Computer help: New-to-me IBM laptop - help me reformat or ???

by joann23456 - 11/8/09 9:59 PM

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New-to-me IBM laptop - help me reformat or ???

by joann23456 - 11/8/09 9:59 PM

I bought an IBM T42 on eBay for my niece. The laptop hard drive is partitioned into two drives, and it has both the Windows XP and Windows 7 (a trial version) operating systems installed. My niece is only 8, and I doubt she'll understand how to choose one or the other. I would prefer to re-partition the hard drive into only one drive and install only XP.

Does anyone know how I can do this? Can I use the Thinkvantage button and re-format and re-install XP? Can I use rescue disks? I have the disks for T40 - will those work, or do I need to order T42?

I'd like to backup before trying anything. If I use Acronic True Image to make a backup and then tinker with the formatting, would I be able to restore if I screw it up?

Thanks for any help.

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Post 2 of 4

Don't fix it.

by R. Proffitt

- 11/9/09 8:11 AM In reply to: New-to-me IBM laptop - help me reformat or ??? by joann23456

My 7 year old dealt with this years ago and did fine. Give them credit that they'll figure it out.

As to backup and restore, what makes you think it won't restore?

"Can I use the Thinkvantage button and re-format and re-install XP?"

No. The ebayers usually install pirate OS copies and that button is Dead On Arrival.
Bob

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Post 3 of 4

you've got the right idea.

by d_adams - 11/9/09 9:03 AM In reply to: New-to-me IBM laptop - help me reformat or ??? by joann23456

It's probably a good idea to blank to whole thing. Makes everything simpler. Plus, the windows 7 thing will expire at some point anyway, making it worthless.

First, you should know, there is NO WAY YOU CAN SCREW THIS UP. It's pretty fool proof. All you've got to do, is boot off your XP recovery disk and follow the prompts on the screen until you come to the Format Options. Delete all partitions, then tell XP to install. That's it. I've done it a hundred times without a single screwup.

Besides, everything on the XP part is on the XP recovery disk anyway, so you've pretty much already got a backup. This is a simple operation, so don't worry about it. Anything you might do is digital, so it can be erased or redone as many times as it takes to get it right.

Good luck!

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