Win7 install, with no CD's included

I just got my brand new T420 (specifically, a 4178-6VU model) and realized that it does not come with the Windows 7 CD. The HDD comes preloaded with it, of course, and upon the first boot, it asks me to select a username + computer name, etc. However, my plan was to put in an SSD that I have "lying around" as soon as possible.

So, what's the standard procedure in such cases? Does Lenovo have a burnable copy of Windows 7 available for download somewhere (not that I can see)? Do I have to ask/pay for a copy by calling in Lenovo support? Other than something like those two possibilities, the other pseudo-legit ways that I can think of to install Windows would be one of the following methods:

1) Stick in the SSD. Connect the original HDD as either an external drive (USB or eSATA) or into the CD slot as a secondary drive. Using a bootable program or something like a portable version of Knoppix (Linux) running via USB, copy everything from the HDD to the SSD.

2) Finish setting up Windows on the HDD. Right-click on My Computer, go to Properties, and write down the Product ID (I don't see my Windows key on a sticker somewhere on the laptop, which is where I'm used to seeing a Windows key for a laptop). Put in the SSD. Use a legit CD of Windows 7 Pro OEM that I used for my desktop to do a clean install on the Thinkpad, but use the key that I wrote down earlier, instead of the one that was provided with my "desktop" copy of Win7.

Do I have any other choices? I guess that #2 seems more appealing, if that should work without any problems.

Thanks in advance!

 

Lenovo allows you to burn your own Recovery Discs containing the Windows OS and load it on a new hard drive. While you can only burn one set, the amount of times you can use the discs is infinite.

The Windows serial sticker should be located underneath the battery bay but that doesn't mean it's the one Lenovo used for their factory install. You could use a keyfinder on the Lenovo install, jot that down and then use an application called " OPATool" to load the Lenovo OEM certificate in combination with the key Lenovo used to activate your system, saving you one key in the process. Its pretty much how OEMs activate their new machines and is legitimate as long your system had preinstalled Windows 7 in the first place.

 

I have the exact model, wanting to do exactly what you described and intending to write exactly the same thread to ask for the same help. What a coincident! You probably need an installation DVD, and you should burn a copy of the Recovery Discs as described.

My question is:
Are there a way for us to use the Recovery Discs to do semi-clean installation of Windows 7? What I meant is that we stop the installation once it gets to the driver level, and then I continue to install the drivers ourselves?

Thanks!!

 

Unfortunately using the Recovery Discs is a pretty closed process from start to finish, then again its primary job is just to reload the factory settings and nothing else. If you want to use your own preferred drivers then you have to do the Clean Install method.

 

just as Hearst mentioned aboved, after you managed to boot into your win7, make your own recovery disc by clicking Lenovo ThinkVantage Tools->Factory Recovery Disks, you can either use a thumbdrive or DVD to create your recovery disks, personally i would prefer to be on DVD-R. Then after you created your recovery disks, you can just plugin your own SSD and use the recovery disc to restore back to factory default.

 

or create an image of your hdd.

 

Because Lenovo is not sending the CDs or DVDs for the Win 7 Home Premium version, where can I find this version of windows to be installed with the key coming with the laptop?

 

If your laptop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium your recovery discs will also cover this too. I have Home Premium preloaded on my T420 and it recovers it fine.

But if you want to perform a Clean Install of Home Premium then have a look at the Legal Windows 7 Images thread to download your own copy of the original Windows 7 Home Premium disc.

 

I just picked up a Lenovo X120e Netbook/Ultra-portable and I knew I was going to go with a 120GB SSD, 500GB SATA/USB external. I also knew it came with no CD/DVD of Windows 7.

I did not want to use the stupid Lenovo recovery CD maker thingy, nor did I care about the Lenovo Experience 2.0 crap so I just hit a Torrent sight and downloaded a scene release of Windows 7 Professional x64 OEM, which is what came pre-loaded on my X120e.

I slip-streamed in a couple options I wanted and made a USB bootable flash driver, formated and installed my SSD using the Windows 7 product key located on the bottom of the Netbook. You could just as easily burn this on a DVD-R.

Also, I would like to note that even though I downloaded a pirated copy of Windows 7, this was technically legal because it's the product key you pay for, and my Lenovo has a valid key. Obviously my copy of Windows 7 passed the activation without any cracks because the key was valid.

I'm sure you can figure out a Torrent site to snag a copy of Windows 7 that matches your product key.

 

Legal or not, a torrent site is definitely not the recommended way to do this, as theres a possibility that the image that you got has been tampered with. Best just stick with the legal and direct download from the digital river servers.

 

You can download the Windows 7 ISO images from legit sites. I've done so for Windows 7 Home Premium x64. Checkout this link:

Download Windows 7 ISO (Official 32-bit and 64-bit Direct Download Links) My Digital Life

 

Or that... Thats pretty cool actually. Makes sense since you are paying for the product key, why not make the software easy to get!

 

Good info, everyone, thanks! I'll try out the keyfinder + OPATool method that Hearst mentioned, in combination with the legit Win7 CD that I already have (it's the same version that came with the laptop - Professional x64).

EDIT: Worked out well. No problems. Thanks!