T410 Windows 7 (64-bit) disk

Hi All,

Between me being a newb and Lenovo not sending out a Windows 7 disk with my T410, I never created a recovery disk (don't think it was written in the little paperwork out of the box to do so). My hard drive crashed and I'm now in need of a new Windows 7 disk.

Ridicously (but not surprisingly) Lenovo wants $40 for a new disk??

Do I have any other (legit) options for a Windows 7 disk?

Thanks,

A newb

 

If you're a "real newb," just spend the $40 for the Recovery discs.

I don't know the extent of your "hard drive crashed" situation, but the Q: partition may be intact. If this is the case, you're in luck! Hit F11 during start-up process to get Recovery screen. Select "Restore to factory settings" option. This will format the C: partition and extract the image file on the Q: partition to the C: partition, reinstalling "factory Windows 7" for you.

If you're an "technical newb" who knows how to clean-install Windows, there are instructions in this forum that will help you.

 

Either that or visit this thread and download the CD image (as well as burning it to a blank CD). Then download the graphics, wireless/ethernet drivers from Lenovo on to a USB drive. Do a clean install then perform System Update after which does the rest for you.

 

this is the best option. then just use the CD key thats on the Certificate of Authenticity on the bottom panel of the laptop, and you have a perfectly legal windows install

 

thanks, all!

my hard drive is toast and i got a new one.

i'm downloading the cd image as suggested by Hearst555 and bumped by afhstingray.

thanks again! i'll update the outcome.

 

if you want to save time download the lenovo system update and it'l search for and download all the latest drivers and software specifically for your system. saved me a lot of clicking and hunting

 

Thanks again afhstingray. I will keep that in mind when I get to that part.

Ok, as suggested, I've downloaded the install disk...but i've got a bit of a problem. After my hard-drive plonked out, the computer technician at the repair shop ended up loading my T410 with Win 7 x32bit. I originally had Win 7 x64 and have downloaded the Win 7 x64 install CD.

Problem now: I can't run the Win 7 x64 install CD on the current Win 7 x32 OS.

Any suggestions appreciated, as always.

 

You can boot directly off the DVD. On my T60p, I press the "ThinkVantage" button on the BIOS boot screen and then go to "Select Boot Device" and choose the CD-ROM drive.

Then on the Windows setup screen where it asks you to choose an installation mode, choose "Advanced" and make sure you completely format your C: partition because you cannot otherwise install a x64 on top of an x86.

 

Thanks Bherila.

I can boot directlly off the iso image from the DVD?

 

Just to be clear (since you mentioned being new to this), the .ISO image is an image of a DVD; it must be burned onto the DVD using a burning program that will extract it into its proper format while burning it to disc. You cannot just copy it to a disc as a single .ISO file; it will not work that way.

If you have the .ISO file downloaded, put a blank DVD in your drive. Right-click on the .ISO file, from the menu that pops up choose "Open With" and then choose "Windows Disc Image Burner" as your option. Burn the disc with the software that opens up, and you'll be able to boot off from it.

 

^^^ Just to follow up... If you "explore" your DVD and see a single file somename.iso, well, that's no good. If you see a bunch of folders and files, that's a good sign.

The DVD must be burned properly so that: (1) it is bootable, and (2) all the contents of the downloaded iso file are expanded and written onto the DVD.

You don't "run" or "repair" W7 64-bit within your current (wrongly installed) W7 32-bit. You're going to boot from DVD, format (wipe clean) the drive and do a fresh install of W7 64-bit.

Bacause you now have a HDD that is bootable, make sure you fix the boot sequence in the BIOS to boot from DVD.

 

Thanks to all for your contribution!

Windows 7 is now fully running and clean! (Out of box from Lenovo I had over 120 processes running...now a much lighter load!) You've saved me $40 and taught me well...

Cheers again!

 

do you have to have the thinkvantage toolbox to do the system update? i'm leaving all that stuff off my system.

cheers

 

i'm not sure, but so far i've found the thinkvantage suite to be quite nice and it seems to be well integrated with the laptop so i'm keeping it. the driver update alone is worth it IMO, dont need to manually hunt for the latest stuff like i have to do with my dell

 

think i've found it here at lenovo

 

Nope. You need Lenovo System Update, but you don't need the ThinkVantage Toolbox. I'm running the first, but not the second, on my T400, and it's just fine.

 

silly me,my memory is really failing me lol.... this is exactly what i did as well. i downloaded from that link then it downloaded everything else.

 

Thanks Lone Wolf.

I've got it figured now. The link that I posted in #15 allows you to download the Thinkvantage System Updater. Once this is installed, you use it to run the Lenovo System Update.

Thanks again!

(miles to go still before everything re-installed and back to normal...but clean install feels good)

 

this is another useful tool for a reformat/reinstall, it downloads and does unattended install of whatever apps you pick. good time saving tool

Ninite - Install or Update Multiple Apps at Once

 

if you do follow the steps i did, you will need to get the latest version of Thinkvantage Rescue and Recovery . otherwise, you might get this message i got from the download ""Error 25021. The current Rescue and Recovery environment is newer than this version of Rescue and Recovery. To install Rescue and Recovery, obtain the latest version from the Web."