X200 7542GU - Vista / XP Pro & Restore Function

Hello All My First Post (So be gentle!)

I am considering buying the ThinkPad X200 (74542GU).

In the Tabook listing this model is shown as:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
with Vista® COA

I would be grateful if someone could explain what this means.

My concern is whether only XP would be available as being the OS that would be re-installed if the ThinkVantage restore mode was used. I.e. I would then need to re-install Vista afterwards and reactivate it.

It appears to be XP that is preloaded. How would I get Vista on this machine and can Vista be made the OS on its recovery partition?

So once Vista is installed would the restore be to Vista or still be XP?

Would I need to reactivate either OS (with Microsoft) if I needed to restore the unit. Or would either OS be preactviated. My current ASUS for example is preactivated so restore happens without needing to contact Microsoft.

 

Vista Business and Ultimate include the right to downgrade to XP Pro. Technically you've bought a copy of Vista, which is why you get a Vista COA,. Lenovo has downgraded it for you because that's what the end user, in this case you, wants.

 

Thank's for the info.

So what would I then do if I wished to run Vista on this machine.

If Lenovo no longer ship discs (as I understand it) how would I change from XP to Vista Business?

Also could I end up with this machine with Vista installed and Vista as the OS on the recovery partition?


Thanks.

 

They used to send out XP restore discs with Vista Business or Ultimate machines, but I don't know what they are doing on the downgraded machines. Perhaps someone else can chime in here or you can always contact sales and get it straight from them.