Frank's Blog

Here we are, continuing repairing the Thinkpad T61. For last status see prior post.
First I assured that my try to install a Windows Vista from a usb stick failed because of Windows – and so it was!

I connected an usb cdrom drive to the Thinkpad and was easily able to install from cd, well from the cds, there are 4.
:-/
Unfortunately I didn’t know the former version of Windows, an so the key from the sticker at the bottom doesn’t fit.
Anyway, Vista lets you install and use for a while, enough time to see if it works and to download and install a bunch of additional software from Lenovo support website (around 700MB, although I’m not sure if this was really all).

This all leads to the result, that the dvd drive was already broken and the only problem was the broken harddisc.
Now I “just” have to install a clean operating system with a valid license. Let’s see, if the owner has some documentation about what version was installed. Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to see the costs of a Windows 7 license.

But which one ? There are plenty. Doing some research the Home Premium version should do it. So I went to one of my favourite shop sites Alternate and found this price:

Okay I thought, but one moment, I was looking in the german website! I know there are strange differences of pricing between Spain and (at least) Germany, so I checked the spanish Alternate Website and… whoops !

It would be more economical order a copy in Germany. Before doing this I’ll have to check some other possibilities, but not now, tomorrow will be another day to go on.

To be continued…