and burn it on a cd with your system. Tech support will be able to guide you through this process. The phone number for tech support is 800-426-7378.

Then I dialed the number above to the technical support and informed him that I want to do clean install of win XP on my machine and for that I need a copy of XP CD from Lenovo. The respons from the technical assistant was:

1. You are not suppose to get XP CD because you paid the money only for pre-loaded XP which is included in your machine.
2. If you want to get a CD from us you have to pay $45.00 then we can send you a copy.
3. However, you can create recovery CDs (factory settings) on your own from thinkvantage program. Which needs at least 6-7 DVDs/CDs before you proceed. This creation of recovery CDs can be done only one time, after that it automatically disables it.
4. To create the recovery CDs click start>all programs>thinkvantage>create recovery media then follow the rest of the steps.

As far as I understood from the assistant, we can NOT create XP program CD only. Thinvantage recovery media creates a recovery disks of all software pre-installed (including XP) on our machine.

So my friends be aware these things before performing hard disk partition or clean install of xp program on your machine. I hope this information could be useful for Thinkpad novice like me.

 

That is correct.
Within 30 days you can (if your not unlucky) get those recovery CDs for free (they might ask why and just say that you will or have upgraded the harddrive or something).

But 'real' XP CDs you have to get from somewhere else (or pay for).

It might be possible to use another XP CD to install but with the thinkpad cd-key (don't think thats illegal ?), however you might need a special OEM XP CD which can be difficult to get ahold of.

 

Or you can use a program that makes a slipstreamed xp cd for you out of the existing windows ( forgot the name ) , there is also another one "bart something" that makes a customized bootable cd .

Way better then any oem cd , free and quite ok as long as you use your own key .

 

"quite ok"

But great advice, I haven't thought about using it that way

 

is this the real case? hmm... i just created recovery dvd (one start-up disk,one backup disk). so i cannot re-burn it just in case i want ten recovery cd's ?

 

Unfortunately I think so.

However I think I read that when restoring the computer allows you to do it again

 

You can create multiple copies of the recovery disks.

There is a new option in the pre-OS Rescue&Recovery software (press ThinkVantage button at BIOS screen). If you choose a factory recovery, the very last step before it does the recovery is Software Customization where you can choose which preloaded software is restored.

Also, you can do a fresh install of Windows XP using the license that came with your computer. This guide is for a T4x model, but the process is entirely the same:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=3827

EDIT BTW, most companies will not send you a Windows CD free of charge.

 

yep, ecetim is right. those CDs still cost them. and i think so that you can create multiple copies of the recovery disks.

 

Just recieved my T43 (from the closeout in December) and was wondering what number I call to get said recovery CD's from lenovo and if anyone had any tips to make sure I was not one of the 'unlucky' ones!

Thanks!!

 

Last I heard they are no longer giving out recovery CD's.

Just burn your own when you get the machine, it is the same thing.