Official way to do a clean install

Since I'm here in the forum, I'd like to ask you what's the official way to actually do a clean Windows install on a Thinkpad?
I always installed from a retail disk or I downloaded an untouched ISO with of a retail disk and used the Key that came with the machine (this didn't work with Windows XP, but there were some workarounds).

Recovering the partition will not provide you with a clean install, so how do you guys actually do it?

 

I have a MSDN account with ISOs and if you want to use your cdkey from underneath the laptop then you just need to change one file on the image so that it knows its a OEM version. Its the same with XP btw I changed some file and then I could use a MSDN image to install using the OEM key.

Check this http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-t...etween-retail-oem-and-volume-license-channel/

 

Well, that's something special, not everybody can do that, so this is in no way "official". Nonetheless a nice way to do it

 

there is no official way, since Lenovo doesn't intend that you will do a clean install. the only install available is through the recovery partition.

The only other way is to get a regular Windows DVD and install from them. Not sure I fully understand what you mean by "official way".

 

What I mean, is a way which is 100% legal and can be easily done without having access to other resources like retail disks, MSDN disks or retail untouched images off the net.
And since you say it's not possible, is it actually considered legal to download such images to use them with a legal genuine key?

This whole thing with no install only restore sucks in a big big way down the road, where you are forced to restore many obsolete things just to have them uninstalled and replaced by newer versions. Unbelievable what the average folks are forced to go through nowadays.

 

What you can do is just install a DVD of windows, and your genuine license will determine which version of windows it is, pro, home, etc...

As long as you use a genuine then you're good to go. Simple, life's easy.

 

How easy is it to get that Windows DVD legally?

 

You might see if the following is still valid...

Inside the Box “Junk” in the Preload

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

just to download the windows 7 iso from above and use it for the clean install.

 

This is a nice community service. But I fear it won't last long just like with the Vista downloads.

 

never mind......................................................already mentioned

 

from thinkvantage system restore. actually you can do so called clean install. i guess. on the 1st boot before they running the whole TVU software installation. just end the msiexec.

well maybe not that clean compared to the cd installed.

 

Actually ya don't need to change anything on the iso with Vista and 7. that was only for XP.

 

ThinkVantage System Restore, as I understand it, isn't really a clean install as much as it is a restore of a drive image.

This isn't bad for users with a hard drive, but if you have an SSD as your boot drive, that image may not result in proper alignment.

SSD Alignment - Windows 7 Forums

Not aligning the data properly on an SSD can result in increased wear and decreased performance. This is not an issue if you do a clean install of Windows 7 on your SSD from standard install media.

It may be possible to restore from ThinkVantage System Restore, and then use an alignment tool to take care of this. Paragon Software makes such software; others may also be available.

 

Probably the best way to go. I may go down this route or just make a factory restore DVD and spend the 30-60min uninstalling programs I don't want or need. As for SSD alignment, probably not something I'm going to worry about. I think what I may end up doing instead is getting the OEM activation from the Lenovo installation on the stock 250gb and clean installing onto my old 320gb 7200RPM drive from an older notebook. I don't mind the loss in battery life as I'm normally plugged into an outlet. SSDs are just too expensive for me.

 

Just ordered a X220 and about to place an order for a 320 160gb SSD. Planning on doing the following steps.

1. Creating a Win 7 bootable USB Flash drive or Bootable USB external Harddrive.
2. Take out Harddrive that came with the X220 and install SSD.
3. Boot X220 to the USB Flash Drive and install Win 7 to the SSD drive.
4. Unplug USB Flash Drive/Hard Drive and reboot to the SSD to get a Clean Install.

Am I missing anything? Sorry it's been a few years since I've had to do any tinkering.

 

So basically, summing up - can one use a genuine Windows 7 install disc and just use the key from the bottom of the machine? Will that work? What about activation?

There was a thread on this forum saying something about finding the right CD-key (other than that from the sticker) and backing up the OEM licence file. What about that?

 

yes it will work. and it activates on it's own.
I am doing it right now on my X100e, so I can sell it.

 

If so, then what is the use of the ABR tool? Let me see if I am getting this right. WHat is being said is that if I buy let's say a T420 new with Win 7 Home 32-bit with everything that Lenovo adds to it, I can then take (let's say a friend's legit Win 7 disc. Use an external DVD unit via usb, install Win 7 - I'd have to choose the Home version since the T420 came with that - (possibly install the 64-bit version), use the product key as it came on the sticker stuck on the underside of my new T420 and I will be good to go?

