does t61p come with win xp install disk?

Hello. I got my t61p yesterday but lenovo did not include a separate xp install disk. I know that lenovo has a hidden partition on the hdd for factory restore, but just want to confirm that this is the way it is. Also, is it possible to do clean install if I don't even have the windows cd? I wonder if it's possible to call up lenovo and ask them to send me one.

 

You must burn off the recovery discs.

 

I have the same question. I just got my t61p with XP pro installed. I've been a Dell user for many years so I'm used to have a xp install disk that comes with the computer, and I can format my harddisk and re-install xp anytime I want.

I read somewhere that I can make a "recovery disk", one that I can only make once. Is "recovery disk" is not the same as a full xp disk? I.e. if I were to format my t61p hd and do a clean install, the "recovery disk" is useless?

 

No the recovery discs is not a Windows disc, but will restore your ThinkPad to its original factory state.

 

If they don't, ask them nicely if they can include one or download a copy (as long as you have a valid product key, it doesn't matter if the CD is not the original), but definitely don't let it be a deciding factor for choosing a laptop.

 

Recovery disks are not install disks. It'll only put you back to stock.

Unlike ethical companies like Hewlett Packard (HP), Lenovo is too cheep to include the install disk for the OS you paid dearly for. Lenovo makes you to buy them extra.

CompUSA has the anytime upgrade (same as a basic install disk) for $5 shipped in the us48.

 

So Lenovo became 'unethical' when they acquired the thinkpad line from IBM ? So why then did they not come with windows disks and only recovery disks back when IBM was still IBM? Care to explain that? Or is it because Lenovo is Chinese they're therefore unethical? your bigotry is just astounding.

And quit 'helping' in the lenovo forums you obviously dont care helpin users here. Just looking for any opportunity to spread your hate propaganda.

 

The reason they do not provide recovery discs is because instead they provide a useful recovery partition.

Unlike other OEM's such as Dell, HP etc whose recovery partition only reinstalls the OS with bloatware. I'm pretty sure Lenovo's recovery partition has the option of restoring it to the factory state with bloatware or just installing the OS and the necessary drivers.

 

I wonder if using my HP XP pro disc on the Lenovo would work and then use that Product key that I have on my HP. Would that work? I do have a valid product key that was for HP but now my Lenovo comes with Vista which I want to put XP in.

 

I just bought a HP notebook. It came with no Windows disc or Anytime Upgrade disc.

 

Yes, that will probably work. However you should know that it's probably a violation of M$'s TOS which says something to the effect that OEM licenses are permanently tied to the hardware they are shipped with and may not be used on other hardware.

 

lol didn't expect ppl to reply to this thread after several weeks!

I still wish they included the windows cd but it's probably easier to just restore to factory state because of all the additional thinkpad software that you would need to dl if you do a fresh install of the OS.

 

I want the xp pro disk so I don't have to go through all the steps of removing Norton again. Perhaps I'll ask them nicely.

 

I would be shocked if the hp oem disk installed.
There is something somewhere that looks for the appropriate vendor on install.
I remember my dell disk would not install on hp.
i downloaded an iso corporate copy for my clean install and used its key, not my original key, although any legit (non oem) xp disk will install, though you will probably have to call to activate but its no big deal.

 

dont waste your time .. I did that already, stayed like 1 hour on the phone, moved from one department to another, and at the end they said NO, SORRY

now I'm stuck with the 5gb wasted space on my HDD, but luckily uninstalled almost all of the thingvantage crap software

 

Technically, you have a legal license for operating Windows on that machine--the actual media you use is irrelevent.

However, some OEMs bugger the disk so it only works with their hardware.

Usually, though, you can use a standard Windows OEM disk and your cd-key to install Windows.

This is not absolute, though. I have on occasion, had to alter even an OEM disk to install Windows using the provided cd-key on your Certificate of Authenticity (Emachine, comes to mind).

 

No new Lenovo machine no matter the type, comes with physical disks. You can burn them yourself. And if you have Vista and want to downgrade to XP, only Bussiness and Ultimate editions are eligible for downgrade.
You might want to check this link
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-68317.html

 

Ah... Just the perfect thread for me to steam off my recent frustration with Lenovo, and with all manufacturers that will not supply the OS disk for that matter.

This might be a bit long but read on!

My system crashed the other day and I could not boot up to windows afterwards, no save mode, no nothing. I called Lenovo to see how I could fix my problem and their only option was "you must do a factory restore". I had spent hours configuring my system, doing updates and installing applications; a factory restore would've been devastating for me.

I told them that theboot up error I was getting read that I could repair the problem by inserting my windows vista disk and doing a repair. They told me that they do not support repairs. I asked if there was a way to repair this error without doing a complete factory restore; and I was told that it was not possible. I told them that If that was my only option I could do it myself. That was it for the day.

Then, I did a lot of research and was really intrigued by the fact that having the disk could save me countless hours of work. So I called Lenovo sales and told them that I was supposed to get a disk from them with the OS but that I never got it. They didn't bite. The rep told me that they never supply the OS disk or any recovery disks for that matter (Funny because I actually got recovery disks with my T61; I didn't even ask for them and I got them), but they swear that you don’t even get recovery disks and that we have to burn them ourselves.

Then I went and got a friends copy of windows vista. I have Vista Ultimate installed; his copy is Vista Business Upgrade. It still worked!

I popped the disk in, followed the instructions to go to repair. Then Vista told me that it was checking for errors. Then it told me that it will restart and if the OS was not fixed it will try again. After this, it was done and I was able to boot up again.

Now... I am in shock! Why would a pc manufacturer not supply a person with the OS disk, considering it took me 5 minutes to fix this problem? It took me longer to get the disk because I had to go to my friend’s house 2 times (20 minute drive to go and then 20 to get back). I Just can’t believe they would have you wipe all your data and software when a simple 5 minutes can solve the problem with the right resources. That CD saves hours of backing up data, restoring, updating, reinstalling software, etc.

I think not providing the CD is bad for all of us for many reasons, but just this one reason deserves attention. We pay for the license so we should be left to decide if we want a clean install or if we need a repair. It’s not fair that after I transfered all my data and installed and configured all my software if I get a simple boot error I will have to go back to factory. Not fare whatsoever.

Let me know what you guys think.

 

Think? Welcome to the party, I guess.

Your's is but another in a long line of complaints dating back to 2000, when Microsoft strong-armed OEMs with direct licensing arrangements (basically, all the big makers) into their medialess operating system policy to combat piracy.

Its never been clear just who Microsoft is trying to keep disks out of the hands of--reseller employees who might copy the media and distribute it or end-users (you and me) who might use it to install on a second computer.

What is clear is this "aniti-piracy" policy increases Microsoft's bottom line; they still collect all of the fees but no longer have to bother with duplicating, packing, and shipping the software.

Such companies have a choice of the recovery CD or hard-drive-based recovery-image solutions--some may offer customers different options. How recovery CDs are implemented is up to the OEM as long as it meets Microsoft's guidelines for assuring the media can only be used on the type of system with which it originally shipped.

Another annoying issue is the methods change from year to year and model to model. HP had a fairly good solution going for a while where you had a choice of a factory restore or a system restore that left your data files intact--much like a repair install. I haven't seen others duplicate this. E-machine supplies a special cd that only worked on their hardware, as did Dell. IBM goes the "make your own recovery cd" route.

The worst part about this is -- just like you -- people don't realize they are getting worked over until disaster strikes.