New W541 - Install Windows 8.1 Pro from Recovery

I purchased a new W541 machine, knowing that I wanted to install the OS on a new SSD, and not the drive that came with the laptop. The sales person I spoke with mentioned that I should go with Win 8.1 through downgrade rights on Win 7 Pro. In this case, the recovery disk(s)? would come with the laptop and the laptop would have Win 7 installed on it.

However, upon arrival today, there are no such disks. I called tech support and they are going to ship them out. As I understand, the license key is integrated into the machine. Can I only install the OS from the Lenovo provided disks, or can I get the iso from Microsoft and install from that?

Thanks!!

 

It's a multi-step process, but yes, you can install completely clean. You'll need some Windows on the laptop to do this stuff, of course.

1. Download "RWEverything" from: http://rweverything.com/
Feel free to get the latest "Portable" version, as you won't need this software after the next step.

2. Run RWEverything as administrator. In RWEverything, you want the "MSDM" tab. This will show you gibberish, but near the bottom, wa-la, your 25-digit firmware-embedded key. Nice. Write it down.

3. Get your clean ISO from: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

4. Install Windows 8.1 Pro. At some point it will ask for a key. The key you got in step 2 *possibly* won't work. Try it. If it works, yay!

5. If not, no problem. Go here:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx
Use the KMS key for Windows 8.1 Pro to get past this page. It won't be activated, you will still need your key from step 2. You can activate from the System panel > Activate Windows.

6. Drivers of course from lenovo.com. Be aware that Win8.1 *may* not have your network card drivers, I don't think it has the newer Intel ones. So have that ready on a USB stick.

 

Thanks, Sub. I had a clean ISO on a USB already, and I'm installing from it right now. At what point does it ask for a key? I haven't seen that yet, so perhaps it was able to read it from the BIOS?

Hmm. Interesting. Says Windows is activated. Guess I'll play with it

 

Thanks again for the help. Using RW shows the key has an OEM ID of Lenovo, so the installation from the clean ISO I had was able to pull the key from the laptop. All is good so far!