Fresh XP pro install without original XP disk

[NeilRaygun]

Hi,

I recently had a hard-drive failure on my Lenovo 3000 N200. I managed to get all the data off and buy a new hard-drive. However, I couldn't find the original XP disk that came with my laptop, and so I replaced it with an old version of XP Pro that I used for another computer (Dell, I think). All is fine, and the OS is installed. But half the drivers are missing and I can't access the net to download them (the drivers for that seem to be missing too). I'm assuming then that I need the specific Lenovo XP disk in order to install Windows with all these drivers intact?

Any workarounds or advice you can give?

Thanks In advance!

:-)

[lewmur]

Your best solution in this case is to use another computer to download the drivers from another computer and transfer them via a USB stick or CD.

[PaulYeoman]

I had the same problem. I have installed XP and then went onto the Lenovo site and downloaded all the drivers for my Thinkpad R51 1830. I have installed all the drivers and I am still getting 5 error question marks in the device manager. 1. Ethernet controller. 2. Multimedia audio controller. 3. Network controller. 4. PCI modem and number 5 is the Video Controller (VGA compatible). I have updated the bios and the chipset but still, I cannot get onto the internet.

Just to play safe, I have downloaded all the drivers available and still no luck!!! Can you help?

Regards Paul.

[PaulYeoman]

I have found the answer to the missing drivers. The original setup CD has windows and XP and the drivers built in. You cannot load drivers onto the back of Windows XP. You will have to buy a boot up CD with the drivers built in. That you can buy from http://www.restore-disk.com/IBM/IBM-Restore-Disk-CD.html for under £15. Well worth the money and you can choose from a hard disc or emediate down load. I went for the disc so I will always have a hard copy.

[MrPeter1985 Guru]

Have you tried the drivers for both versions of the N200? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-67855 http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-68016

[MrPeter1985 Guru]

PaulYeoman, have you tried these R51 drivers? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-55029

[Herik]

Hi,
just a quick summary, so that it's clear, what to do in case you want to relad the system:
Option 1) Use the Rescue and Recovery application to reload the system to the original state
Of courst this options is relevant, only in case you have the original Lenovo image installed and there is no HDD failure, as the HDD contains the files and data, that are needed for the restore process.
Here is a short description on how to do it:
- start the system and press F11
- you will enter a Rescue and Recovery partition
- select "Restore the system" and follow the instructions, so that you can fully restore the system to the original state, where you will have all the drivers and applications, as on the start, when your system was freshly delivered

Option 2) In case you don't have any CD, nor DVD, but you have the original files (in the C:\i386 folder), then you can use these files to reload the system, BUT there will be the orignal drivers missing. For this purpose you can use the WINNT32.EXE.
You can read more about this tool on following link:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc940493.aspx

Option 3) you system is not that old
In this case you can call the support and get the CDs for free

Option 4) Your system is running
In case your system is running and you are just thinking on the option to reinstall the OS, then you have there the option to create yourself the set of original Recovery CDs. Just go to Start->Programs->ThinkVantage->Create REcovery Media
NOTE: of course this is possible only in case you have the original Lenovo image installed.

Feel free to note anything, I'll try to answer it.

Cheers

[Av8rix]

I never received a CD with my N100.  I've FINALLY gotten a new laptop.  Now I want to do a clean wipe of the N100 before I give it away. 

I've been a desktop homebuilder since the '80s. I do a DoD wipe of all my old builds before donating them.  Then I reinstall the OS from my legal OEM disc and install the drivers, making the computer serviceable for the next user.

However, as I said, I never received a disc when I bought the N100.  Is there any way that I can do a clean install of the OS (XP Pro) after the wipe or must I just  throw the whole thing away?  I'm not worried aobut the drivers.  I know that I can download them.  But the OS? 

And, yeah, I know about the winnt32.exe procedure, but I'm talking about a clean wipe.

Thanks in advance,

Susan

[andyP Community SuperMod]

Hi Susan, welcome to the forum,

if not already, and you still have the original image installed, you could create a set of recovery discs and after DoDing the drive return it to factory state. The option to create recoveries, (if I remember rightly), should be in Start > Programs > Lenovo Care > Create Recovery Media.  I would suggest using cd as first disc and then only dvd-r for the other two discs.

Alternatively you could install the OS using the COA key on the system, this would require phone activation.  The original preinstalled drivers can be found, (again if I remember rightly), in C:\swtools  -  good idea to grab the whole folder as some preinstalled apps are in there which can't be downloaded.

Edit;  there's also this guide written a while back by Train500, may be some useful information in there for you.

[Av8rix]

Thank you so much, Andy.  This is good information!!!