Unable to reinstall Windows 7 after using W8 CP. Urgent!

Alright guys I'm in a bad situation and my limited computer knowledge compared to you guys is shining. Sorry if this is a bit long but I need help fast.

I had installed Windows 8 CP over Windows 7 on accident, (Meant to install on a separate partition). Anyways I didn't figure it was a big deal since I have access to free copies of Windows 7 through my school, also I had the recovery disks and whatnot).

Anyways Windows 8 does not allow me to connect to my school's wifi so it is urgent that I go back to Windows 7 to allow me to be productive.

Turns out my recovery disks that I had left at home were thrown away...So it looks like I'm reinstalling Windows 7 Ult. through my school, once again not a big deal. So I go to download the W7 from my school's online source (Doesn't offer a physical disk version of W7 anymore). After downloading W7 it says that it was unable to mount the file. So I go to where it was downloaded, burn it to a DVD and then put the DVD in my computer. The DVD loads W7 setup like it should, and begins to start. After about a minute the program says that I must have Windows Vista SP 1 or newer to upgrade and that I am unable to install Win7 Ultimate until I do so.

Could this be because my school just offers Windows 7 Ultimate "Upgrade" instead of just Windows 7?

I called my school's tech support and they are no help since they had no idea W8 CP is even out, and they aren't very knowledgeable anyways. So I'm not sure what to do...Last thing I want to do is purchase a $150 Windows 7 Disk from a store.

Thanks guys

 

Call Lenovo. They'll overnight you the recovery disks.

or

http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-digitalriver-windows-7-sp1-13-languages.html

since your machine has the Win 7 key.

 

If you want to reinstall Windows 7 now (only takes a leisurely hour), follow the link that vinuneuro posted above to get an ISO file of Windows 7 SP1. Be mindful of the 64-bit or 32-bit edition.

It would be helpful to read the Hearst Guide and/or the Lenovo Guide.

 

@csclifford

The other suggestions above are helpful. Win 8 CP is working with all of my software and devices on my X220 and, more surprisingly, is working with all of the many software packages and hardware that I have installed on my desktop.

So my suggestion is that you first try to get resolve any issues that you have with Win 8 CP.

What issue are you having exactly? I had no issue at all with wireless connectivity. There were 4 drivers that were not recognized (as I did an install into a new partition on my X220) but I just told Device Manage to look in my Win 7 partition for those drivers and it found all four. If you did an install over Win 7, I wouldn't expect you to have any issues at all.

If you go to Device Manager in Control Panel, what devices are you seeing issues with (if any)?

 

Brian, while the wireless was working fine when I was at home, upon being back at the University I have been unable to connect to the network the past two days...So I'm not sure what the issue is there.

Anyways I followed the guide to get W7, and everything was going fine until I needed the product key. The product Key was not on the bottom of my laptop like I expected (and like my X220 had)...So I'm assuming it is in the original packaging somewhere?

So I had my Dad who was at the house look and he could not find the product key anywhere, so I skipped the step about entering the product key (since I thought you had 30 days to insert the product key).

Upon starting up the computer in W7 Professional, the resolution was at 800x600 and I was only able to change it to 1024x760.

In addition I could not connect to the internet either wired or wireless, and it would not read any of my USB devices

So I was going to reinstall Windows 8 until I find the product key but I cannot even do that because it won't read my external USB dvd drive.

So right now I'm stuck with a laptop that can't do anything...Ideas? Will finding and entering the product key make the computer functional like it should be? Right now this is frustrating me.

 

@csclifford

The product key for the X220 is found by removing the battery. Not sure if yours is located there too?

What O/S's do you have installed right now? I can't tell from your posts and your signature.

 

It was supposed to be pretty straightforward. I wouldn't proceed to the point of needing the product key and then fumbled around to get it. The COA key should have been in hand already and, if not, you would proceed as a trial install right from the start.

Did you go into Device Manager and install driver for each of the device that has a yellow exclamation mark in front of it? Chipset, video, audio, network adapters... typically in that order. All drivers should have been downloaded from the Lenovo site before Windows installation started.

A trial Windows 7 installation is fully functional. If it is not, it is because it is not augmented properly with the right drivers and utilities for your specific machine -- and this is your job.

 

I was under the impression that after I installed windows I could download all of the proper drivers needed. But it won't recognize my Ethernet connection so I have no way to download those drivers?

I also have all the needed things on my external hard drive but it won't recognize that either so I'm not sure how to proceed.

 

The Ethernet connection is established by, say, an Intel Gigabit device, and this device needs a driver before it can function.

Windows 7 should provide the USB functionality. In fact, one can install Windows from an external DVD reader because the BIOS recognizes the device through USB.

I would have all the required drivers downloaded and saved on a USB flash drive or a USB external hard drive before I start Windows installation.

(All ThinkPad laptops have two folders called SWTOOLS and SWTOOLS\DRIVERS on the C: drive. IBM has set up this convention to facilitate OS re-installation.)

 

I don't know why it won't recognize your external drive. I thought it might be because you were plugging into a USB 3.0 port but I don't think you have one. I think you have some that are eSata/USB combo and powered USB. Try using just the plain USB 2.0 port.

 

Well everyone I ended up just having Lenovo overnight me the factory restore disks and did that.

Everything is fine..but they sent me restore disks for the 32-bit Windows 7 even though I previously had 64 bit? Kind of annoying since I have 8gb of RAM and it can't utilize that.

Can I have them send a 64bit set or do they not do that?

 

They will since they made the mistake.