Formatting the HD

[avx]

Hey guys,

Im gonna be formatting the old HD with windows XP pro on it. Its on my T60, gots a rootkit I just cant shake so im gonna nuke the thing. XP pro came preloaded on it, and I got the key from my properties, how do I format this bad boy with no XP disk, do I download XP Pro from MS and just burn it on a disk, then type in the key when I go to reload it?

Thanks

[glc]

Reinstall XP from the recovery partition - hit the blue button.

If this doesn't kill it and you have to zero the drive, create the recovery CD set first using the IBM/Lenovo utility.

[avx]

Hey glc,
Thanks for the input. I tried what you said, but between this Root Kit and the lenovo utilities crapping out on me Im stuck up the ol'creek without my paddle. I called up Lenovo and they said it would be $45 for the recovery CD but its just a factory image of the HD when I first got it. Im done with these Lenovo utilities. I just want a copy of XP to throw on here. What would you recommend?

[glc]

45 bucks is cheaper than any other legal alternative. Your only other chance is if you can find a generic OEM XP Pro CD, but there's no guarantee that the installation will accept your key.

[avx]

Cant argue the good point. But I had to ask if there was a quick and easy(and cheap) way... Thanks again for your input, always a great help.

[glc]

It *MAY* be quick, easy, and cheap if you can borrow a CD of that type.