just want to say thanks for the guide. it is very detail and easy to understand. I haven't tried it yet but I will try when I get a new HD for my T42. Thanks, keep it up.

The key from unattend.txt or unattend.org doesn't work for
me. I have a T42 2373-M3G with SP2 preinstalled.

The key from the bottom worked for me but i have to
active my installation later.

But i found an easy workaround for this:

I just retrieve the key from the preinstalled version
of Windows Xp with this Tool: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

With this the fresh installation of Windows XP went
without problems and activation.

JD24

Did you use "unattend.txt" from the original i386 folder or the modified one?

There were 2 unattend files: unattend.txt and unattend.org

Both have different keys which don't work for me.

Model: 2727-M3G with SP2 preinstalled (also in i386)

I meant the i386 folder itself. There is the original one that came with your TP and there is the one in C:\bcd\cds\wxppro\files that was modified by the SP integration. You should use "unattend.txt" from the original i386 to bypass the activation.

Using the Keyfinder is a celever idea and I'm going to add it to the guide.

That is exactly what i did. The problem is that the files in my i386
folder were already 'slipstreamed' with SP2.

Thanks for the detailed instruction and it helps a lot.

I can run smoothly untill step 11. I have disable the IBM Predestop Area in Bios and still can't see the hiden partition. I am very carefully to follow the instructure and check for a couple of time to make sure I did it right.

Anyinputs please?

There are some factors would not let you see the partition using "My Computer" and it's hard to tell without knowing more info about your machine.
Anyhow, the main point here is you make sure that you disable any protection on IBM partition. The best way to test that is to use any of the hard drives managers such as Partition Magic to delete that partition and merge it with partition C.
Please note that you can deal with IBM partition after you reinstall WinXP because this partition does not interfere with Windows installation.

I managed to follow all your steps up to burning of the CD. When I tried to install with the CD, a message popped up stating a error reading netmap.inf and that the wizard cannot continue anymore. Then there was no choice but to click the "Quick" box provided.

This is just feedback for whatever it's worth. I must say your instructions are pretty good.

On my part, I borrowed a XP CD to clean install, and used the license sticker at the bottom of my laptop for validation. Out of curiosity, I tried the UNATTEND.TXT method, but it did not work.

this post is really helpful.
thanks!

Ive got a ibm thinkpad t40 and it got a pre installed copy of winxp pro and loads of other stuff from ibm that i dont think i need i want to install a fresh copy of xp pro without all the win dvd accessories and stuff that come with it the warrentys out anyway so is there anyway i can do this?

....um, sorry but did you read this thread from the beginning? It tells you everything you need to know.

I'm curious: after one reinstalls XPP and wipes the hard disk clean, what do folks consider essential in the IBM tools package? The track point utility? Power management utility? Which of these is most critical?

Just registered onto this forum after I saw your lengthy discourse on reinstalling XP. I don't know if the thread is still valid but will try anyway. I just received a new T43 notebook and have been working through the preliminaries. Further at the suggestion of some on this forum I called IBM about obtaining recovery discs and after going through several escalations they were sent promptly (7 CD's). So with those in hand is it necessary to go through all of the steps you outlined last summer? Since the notebook is new I have not added any files/folders of a personal nature. All I see is what came preloaded by IBM. Therefore can I simply reformat the system and using the recovery discs do a clean install? How would I avoid the partitioning that came with the system? Thanks.
LBrown

Let me put LewB's questions another way: Can you use recovery disks (for any model) to reinstall the original OS, or will the disks only restore the computer to it's out of the box state and nothing else?

no, not from the disks.... follow the instructions, and usually you can (by creating your own disk).....

normanm & LewB, please add Location and other relevant information to your profile.

Rather than make an XP bootable disk, I can get a fresh XP-PRO disk with SP2. How do I then use this to reinstall the OS and 1) transfer and install drivers and essential utilities (I'd still like to know which IBM programs people who re-install the OS actually keep) and 2) update them. Where in the step-by-step procedure for making your own re-install OS disk can I pick up the sequence, or is the sequence different?

