New T410

So I just ordered a T410 (finally) and it'll come in next Wednesday. Since I love fast start-up times and because I'm using a limited space SSD (128gb), I'd like to do a clean install of Windows 7. But I do have a few questions...

First of all, how do I do this? I don't know much about computers (unfortunately, but I'm trying to learn) so I don't know where to start. The instructions I found on google explain how to do it with a Windows installation CD. But from what I know, Lenovo doesn't ship Thinkpads with a clean install CD. So, would that mean I need to make CDs once the laptop comes in, or is there already a program that does this?

Secondly, I just want to make sure that I can download lenovo software off the lenovo site in case I happen to want one of the things I deleted back.

Thirdly, I know someone who has an Ideapad Z560 (I happen to be using it now) and the hard drive is partitioned into a C: drive (the main one) and a D: drive (a backup one). Considering 128gb isn't that much, do I have to have a D: drive on the Thinkpad? I have an external harddrive and can make recovery CDs so I don't see a need for a backup partition (since I could use that space for other things).


Thanks in advance for answers.

EDIT: I'll be using Home Premium 64bit if that helps

 

You have a couple of options. You could use Orev's Activation Backup and Restore utility. That will make a backup of your product key and license file, then you could get a windows 7 disc and do a clean install.
Or you could just clean up the default install and run windows backup and restore to make a system image.
Either way you should burn your recovery dvds the first time you turn on the computer.
Going from memory, you will actually have C, D, and Q partitions. You only need C, however you should go to Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management, right click C and select it as Active partition. Reboot and windows will make that boot partition active, and then you can safely delete D and Q. Then go back to disk management and expand your C partition to fill up your entire disk.

 

See the other thread on this subject (clean install) at http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/518700-windows-7-clean-install-disc.html