Win7 Installation Note on ThinkPad X200

Partition Size List

• 30900 --> 30GB - OS


• 102500 -> 100GB - VM


• 5155 --> 5GB


• 10200 --> 10GB

Relocate Users Directory

• Create partitions (if haven't been done)


• Enable Administrator


• Do NOT logoff, copy Users directory into designated location


• Ignore any notification (file is being used etc)


• Open regedit, under ProfileList, change all relevant drive letter to designated one


• Restart OS and login as Administrator


• New user profile will be created in new designated location for Administrator

Install Drivers

• Connect to wireless Internet


• Download & Install ThinkVantage System Update


• Install everything else within System Update

Windows XP Installtion Note on K10 (Domain User)

Here I just record several steps need to go through after installation is done. AMD K10 system ONLY!!

Several things have to be changed since now I am using domain account, SoftCloud Software Platform, Windows XP SP3 etc. System configuration should be done by using administrator account.

Hardware Driver Setup

• Install Windows XP SP3


• Disable System Restore


• Format D: and E: Drives (Or Document and ProgramFiles Drives)


• Set Virtual Memory in D: Drive


• Install CPU Drivers (AMD K8 Driver, XP Fix and DualCore Optimizer


• Install 790FX Chipset Driver


• Install .Net Framework package (ATI Gfx Card ONLY!)


• Install Gfx Card Driver


• Install Audio Driver


• Install LAN Driver


• Install Mouse & Keyboard Driver

Set Up User Profile

• Setup correct IP, Gateway and DNS address that points to DC


• Join to domain NERV.HQ


• Logon as domain account after system reboot so new profile is setup


• Reboot, Logon as local administrator


• Copy domain user folder from C:\Documents and Settings to D: Drive


• Open regedit -> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Change ProfileImagePath to new location from above step


• Copy back up My Documents to that new location


• Add domain user into local administrator group

Partition Size List

• 10400 --> 10GB


• 5154 --> 5GB


• 41002 --> 40GB


• 20600 --> 20GB


• 30800 --> 30GB


• 51300 --> 50GB

Windows XP Installtion Note on K8

Here I just record several steps need to go through after installation is done. AMD K8 system ONLY!!

Hardware Driver Setup

• Disable System Restore


• Format D: and E: Drives (Or Document and ProgramFiles Drives)


• Install Register Manager to E: Drive


• Change all %ProgramFiles% entries into C:\Program Files


• Open regedit -> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion. Modify CommonFilesDir, ProgramFilesDir and ProgramFilesPath


• Install CPU Drivers (AMD K8 Driver, XP Fix and DualCore Optimizer


• Install nF4 Chipset Driver


• Install .Net Framework package (ATI Gfx Card ONLY!)


• Install Gfx Card Driver


• Install Audio Driver

Set Up User Profile

• Login as Administrator


• Copy User Folder from C:\Documents and Settings to D: Drive


• Open regedit -> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. Change ProfileImagePath to new location from above step


• Copy back up My Documents to that new location

Partition Size List

• 10400 --> 10GB


• 5154 --> 5GB


• 41002 --> 40GB


• 20600 --> 20GB


• 30800 --> 30GB


• 51300 --> 50GB

Shrink SW_Preload Volume in Vista Ultimate on ThinkPad x200

I spent almost two whole days on figuring out how to shrink the SW_Preload volume (where VISTA lives) on my new ThinkPad x200. It took me so long because:

• ThinkPad's Rescue and Recovery does not allow partition resizing during restoration.
• I don't need Ubuntu yet. If you have decided install Ubuntu, ur life will become easier by using GParted during installation.
• I try to avoid using other 3rd party utilities because their operations may break VISTA and force it to process repairation. In ThinkPad's case, Rescue and Recovery does the job which takes forever!!! In other word, the best method is Shrink Volume in VISTA's Disk Management.
• I want to shrink as much as what free space available. My x200 has 320GB, and SW_Preload takes 280GB <---- FTL!

Method - Step 1:

• Turn OFF pagefile (virtual memory) and System Restore
• Remove pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys
• Remove all windows shadow copies and restore points

After this, all the large unmovable files should be cleaned. And try to shrink now and Disk Management should let shrink more than before.

Method - Step 2:

• Require PerfectDisk 2008, read its best practise guide and section: Shrinking Drives under Windows Vista.

This purpose is, there are still lots of unmovable files beside those in step 1 such as boot files, and those currently in used. That where PerfectDisk's boot time defragment comes to play. Its Aggressive Consolidation Degragment also moves MFT in order to get more free space!

Method - Step 3:

• Require Unlocker to rename or delete folder C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\WMI\RtBackup

If you are unlucky just like me, VISTA will get error "Access Denied" and operation stops. This is because the folder above has default permission to System ONLY not even Admin can touch it. Therefore I needed Unlocker to remove it forcefully. After reboot, same but new folder is created with proper permission. Shrink again and it should be done!!

In my case, if I want SW_Preload drive occupies EXACTLY 20.XGB, shrink it to 20500 in MB :).