Storage

The computer came pre-configured with a large FAT32 partition. This is where Windows XP is installed and the first time Windows XP is booted it will spend some time converting this to NTFS. The second partition is used for "system restore", meaning that the first partition is wiped and Windows XP reinstalled. A cute feature that IBM has devised in order to avoid having to ship CD-ROM's with the OS.

I promptly wiped both partitions and created new partitions for Windows XP and Linux. I could have resized the partitions using Partition Magic, but the install of Windows XP that the computer came with was so littered with utility programs and other stuff that I would never use that I opted for a clean reinstall instead. I've also heard from others that you can receive "Rescue CD's" by calling IBM customer support and telling them that the system restore partition is damaged in some way.


If you do wipe the "system restore" partition (or break/replace the HD), you cannot use the Windows XP serial printed on the bottom of the machine to reinstall Windows XP from normal installation CD's. Only the Windows XP install CD's provided by IBM works with the serial number. If your machine is still under warranty, you can get the CD's for free, but if it is no longer under warranty, you will have the pleasure of paying cirka 55 EUR in order to get the install media for an OS you've already paid for. You've been warned.

If you do wipe the "system restore" partition (or break/replace the HD), you cannot use the Windows XP serial printed on the bottom of the machine to reinstall Windows XP from normal installation CD's. Only the Windows XP install CD's provided by IBM works with the serial number. If your machine is still under warranty, you can get the CD's for free, but if it is no longer under warranty, you will have the pleasure of paying cirka 55 EUR in order to get the install media for an OS you've already paid for. You've been warned.

The CD-RW/DVD combination works without a problem. I've tried watching DVD's using mplayer or xine and burning some CD-R:s using xcdroast. No problems at all.


USB		Audio