What are instructions for restoring Windows on my IBM Lenovo T40 laptop computer?

Question

I bought this about 15~20 months ago as a refurbished unit. It had Windows XP Professional pre-installed and a product key code to validate it but no CD. While performing maintenance on my hard drive (defragging, etc) the Compress option got checked and I can no longer boot the system. I know there is a hidden "recovery" feature to reinstall the Windows OS but I do not have the instructions on how to activate it and have been unable to find an online manual that explains how to access the Install feature.

Answer 1

Most laptop running XP did not come with a built in recovery partition this was added when Microsoft came out with Vista and Windows 7.

Order the recovery XP disc set by model number from Lenovo customer support.

Buy a new boxed install for Windows.

How can I get a Lenovo Product Recovery CD or DVD? http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/diagnose-and-fix/detail.page?DocID=HT035659

Answer 2

If there is a "Recovery Partition" on the Hard Drive it is usually activated by pressing F11 as soon as the computer starts.



The option should be displayed at the first screen as the computer starts up. If the start up screen goes away too fast you can press "Pause" key to freeze the screen to read the available options.



Once the Recovery Partition runs you want to select "System Recovery" option to set the computer to the "Factory Setting"

Answer 3

Bad idea to buy a computer WITHOUT an XP CD disk... as you just found out......



Could be who ever sold it to you loaded XP to a blanked disk and there is no recovery partition.



Your best bet is to get a burned copy Windows XP Professional CD... from the guy who sold you the IBM, or eBay, or Bit-torrent, or Lenovo. You only need the CD.... you got the key.... but you got to get the exact type of XP... it could be retail, OEM, upgrade, VL.... many kinds.