[alosito]

I just bought Thinkpad 61X, and it came with Vista that I hate. I do have an installation CD with XP, and I want to get rid of Vista and install XP. Unfortunately, I don't have a converter so the trick with removing the hard drive won't work. I don't have a problem with reformating the hard drive, but my main problem is that the laptop doesn't have a CD-ROM so I am not sure how I can use the installation CD to install XP. I only have an external USB hard drive. I tried to copy the content of the CD to the external hard drifve and have the laptop boot from the external hard drive, but I get a black screen during the start up, and it looks like the laptop just gets stuck.

Could somebody please suggest how I can install XP over Vista without having a CD-ROM?

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There are a number of ways. You have to choose. Look at the links. A external CDrom would be the easiest to do.

http://www.defective...-cd-rom-or.html

http://www.thinkwiki...ut_CD-ROM_drive

http://www.microsoft...;displaylang=en

http://www.syschat.c...ppy-cd-463.html

These are only a few that I got from a google search.

[123Runner]

There are a number of ways. You have to choose. Look at the links. A external CDrom would be the easiest to do.

http://www.defective...-cd-rom-or.html

http://www.thinkwiki...ut_CD-ROM_drive

http://www.microsoft...;displaylang=en

http://www.syschat.c...ppy-cd-463.html

These are only a few that I got from a google search.

[anzenketh]

Hello Alosito,

Do you have a External CDRom Drive?

Edited by tuxmaster, 20 October 2007 - 06:53 PM.

[alosito]

Do you have a External CDRom Drive?

No, I don't. I only have an external hard drive.

[anzenketh]

Where did you get the XP CD that you have?

[alosito]

Where did you get the XP CD that you have?

I purchased it at a local store.

[anzenketh]

hello Alosito,

You will need a external CDROM in order to install XP. XP does not have the capabilities to install from floppy. What Operating system was originally on this computer?

[alosito]

It came with Vista Basic.

[anzenketh]

Interesting that it did not come with a CD-rom. I would look for a accessory for a internal CD-rom for your thinkpad that you can put in the place of the floppy. Especially since floppies are a dieing bread.

Edited by tuxmaster, 23 October 2007 - 02:22 AM.

[123Runner]

Does it have a floppy? I don't see that in the specs I looked at. Your best option as already indicated, is a external CDrom (USB).
You can do it another way by putting the HD in another computer that has a CDRom and "preparing" it. It is a hassle tho. I gave you the links.