The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Selling E530 laptop soon but dont have access to the recovery partition..

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by james_uk, Nov 27, 2016.

  1. james_uk

    james_uk Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Hi, i have a Lenovo E530 laptop which come with Windows 7 installed on it when i got it, i then was able to upgrade to windows 10 free which i did.

    I now do not have access to the recovery partition even though it still shows as physically there (Q: Drive 12.3GB used)

    I do not have any recovery disks etc and am not sure how i will reset and fully format my laptop before i sell it, i dont really want to just do a clean instal of Windows 10, i would rather format the drive properly then reinstall.

    Does anyone know what i am best doing, or am i able to get the recovery / installation disks from Lenovo?

    Thanks

    James
     
    james_uk, Nov 27, 2016
    #1
  2. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    4,982
    Messages:
    34,001
    Likes Received:
    1,420
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Just to make clear, you hit F11 when booting to get access to the partition? Then I believe your SOL unless someone else knows a way? Installing Windows 10 probably messed with the MBR, which is why it's not working. This is why it's recommended that you make the recovery discs ASAP after receiving your machine.

    Your best option if you want to downgrade to Windows 7 is to get a set of recovery discs. You might want to post in the marketplace forum on ThinkPads.com to see if anyone has a set. You can buy them from Lenovo as well. I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but they used to cost $50 here.
     
    ZaZ, Nov 27, 2016
    #2
  3. james_uk

    james_uk Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    54
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    well i would sell with windows 10 but i want to do a complete format first but that would mean having to install window 7 first am i right as i didnt upgrate to windows 10 via discs i bought, the laptop come with windows 7 pre-installed and i got the free windows 10 download so i do not have windows 10 discs?
     
    james_uk, Nov 27, 2016
    #3
  4. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    2,844
    Messages:
    2,736
    Likes Received:
    900
    Trophy Points:
    131
    KLF, Nov 30, 2016
    #4
  5. fiziks

    fiziks Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    94
    Messages:
    480
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Yup, as long as the Windows installer can see that there is already Windows 10 installed on the hard drive, it will allow you to wipe it clean and install a fresh copy of the same version of Windows 10.
     
    fiziks, Dec 1, 2016
    #5