How to reinstall Windowx XP on an IBM Thinkpad A31p laptop PC

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From: Orak Listalavostok (oraklistal_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 03/29/04 

Date: 29 Mar 2004 02:20:03 -0800

QUESTION:
 Where am I supposed to obtain the WinXP installation CDROM for my IBM laptop?

BACKGROUND:
 When I received my first company IBM Thinkpad A31p about a year ago,
 instead of handing it to the IT department to image with the corporate
 standard Windows 2000, I immediately (broke company rules and) formatted
 the two 60 Gbyte disks & installed a dual-boot Win2K/RH Linux 7.3 setup
 myself.

 That was a mistake. Why?

 Because I lost all the IBM-supplied WinXP drivers when I ran fdisk & format
 on the original hard disk. But, there was no turning back. One by one,
 over time, I fixed all hardware and driver conflicts on that Win2K system.

 In fact, it was fun finding the drivers & software. I learned a lot.

 However, for my next corporate IBM Thinkpad A31p, I didn't make the exact
 same mistake. Instead of handing it to the IT department, I simply left
 the WinXP OS as it came installed & upgraded my user software as needed
 (saving a backup of every installation program as I performed the task).

 BUT THERE IS ONE INSTALLATION PROGRAM I AM MISSING. Windows XP.

OS SUMMARY:
 In neither case did my IBM ThinkPad A31p come with a Windows XP CDROM.
 In both cases, there is a Windows XP Product Key on the bottom of the laptop.
 Each also has a Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity on that sticker.
 In both cases, I can ask my IT department to back up and install WinXP.
 However, I like to do things myself when I can (this should be easy).

CURRENT SITUATION:
 If I wish to reinstall the Windows XP operating system on my newer WinXP
 IBM ThinkPad, I assume I merely need to press F-something (which shows
 every time I reboot). I assume that will reinstall Windows XP wiping out
 all my additions (so I won't do it until/unless I first backup contents).

NOW TO MY QUESTION:
 On my older IBM ThinkPad A31p laptop (which I had reformatted &
 installed Windows 2K/Linux) HOW DO I GET WINDOWS XP ON IT NOW?

 That is, where am I supposed to obtain the WinXP installation CDROM?

NOTES:
 I assume I already paid for WINXP in the purchase of the IBM A31p laptop
 since the sticker says so on the bottom.

Q: Where do I legimately obtain the WinXP CDROM for my IBM A31p laptop?

Thank you,
Orak

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