ThinkPad SuperGuide

Thanks for the Driver information Arki ... I'll follow up on that in a bit.

I'm afraid I have another questions--about partition (120/32)--when I partitioned, I had to install XP on the first partition and then once it was done, it took me back to select the second partition. Just found out that when I reboot--it prompts me to choose which OS I want (shows 2 XP entries) and says that it'll select the highlighted one in 30 seconds. It's acting sort of like a dual-boot. How could I have avoided that?

Before I start loading the drivers--I'd like to sort this out. Is there any way I could've selected both of the partitions at the same time and loaded XP? Should I re-do the install process again? How can I get rid of this dual-boot like setting?

Again, thanks for your help!

- I

 

Are you looking to create a 32GB OS partition and the 120GB for Data? C: Drive is your OS partition, yes?

I did something similar awhile back and what I did was during the partition setup at the beginning of the Windows installation process (blue screens) was first delete all the partitions. This would create one large unformatted partition. I then, in your case, would allocated 32GB and install XP on that and leave the rest (I assume, 120GB, unformatted). Once you have XP installed, you can go into My Computer and format the previously unformatted 120GB.

Is that what you did?

 

Yes, that's what I did.

AND THEN it asked me if I wanted to install XP in the other partition as well, and I chose to install it. From your post it sounds like I didn't need to install it in the data partition as well, but just needed to format it (didn't see an option to do that, but I wasn't looking).

I will try to go in and delete one of the partitions then and format it without re-installing XP in it. Why didn't you create a partition on your T61?

Thanks!

 

Well, I later changed my mind and made one giant partition (C: drive). It was easier to maintain and I didn't have to redirect all the User folders to the Data partition, but I can see the advantage of having multiple partitions. Oh, plus my HDD is only an advertised 60GB.

 

I have two partitions on all my systems except my Mac. Mainly because I like to keep my data separate from the OS. The biggest benefit for me is when using True Image. You can only restore from another partition.

 

Ugh! No luck. I deleted the data partition and the only way I can format it seems like to re-install XP (that's the only choice it gives on the blue screen -- install or esc). Any ideas?

If nothing works I could do away with partitions I guess. Oh well!

Thanks so much.

 

@Ishy,

Here's another option for you regarding your two partitions.

http://winhowto.blogspot.com/2006/06/how-to-change-locations-of-program_29.html

I've used the instructions in this link to install Windows (XP) and programs on the C:drive partition and "install" the profiles to the D: partition. First, I used Gparted Live to partition my hard drive (160gb hd, 40gb to windows, balance to Data), then the instructions in the link to point the profiles to the D: partition. I did this a year ago and as of today, it's still in the same state. I also used Arki's detailed clean install instructions at that time.

In order to do this, you'd need to have the two partitions to begin with (you'd probably need to format them with Gparted Live first (or equivalent) since it appears you have XP loaded on both partitions). Then during the XP install (blue screens), you'd choose to load XP on the C: partition. If you follow the instructions in the link, the WINNT.sif file you manipulated would point all profiles to the D: partition. The whole profiles will locate in the D: partition including My Documents and local settings. Basically the entire folder "Documents and Settings" and all it's subfolders would locate in the D: partition. I posted a screenshot of this here. Also, using this method, there was no need to "redirect" any "user" folders. It is all done during the install.

I like having the partitions. Later I added other partitions for Ubuntu and now have a dual boot laptop. When my laptop turns on, I always get the Grub menu asking me if I want to go into XP Pro or Ubuntu. It almost sounds like you have something similar only your two choices are both XP.

 

Thanks thinkpad99. This was very helpful. On my third try, I did a clean install deleted all the partitions again, and was able to load XP in partition D! Thanks for all the help and most importantly moral support!

Here is another snag--from Arki's instructions:Matrix Storage Manager--after config change it's supposed to prompt me for a driver. I changed the SATA config to AHCI (#12 on list) per the instructions, but when XP started, it didn't prompt me for a driver. Should I just move on to the next driver?

THANKS!!

 

I dont have two partitions on my T400, but I just use the ultrabay HD for my data and backups. The two most storage intensive programs are installed there (CS4 and Steam). Everything else fits fine on the main drive, and every week I do an incremental image of the main drive and save it to my desktop.

 

Did you make sure to double click install.cmd in Compatibility mode then once it prompted for a restart, switch to AHCI?