XP Pro Clean install guide with offline activation

See Updates in red at the bottom


Disclaimer
1. I believe this to be legal. You are simply using your own XP Pro license and preload files to activate your own legal copy of windows xp pro.

2. This worked on my own t60p, but I cannot guarantee that it will work on any other t6x models, so any feedback on its success on other models would be appreciated.

3. This is a work in progress and is subject to editing as mistakes are found and corrected

What you will need:

For this to work, you must have the factory preinstall currently loaded on your machine.

Acquire ALL The following items before you start.

1. Most importantly make or order your recovery media in case this does not work for you, so you can return to factory state.
2. A windows XP pro installation disk (not recovery media, but a standard microsoft disk).
3. If your disk does not include SP2 download it here
4. Download nlite Here
5. Ability to burn an image to cd or dvd
6. cd or dvd media.
7. A copy of the entire (as is) I386 folder from you current preload to either disk or usb drive. I believe it is in the windows folder
8. A copy of the entire (as is) SWTools folder according to ZaZ's suggestions. Also on disk or usb drive.
9. Your XP pro licence key found using Magic jellybean keyfinder found here not the one on the sticker on the bottom of the computer, they are different
10. find the driver for your ethernet/wifi/modem (whichever you use for internet connection) on lenovos site and have it handy on external media in case you need it after installing OS.


Steps to take

On your current preload before beginning to install new os:

1. download and install nlite and read the walkthrough on their site.
2. copy the XP disk to your desktop.
3. copy the SP2 file to the desktop if you need it.

The following steps must be taken in the correct order:

4. Start nlite and tell it where the XP source is (desktop)
5. If necessary integrate SP2.
6. Minimize nlite
7. Open the XP source folder on the desktop (It is not the same as when you copied it there, nlite has modified it to include SP2) and find the I386 folder in there.
8. Overwrite the entire folder with the one from your preload, and say "yes to all" to overwrite all duplicate files.
9. bring nlite back up and proceed, following their instructions. Put the key found using Magic jellybean keyfinder in the unattend section. (I personally skipped the driver section, if you use this part I don't know what will happen)( My personal suggestion is to change as little as possible with nlite in case something does not work, if it does work, experiment afterward to remove more).
10. Burn the iso produced by nlite to cd or dvd.

Start Loading new OS

1. Push power button followed by F1 to enter bios utility.
2. Under config go to SATA the change to compatibility mode
3. Save and exit.
4. boot the XP cd you created with nlite and follow prompts (you will not be asked to enter key if you provided it in nlite).
a.) Keep or remove hidden partition at the beginning of installation
b.) add a partition if you plan on dual booting.
5. When you get to the desktop with no other activity going on Click Start > Run and type [oobe/msoobe /a] (minus the brackets, and notice the space after msoobe) to see if windows is activated. If it is, it will tell you and only give you the option to exit. Anything else and it is not activated and will propt you to do so (try again).
6. Let XP provide all the drivers it can then open device manager.
7. According to ZaZ, if you let any unknown device search the SWTools folder you saved to external media, it will find the driver it needs. If not download from either thinkvantage update or from lenovos site directly.
8. Update drivers if you want to from the same SWTools folder.
9. download thinkvantage stuff if desired ( the more you download the more processes you run. A personal preference is to use only the ones absolutely necessary and let windows handle the rest).





I've had more than one person tell me that this guide does not work with t61's (T61P's)

 

I have a question.

Using this procedure, is it exactly a fresh install of Windows XP Professional with all the original factory drivers and none of the bloatware/thirdparty files? Everything will be the exact same such as all the keys including the thinkvantage key plus all the hotkeys will work? Wireless and bluetooth will work perfectly?

I'm asking all this because I love the T61, but all the bloatware files that come with it is a nuisance. I just want to keep everything but that. I know I can just manually uninstall what I don't want but that's not the same as a clean install.

 

Additionally, is thinkvantage needed in order for the mouse/track buttons to work properly? what about the FN keys and all other buttons/wifi/bluetooth/battery and power options, etc.? i don't need program updates and message center crap....

 

Mouse and trackpoint buttons work and can be configured well enough by windows.

My FN keys work for hibernate, brightness, thinklight, some do not work, like screen magnifier (which I do not need) others I have not tried.

Bluetooth is being handled well by windows.

WiFi is handled well by windows.

I installed power manager for the battery/power options

Like I said, only install what you want/need. If you need the functionality of all the FN keys, just install the hotkey manager.

