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    Thinkpad Vista/XP Dowgrade CDs

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by eddiethefish, Aug 19, 2008.

  1. eddiethefish

    eddiethefish Newbie

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    Hello,

    I recently received my Thinkpad T500 from Best Buy for Business, advertised w/the XPP downgrade. The computer came loaded with Vista Business, with a backup partition loaded with the same. However, I couldn't find the XP downgrade CDs anywhere.

    I called Best Buy- they told me to call Lenovo. :(
    I called Lenovo/tech support they told me they don't ship any cds but Vista. :confused:
    I called Lenovo/sales- they told me they never send out any OSs on CD anymore, and could not help me anyway because I hadn't bought from them. :mad:

    Of course all of this seems contrary to Lenovo's site (I discovered later) http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=VSTA-DWNGRD

    True- I can probably get a hold of an XP CD somewhere- but without the needed drivers. I went to the Lenovo support site, and discovered that they only have a few drivers for the T500 for Windows XP. (Sound, etc). They did not have network card drivers (among other drivers) for XP.

    Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I'd like to know how you resolved it. I'm eager to get started using my new laptop, but I don't want to start installing things when I intend to just reformat and install XP.

    Any thoughts?

    Thank You,
    Jason
     
    eddiethefish, Aug 19, 2008
    #1
  2. pragmobile

    pragmobile Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi Jason,
    sorry to hear about your problem, could you tell me what model was it that you got? (e.g. 20823HU)
    if that is true that they don't ship downgrades, it's misleading advertising and it should be noted in the notebookreview review of the T500. Their website and retailers clearly offer an XP option.
     
    pragmobile, Aug 19, 2008
    #2
  3. eddiethefish

    eddiethefish Newbie

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    Sure!
    The Model Number is: 2082-3HU

    According to the rep I spoke with at Lenovo sales, there is no way for me to purchase this CD from them. If this is true, have you any idea where can I
    get it?

    Thanks for your help :)
     
    eddiethefish, Aug 19, 2008
    #3
  4. ali88

    ali88 Notebook Consultant

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    ok so i have a quick question on this topic as well.

    i customized my order right of the lenovo website. and for the os option i chose Windows Vista Business and then this recovery disc option showed up so i picked the Microsoft Windows XP Professional US English RDVD.

    what kind of discs am i going to be getting? XP or Vista? or both?
     
    ali88, Aug 19, 2008
    #4
  5. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Your system will come with Windows Vista Business installed. You will also receive XP discs so you can downgrade to, but before you do, make sure you create recovery discs of the Vista OS because if you downgrade without doing so, you're going to lose your Vista OS.
     
    Arki, Aug 20, 2008
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  6. ali88

    ali88 Notebook Consultant

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    there we go problem solved... atleast until i get the laptop.
     
    ali88, Aug 20, 2008
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  7. eddiethefish

    eddiethefish Newbie

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    Hi,

    I was the original poster. I just wanted to double check to see if anyone has any recommendations for me about how to get the recovery XP discs that should have shipped with the system. And with Lenovo and Best Buy pointing fingers, who really is responsible for shipping out the CDs with the system after all?

    Thanks!
    Jason :)
     
    eddiethefish, Aug 21, 2008
    #7
  8. keltix

    keltix Notebook Deity

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    keltix, Aug 21, 2008
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  9. eddiethefish

    eddiethefish Newbie

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    Yes, Actually that looks like the same link I posted, but thank you
    for having a look anyway.
    -j
     
    eddiethefish, Aug 21, 2008
    #9