 

Yes,
That is exactly what I am doing right nowto my x100e
In fact it just finished updating to service pk 1

I checked the activation and it is activated.

 

OK. Thanks. But that still leaves unanswered my main question - why use the ABR tool in the first place?

 

Don't know.
ABR was more for Vista right?

I have done this type of clean install on all my laptops. and never had issue.
In the past year it has worked on HP DM3,X100e and the Vaio Y.

When I had the TT, I had to call MS and they gave me a activation code but that was under Vista.

 

Hmmm....I went through the entire ABR routine recently when I clean installed Win 7 on my X201. It came with Win 7 Pro 32-bit and I wanted to install the 64-bit version. When all I had to do was to install Win 7...choose the 64-bit installation and then flipped my x201 over and simply copied the win 7 registration code from the bottom on the machine!!!!

 

64bit and 32bit codes are the sames. codes change on vista/windows7 only between versions.

 

To all those wanting to do a clean install: are you not going to miss Lenovo's Experience?

I am currently struggling with my setup: I have a new X220 with 320 GB HDD and preinstalled W7, but I am going to buy the Intel 310 mSata soon. I still haven't figured out what the best way is to clone/install W7 on the new SSD including the recovery partition.

When I create the Recovery DVD from Lenovo's Toolbox, does this include a perfect copy of the HDD when it left the factory? And if yes, can I use it to restore it on the SSD?

Or is there another way to do a clean install on the SSD so that Windows is exactly the same as on the HDD?

 

It's not this clean install that matters but the next one. The product key on the bottom of the laptop requires telephone activation every time you use it. With ABR you backup once and restore whenever needed. If you suffer from Clean Install Syndrome, as I do, ABR is the way to go.

Don

 

I installed my W520 clean with a retail Windows 7 Professional x64 and I activated it over the phone using the key on the notebook. Everything worked just fine.

Unfortunately the serial didn't work with an N edition (Windows 7 N Professional x64), it says the Key is from a different SKU. I just wanted to install it without the Media Player since I don't use that crap.

 

I don't care about marketing non-sense. My experience is what matters, not theirs, which as shown by the default installation is lacking
(I'm just being bad, their installation is perfect for the majority of their users, which are actually clueless when it comes to anything technical)

 

Hmm i never had to activate over the phone with Vista, online activation always worked just fine.

 

As someone who has now done this, I think the EE 2.0 is at in part, marketing.

I booted up my T420, and created the Recovery discs in case I needed them down the road. I installed an Intel 310 disc, and temporarily removed the mechanical hard drive. I then set the BIOS to UEFI-only mode and did a clean install of Windows 7 x64 Enterprise from DVD to the SSD. When complete, I put a 2.5" hard drive back in the machine for additional storage.

The important things are the UEFI-only mode install, and then, after Windows is fully installed, using Lenovo's RapidBoot driver. These two steps will provide a great experience. I was concerned about Lenovo's EE 2.0 only being available as a preload too, but now that I've done things, I really don't think it is as big of a deal as Lenovo makes it out to be.

 

So you're suggesting that EE 2.0 is no more than a standard win7 install with UEFI-only mode on and RapidBoot driver installed? I wonder if there's any way to prove this to ourselves...

I am planning on doing this also - same setup as you. I have been reading your other thread that walks through the steps - thanks for posting that btw.

 

It is possible that Lenovo has other tweaks, though I would contend the two largest ones are the UEFI-only install to a GPT-partitioned SSD, and the RapidBoot driver.

My contention is also that none of the other tweaks that might be there are a big enough deal to justify not doing a clean install. I can't think of anyone who won't eventually reload their ThinkPad, which will remove those tweaks at that time. I also place a higher priority on having a properly-aligned SSD, since I purchased mine and installed it after I got my ThinkPad.

My buddy timed my boot (from power on button to Ctrl+Alt+Del) from clean install (on an Intel 310 80GB mSATA SSD) with the RapidBoot driver installed to about 12-13 seconds. I'm happy with that. My logon time is probably a little slower than some, but I have an Active-Directory domain account, and when I'm not on a network with an AD server from my domain, there's a bit of a delay. When I am, it's very quick getting to the desktop.

P.S. It has been hinted that Lenovo may make any additional EE 2.0 tweaks available to users without a preload in time, whatever they may be.

 

My experience is that my personal customized installation of Windows is faster than the EE certified marketing stuff Lenovo sells with their W520. But not everybody has years of experience in making Windows work flawless, so I can see why others are skeptical, but for those knowing what they do, there is no need to even think about losing the EE. For me this EE is just one more annoying sticker I must get rid of.