 

What's the difference between a clean install of the OS and the custom factory install using RnR?

 

A clean install leaves out all the bloat of a factory install (or RnR).

Here's my observation and I'd like to see others comment as well to see if they've experienced the same thing.

I used RnR to install XP as an experiment. It took up about 10 gig if I remember correctly.

I then wiped the drive and used a retail version to install, then added all the thinkvantage stuff I could get my hands on. I think the total was around 5 gig.

You would think the 2 scenarios would be equal right??

Where does all the preinstall extra stuff come from to make it twice the size?

Anyway, clean install is much lighter and faster and I pared down the thinkvantage stuff to only what I need.

 

TPA, can you tell me the purpose for copying the preloaded I386 folder to the new install disc to be created for the clean install? In other words, what's in the old I386 that we need for the new one?

Also, are all the drivers that we need for the machine to operate and function (including WiFi, BT, etc...) in the SWTools folder? Other things like ThinkVantage and Power management can be downloaded from lenovo and installed after XP is installed?

Sorry for all the questions (that may seem dumb), but I'm trying to get my new machine to function perfectly to replace my old machine before the week starts. Thank you for your help!!


EDIT: the power manager software is part of thinkvantage? and thinkvantage can be installed in a custom fashion to pick and choose what is installed, correct?

 

The I386 folder contains the offline activation information needed to work with the key that you provide according to the instructions above. Not sure exactly how it works, but it comes off of the same computer it is going back on, so I can't see any legal issues here.

I've never used the swtools folder that ZaZ speaks of, but he says it works and that is good enough for me. It is supposed to have the drivers your computer is currently using, so I'd say yes they are all there. If it does not work, then everything is available on lenovo site. You might have any drivers needed to connect to the internet ready on separate media just in case.

thinkvantage stuff can mostly be gotten by using thinkvantage system update, any it does not provide can be gotten through support site at lenovo.

power manager is part of thinkvantage and yes you can pick and choose what you want.

 

okay, upon first try, windows' first boot restarted, the next time it gave the 'start windows normally?' screen, and each subsequent time. will not boot into windows without safe mode.

just created another nlite disc (without any options, just the key) and i'm trying it again...

 

update: even with the new disc, machine will not boot into windows after clean install.

what is the disadvantage of just using the retail xp disk to install windows?

 

you have to use the key that came with it, when it could be used elsewhere. The hidden key on your thinkpad, and the one on the sticker on the bottom will not activate online.

If you just happen to have an extra copy of XP with its own key, then that is definitely the easiest way.

 

so windows will not activate with either of the keys with the thinkpad? even if you phone in the activation and tell microsoft it's the key that came with your computer?

 

It can be done that way, if you act ignorant about it being a preinstall situation. sometimes they will not activate it for you if they know about that. All depends on who you talk to.

 

so, in that case, should i use the key on the bottom of the machine during installation of the retail disk?

 

My guess as to why your clean install is not working is because of all the new hardware on the t61p. XP probably cant find enough drivers for critical devices to boot normally. If that is the case you would have to slipstream the drivers with nlite. Something I have not done.

 

if that is true, then the retail install will not work either. i'll let you know in 24 minutes and 30 seconds.

 

Way back in my learning days, thats what I did with an R40. I used the sticker key, and had to call to activate. Went through the whole automated phone method and still ended up having to talk to a person.

Problem is....If you ever want to wipe clean and start over you have to go through that all over again.

 

i don't mind having to call it in. i've had to do it several times with my desktop machine when reformatting. they never ask but one question, i tell them i had a HD crash and had to reinstall. no problems.


update: the retail disk installed and booted into windows fine. beginning activation process. . .

 

ok, originally, i put in the key from the preload. gave the installation id to the MS guy, he told me to change the product to the key on the bottom of the machine, gave him the new installation id, then he gave me the new authorization number. told him i was reinstalling on a new machine and verified that this was the only machine with this software on it.

clean install done.

 

ah this is taking forever to get it the way i want it.


my audio is still not working. when trying to install it, it says the driver for this device is not yet installed. any idea?

EDIT:
found it! if anyone has the same problem: it's under the preload Drivers folder in SWTools in the folder named "UAAHDAXP".

 

update:

Using the IMSM folder from the SWTools preload folder, I installed the Intel Storage Matrix Manager drivers in order to re-enable AHCI SATA mode.

Source: skint80's thread and his first post here http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=136351&highlight=ahci