I keep all of them. Even if you want to get rid of some, why would you do it this way? If you want to get rid of the Service Partition (I wouldn't), then make it visible and delete it. If there are Thinkpad Utilities you want to get rid of (I don't), then just uninstall them.

I think Bill brings up a good point -- if your aim (and it's mine) is to speed up the boot-up on XP Pro (mine seems to go on forever) then why re-install the OS instead of just uninstalling those IBM utilities (and others) you don't use and shutting down some of the processes. The only advantage I can think of is a clean registry. And it seems to me that after you uninstall the utilities you don't want, there are a host of Reg-clearners that allow you to spot left-over entries and addresses and delete them. Am I missing something by not re-installing the OS?

Whoops, sorry Leon. I don't know where "Bill" came from.

Any registry entries that are left as a result of removing a few IBM utilities will have a negligible effect... not even worth cleaning.

Leon what do you mean by:
"no, not from the disks.... follow the instructions, and usually you can (by creating your own disk)....."

Do I infer that if you reinstall with the discs IBM sent me that there will be no partition?? Or that one wil end up with the system exactly as it came out of the box??

Also how do you show the partition to see what it contains and the size of same? I guess I am just a little taken back by what shows in Explorer. There under My Computer comes "IBM_Preload (C:)". My other computers simply show under My Computer "Local Disk (C:)". I guess I could simply rename the folder. My T43 has a 40GB HDD. I have essentially nothing on it other than what came installed. My C drive shows a total size of 33.3 GB and a free space size of 26.9GB. Seems like there is a bit of "flab" in there that could be reduced??

I meant that the Recovery Disks will take you back to factory state (including the Recovery Partition), but they cannot be used to make a "normal" XP Install disk.

The space that you see as "missing" is not "flab", it is the hidden recovery partition (very useful IMHO).

Is there some way to actually view the partition to see what it contains?
Thanks

Not sure how to "view" the contents (others?), but it contains the IBM Pre Desktop programs (the environment that comes up when you press the Access IBM key while booting), Rescue & Recovery, and the compressed filed needed to return your system to "Factory Default".

How much of the 7GB on my machine does the partition consume or is it all of that (33.3 minus 26.9 on my previous post). Or is the partition in the part from 40GB to 33.3??

[So, I decided to write this guide myself and make it available to everyone. This step-by-step guide shows you how can you create a bootable CD, format and fresh install Windows XP Pro, and finally install all the necessary drivers for your ThinkPad.

The guide is avaialble on my web site here:

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_Install/index.htm[/quote]

VERY nice work. Thank you. I have a T23 with W2000 and OS/2-eCS but I expect some of your directions will help.

Is there some reason why you used many pages of HTML instead of a PDF? A PDF would be a lot easier to download and your stuff was definitely well worth downloading!

Regards,
Ted

This guide is simply outstanding! After I dug up a WinXP w/SP1 CD laying around (because I could not get a good i386 folder from the TP's original install disks), it worked perfectly.

Thank you for all the hard work!

Greg

Thank you so much for this guide! This is the first time I've been on these forums, and came here just for some info/tips before I format my computer for the first time. I'm about to go ahead and do it, and am excited to load a fresh copy of Windows XP SP 1a on my laptop, everything has been so slow and bogged down lately.

Anyways, just wanted to let you know I appreciate the detailed, step-by-step instructions you provided. Will let you know the results after I format in a day or so.

For those who are interested, I never actually saw someone reporting on how big the IBM_SERVICE partition was, as report by windows. I'm going through the process right now, and windows is claiming that the partition is 4708MB. I can imagine this really sucks with a 40GB HD and it isn't too great with a 60GB like I have. When I booted windows for the first time there was about 44GB avial of a 60GB drive. Even after formatting and a windows install I should be able to get over 50 of useable space by my calculations.

-kaplanfx