Upgrading to Win7- Clean install, how to create image partition of a new Win7 in T400

Hi guys and galls,

I need some help. I want to do a clean install of Windows 7. I know that the hard drive is partitioned into 3 different partitions. SW_ Preload C Lenovo q and my regular system partition S.

I am upgrading from Win Vista to Win 7 Pro. I still want to have that ability in case something happens to my system to go into Recovery and Restore and restore the system image to new Win 7 installation.

I guess what I am asking for is how to set this whole thing up after I install Win 7.

BTW should I install win 7 on just one whole partition of the hard drive. Or just format Partition S, and keep the other two partitions.

 

if you want to use r&r to restore to win7, then you don't need to keep any of the partitions

 

You will need to keep one for the OS. It wasn't clear if you were including that or not. The utility to use is DISKPAR or you can just use the installation it self for installing/or making sure it is there.

Renee

 

You do have a DVD right?
Renee

 

and how do you do this exactly? thanks

 

what do you mean? how to get rid of the partitions?

 

Diskpar has a Delete command.

Renee

 

if all you want is delete the partitions, you can do that while installing win7. no need to go into horrid command line interfaces

 

no no, on the opposite I want to create the recovery partition, by pressing blue button my win7 back to the original installation.

 

well, install r&r!

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-73612

 

I did and nothing happen. I can only create an image to be saved somewhere else and not on the hidden partition ...

 

The hidden partition with the factory image cannot be written over unless you get rid of it. If you upgrade from V to W7 then your RNR backup will image that and save on the drive. Not sure if you have the ability to point to location but on a dual boot I tried with V and W7 on sep paritions RNR in V tried to put it in the W7 parition. In your case I guess depending on space it can go where the program feels there is space. I didnt see an option to point to location but then again the program told me I didnt have enought space period on either parition.

Why not just use V backup to make an image of your current V before upgrading or clean installing. Easiest thing to do IMO. Assuming the W7 install you like I doubt you ever want to restore V. Plus yous still have the hidden image from the factory of V.

 

I meant is to create the partition with W7 and not V. W7 works flawlessly and there is no reason for me to go back to V.

 

The small hidden parition is a factory image. If you mean replacing that with a compressed W7, I'm not sure how. R&R will create an image of your new W7 install and can save it on the same parition as your W7 OS or the other one with nothing on it. How it selects which one, I'm not sure.

W7, like V, has a parition tool to resize, delete, etc. Make sure you back everything up first though. Try Parition Wizard (freeware). Can't recall but neither W7 nor V would do what I wanted as far as creating and resizing so I used the freeware and it works great. Use PerfectDisk to compact things first. Neither V nor W7 does a good job at it and Lenovo's Diskeeper is junk.

Check messages on this board for considerations in getting rid of the Lenovo parition. I've seen some people say they did it with a clean install.