Win7 and new T400

So...I'm sold!
Definitely replacing wifey's old Fujitsu with the Lenovo.

However...I don't want to deal with the Win7 Upgrade. I want Win7 installed from the factory and ready to go!
I realize Oct 22nd is "the" day.
Question is,
"When can I order my build"?
It takes roughly 10 days for the build and delivery?

 

If I understand your question:
If you order on October 22, you'll likely be getting the laptop preinstalled with Windows 7. If you order before, you probably won't.

 

lolrz....
Sorry for the confusing post!
Yes..!
I was hoping that they would allow a type of Pre-order.
Here Lenovo...I want your product...I'm ordering today but don't build it til you have a copy of Win7.

 

On the other hand, it can't hurt to start checking a week or so before. If you see machines start to show up that say "OS Windows 7, ships in 2 weeks", you could order sooner.

 

Just wait, and don't order until their online order page shows Windows 7 is in, even then wait another week.

As much as I love my T400, the most important thing about dealing with Lenovo's ordering process is to keep things as simple as possible. Save yourself the hassle of a bad experience, and then having to come here and post about it.

 

First of all, I think it's very smart at this point to sit back and wait for Win7 preloaded systems.

I think the key is what operating system you choose during the ordering/configuration process. I wouldn't place an order until you can specifically choose a Windows 7 version. Anyone who orders a system with Vista in hopes that they'll just preload Win7 risks disappointment.

Maybe that date will be before Oct 22nd, but I suspect it may not be.

 

The drivers will be for windows 7, and everything will be stable (hopefully) when lenovo preinstalls windows 7.

 

No way will I order until they actually have Win 7 as an option! I'm just hopeful that may be a few days before the Oct 22nd roll-out!

Thanks for all the replies fellas!

 

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what's the benefit of waiting until Lenovo preloads the OS on there, as opposed to buying it with XP/Vista preloaded and then installing Windows 7 yourself?

Anyone know how Lenovo is going to handle the upgrade to existing customers? My hopes are that they'll send out install disks so you can pretty much do a clean install of Windows 7. Am I just dreaming?

 

I've heard that Lenovo will be shipping upgrade only disks. It isn't Lenovo's fault because that it was MS will be issuing.

 

My computers going to be here in 3-4 days with vista business 64. So when i want to upgrade to win7 my computer will be not as good as one that came preuploaded with win7 OS?

 

see...this is what I thought!
This article states that...
"For us [system builders], we can buy the OEM editions of Windows 7, which should be hitting distributors no later than Oct. 12, and put them in the hands of our customers on Oct. 13 at the latest,"

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...ght_to_early_Windows_7_PC_sales?taxonomyId=64

 

Why don't you call sales and ask?
Renee

 

What's an upgrade disk? Does that mean it will remove any old OS (XP or Vista) that is installed?

 

Here's your answer! (in the form of an article!)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/172072/your_best_xptowindows_7_upgrade_path_buy_a_new_pc.html

 

called...they have "Zero" information on when/where/how/who...(kinda what I expected!)

 

So that article basically says there's no way to upgrade from XP to Windows 7 directly, without doing a clean install of Windows 7. I would be able to do a dual boot XP and Windows 7, though, right? Can I do that with what Lenovo supplies me?

 

I'm sure you can dual boot but unless you have required needs that only XP can handle....I don't see why you would even want to retain XP.

You may want to check the main Window's 7 post just above this one here on the Lenovo threads!

 

I want to keep XP because I am used to it, and I am sure that the programs that are important to me run smoothly on it. Over time if I see that Windows 7 runs everything I need then I will probably remove the XP partition and solely use Windows 7. It's not like there are any drawbacks to dual booting, right?

 

"called...they have "Zero" information on when/where/how/who...(kinda what I expected!)"

Who on earth did you talk to? An organization should have had that information when the same organization is putting out this information.


A salesFREE Windows® 7 Upgrade Program
Waiting to buy a new PC?

