Difference between revisions of "Recovering without Recovery CDs"

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==installing drivers==
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==Installing Drivers==
{{Todo|more drivers stuff}}
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The easiest way to install drivers after the system installation is through the Software Installer. It is available from the Lenovo support pages. To use it, you will need to connect your freshly setup ThinkPad to the internet.
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So you should care about having any means of a network driver at hand for the Windows system you are installing on the ThinkPad. So, connect a second machine to the net and download the Software Installer and a network driver for your particular network card. Network drivers are available from the Lenovo support pages as well.
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Once you installed the Software Installer, run it and follow the process. It might happen that the Software Installer doesn't install all drivers available for your ThinkPad model. To make sure you have everything check IBMs [http://www.ibm.com/products/finder/us/en/finders?pg=ddfinder Downloads and drivers] page for your model.
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==External Sources==
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*[http://www.ibm.com/products/finder/us/en/finders?pg=ddfinder IBM Downloads and drivers]
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*[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/DRVR-MATRIX.html IBM Windows Driver Matrix]
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[[Category:Windows]]
 
[[Category:Windows]]

Revision as of 00:43, 25 January 2006

Information about recovering the preloaded OS without any Recovery CD.

Coverage of this approach

You can't download preinstalled commercial applications from the IBM website (only updates are provided). Commercial software known to be preinstalled is CD/DVD burning and DVD playback software and Norton AntiVirus. On the other hand, this approach doesn't restore the original setup, but gives you a system with the lates drivers and tools from IBM, that might work even better than the originally installed one.

preinstalled Windows versions and their keys

Windows 98

TODO
Windows 98 specific stuff

Windows ME

TODO
Windows ME specific stuff

Windows 2000

TODO
Windows 2000 specific stuff

Windows XP

TODO
Windows XP specific stuff

downloading drivers

TODO
Drivers stuff

Installing Drivers

The easiest way to install drivers after the system installation is through the Software Installer. It is available from the Lenovo support pages. To use it, you will need to connect your freshly setup ThinkPad to the internet.

So you should care about having any means of a network driver at hand for the Windows system you are installing on the ThinkPad. So, connect a second machine to the net and download the Software Installer and a network driver for your particular network card. Network drivers are available from the Lenovo support pages as well.

Once you installed the Software Installer, run it and follow the process. It might happen that the Software Installer doesn't install all drivers available for your ThinkPad model. To make sure you have everything check IBMs Downloads and drivers page for your model.


External Sources