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    Clean reinstall on a x61 without an optical drive?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by Kensai, Aug 30, 2007.

  1. Kensai

    Kensai Newbie

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    I'm about to get my very first laptop as a gift and I know that it comes with windows vista business pre-installed. Suppose I want to downgrade to winxp; how would I go about that without an optical drive?

    Do I need the ultrabase + the lenovo usb optical drive for this? Or can the laptop be boot off any brand of usb optical drive after the proper bios setting, without the ultrabase?

    Any input from experienced users would be greatly appreciated! Thank in advance.
     
    Kensai, Aug 30, 2007
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  2. JabbaJabba

    JabbaJabba ThinkPad Facilitator

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    Yes you can boot with an external USB optical drive as long as it is recognized by the BIOS. You don't need the X6 Ultrabase. The ultrabase is only necessary if you want to use the Ultrabay optical drive.

    Quite a gift. Kids these days - just too spoiled ;)
     
    JabbaJabba, Aug 30, 2007
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  3. pocketpenguin

    pocketpenguin Notebook Enthusiast

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    I installed XP on my x61t using an internal dvd drive I bought last week at the local electronics store stuck in a standard 3 year old USB full size enclosure bought off e-bay. I would think that any modern bootable USB drive would work.
     
    pocketpenguin, Aug 30, 2007
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