"If you've read the solid reviews about Windows 7, you may be tempted to delay your new PC purchase until it launches. But there's no need to wait; Lenovo will mail you a FREE license upgrade to Windows 7 if you buy a Lenovo laptop or desktop with an eligible Windows Vista® version between June 26, 2009 and January 31, 2010.1

This offer applies to individuals and companies who plan to buy less than 25 PCs. Larger organizations should take advantage of Microsoft's Volume Licensing for their free license upgrades.

Buy now. Upgrade later.

Upgrades are based on the licensed Windows Vista version2 and language3 you ordered when you bought your PC as specified in the following table:

Eligible Vista version Entitled Windows 7 Upgrade
Windows Vista® Home Premium Windows® 7 Home Premium
Windows Vista® Business PC Windows® 7 Professional
Windows Vista® Ultimate PC Windows® 7 Ultimate
If you qualify for an upgrade, please follow the “Request upgrade” link in your language below to access the Upgrade Fulfillment site and track your order status."




Renee

 

Upgrade disks install over the currently installed OS. So you lose the functionality of the original OS and you do not get a clean install since upgrades keep the installed applications in working order.

 

So it would be dumb to use the disc at all. Well if you choose can you use the disc for a clean install. If not how do you go about clean install? Will I have to buy win7 then in order to clean out OS n start fresh with 7?

I guess i messed up in in buying the computer this week.

 

Well it doesn't matter because even if you waited and bought your laptop after Windows 7 was preloaded you wouldn't get a clean install anyway.

 

So how do i do a clean install? Possible?

 

I don't know. I'm a noob. That's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

Not sure how anyone will know for sure until someone tries it... which can't happen until someone receives a Thinkpad with Win7 preloaded. Chances are the Vista method for a clean install will work for Win7.

It will be interesting to see how much cr@pware they preload on Win7. Vista wasn't bad on my T400 compared to other systems I've seen. I know the purists would say any preload stuff is bad, but I didn't really see a compelling reason to clean-install Vista on my T400.

Also, the recovery disks on earlier incarnations apparently had a mechanism allowing clean installs -- which disappeared with the T400/T500 recovery disks. Maybe they'll allow clean installs with the Win7 recovery disk setup.

Anyway it's all speculation until someone gets a system with Win7 preloaded.

 

a "clean install," means it's not an upgrade but a completely new installation and needs to be done on a blank hard drive or partition. And what that means is that if you want do an install on an existing PC running Windows that has other programs and data on it, it will erase everything, so you'll need to back up everything you want to save before you do anything.
When you do a clean install, Windows will render your old OS obsolete. Your documents and drivers will still remain in a Windows.old folder instead of the Windows folder on your C: drive. If you are using Windows XP, your drivers, even though they are stored in Windows.ol folder, may not work in Windows 7.

 

Hows XP mode in Windows 7?

 

Seems fine. You're running XP on a virtual machine.

 

To those insisting that a new disk is needed for a clean install it's just not so. I am the owner of a t61p and other lenovo systems and have always done clean installs. This is accomplished by a disk initialization which lays down a new file system.

Renee

 

"a "clean install," means it's not an upgrade but a completely new installation and needs to be done on a blank hard drive or partition. And what that means is that if you want do an install on an existing PC running Windows that has other programs and data on it, it will erase everything, so you'll need to back up everything you want to save before you do anything."

YES
YES And
Sort of...

For example my t61p running Windows 7 has additional partitions on it that act exactly like disks. What you have to do for a new system in to install it with the Windows Installation disk which it itself is bootable.
Renee

 

What sort of clean install are you talking about? Bare metal install of the factory load including all third-party & lenovo apps, or clean install of JUST the OS and without the third-party stuff?

Prior to T400/500 I believe you had the choice with the recovery disks and could choose NOT to install the add-on software.

That ability disappeared with the T400/500 systems. You can do a bare metal install, but you get the full factory load.