Want to clean install Vista and Win XP Pro...few questions.

I've looked over the Clean install guide and it looks like a procedure I can handle. My question is regarding the process of burning recovery disks. What actually goes on these disks? I have no installed software on my brand new T61P that I need to keep. Do vista specific files get put on these "recovery disks" or Lenovo specific? I did not opt for the DVD burner so how many CD's would this cover?

My 2nd question is regarding the actual Vista disk. Can you get this from Lenovo for free if you call and ask? What about the driver disks (or do you just have to download those all from the net)?

Finally I when I do actually install Vista I want to delete that hidden partition they mention in the guide and install on to about 40gigs of my 100gig HD. Can you set how big of partition you want to allocate? After Vista is on I want to install XP Pro on another 40gig partition and the remaining 20gig would be for files. Can this 3rd partition be seen by both OS's? I assuming it can since they both use the NTFS file system. Thanks!

 

The recovery disks are intended to restore the HDD back to the same exact state as when you made the recovery disks... hidden partition and all. It takes 2-3 dvds or about 9-10CDs. Some people have had trouble restoring from these disks. Even using restore disks from the manufacturer, just FYI.

If you are talking about the anytime upgrade disk, I doubt Lenovo will send it for free. There is actually an anytime upgrade program located in the swtools folder that can be used to upgrade to a new version of vista. Unfortunately, I don't thikn there is anyway to make a bootable DVD out of it to be used for a clean install. Drivers? It is my understanding that all the drivers are locatedin the swtools folder. Of course, they will not all be the latest drivers. Also, they will be of no help if you are trying to go from 32-bit to 64-bit.

Partition questions. Someone else will have to chime in, but if you are trying to dual boot XP and Vista you'll want to find a good guide for that. I think it takes a fair amount of tweaks/hacks or at least knowhow.

 

So the recovery disks are not mandatory to re-install Vista if I have the actual Vista anytime upgrade disk? I don't plan install 64bit Vista (can't find a good reason to for my needs) so if I backup the swtools folder I should have all the necessary drivers to get me going correct?

 

I have heard others post that the swtools folder contains drivers. I'll just refer you to the clean install guide (link in my sig). It contains about all the information I know and answers just about any questions I can possibly think of regarding doing a clean install of Vista.

 

I'm dual booting Vista and XP and the hardest part is getting XP to install because of the ahci problem.

First your going to need install media, but honestly I would get it at any means then just use your authentic vista key on the bottom of your laptop.


Heres the procedure for dual boot Vista/XP off the top of my head (could be some mistakes, its version .9 beta ):

1) Turn off AHCI
- Go into the bios (Blue thinkvantage button during boot)
- Change AHCI mode to compatibility, under Config -> Sata -> AHCI (Change this to compatibility)

2) Install Windows XP
- Restart and boot to a XP install disc. (Hit F12 on boot for boot options)
- Once in XP install process delete all existing partitions. (Delete the recovery partition if you want, waste of space to me)
- Create your own partitions, I recommend creating 2 partitions giving vista the majority of space. Ex. I have a 100GB HD, I gave Vista 65GB and XP ~35GB (the rest).
- Install WinXP on the second partition (D, not C), you should do this because Vista always wants to be C so it will flip your drive letters to be C which can be confusing/annoying to you.

3) Setting up XP and turning AHCI back on
- Once XP is installed follow this guide to complete the driver install and it shows how to turn AHCI back on. Guide: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=136351
- You should know how to turn AHCI back, on its in step 1

4) Installing Vista
- Make sure AHCI is back on or it will cause you trouble later if you want it on again.
- Boot to Vista install disc
- Install Vista in C
- Once installed, install all the drivers. ( Driver matrix page)
- You should be done and when you restart you should see a dual boot os selection screen when you restart. If not, well thats another guide.

 

I kept two pieces of software from the preload. The DVD/CD authoring tools and the DVD movie player. These are located in your swtools folder.

 

so, here is my question: assuming that I have a license for Vista Ultimate, then in order to do a clean install, I basically wipe out everything (of course backing up the drivers and stuff first). When I install, I use the Ultimate license so then I dont have to worry about backing up the license for my pre-installed system.

So, would I follow the exact steps minus the license part?

 

What is AHCI?

I'm just trying to learn some new terminology so when I do my clean install everything will go smoothly.

 

Why do you have to turn off AHCI?

 

If you don't turn it off setup probably will fail to detect a hard drive. AHCI is the interface that allows software to communicate with SATA devices.

 

okaay... I followed this forum's topic and now I am stuck with XP and cannot go back into vista.

what shall i do?

I tried enabling AHCI back but it failed to boot either vista or XP.

Is there a way to fix this? I didn't quite backup the key for my Vista business either, so i may be screwed.

It looks to me like XP "took over" the computer rather than gave me a choice between vista or xp.

 

Did you install Vista before XP or vice-versa?

 

sorry for the trouble. I guess i didn't fully research prior to dual booting.

I used vista first and then boot with xp

http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp

This guide actually tells me that XP does take over, and we have to use vista's DVD to do a repair and then followed by a program.

Thanks

PS: gosh, i hate myself for doing that.