X120e on the way.. best way to get OS onto a new drive?

Hopefully I'll be receiving my first Thinkpad in some time, very soon! In the meantime I think I've decided to go with a SSD from the start. (I s'pose my PS3 could make use the drive that comes out anyways) What's the best method of getting my new systems OS & drivers onto a blank drive? Could I simply hook both laptop drives to a desktop, make a small partition on the SSD & copy/paste the SWTools folder from one to the other, then install the SSD in the Thinkpad & recover as if it came that way? As always, thanks in advance! My last Thinkpad had Win3.1 & a non-color LCD , so I'm excited!!

Ooh, and does anybody happen to know what shipping courier Lenovo uses in the USA & whether they require a signature upon delivery? Also, how do they get away with charging sales on online purchases? That ate up half my coupon savings.

 

Which OS are you planning to install.

For window 7, there is the window 7 usb/burner tool.
For linux, there are software outthere that convert iso/cd to live cd(on the flashdrive)

 

You could also try recovery discs, but I prefer clean installs on SSD to ensure it is properly aligned.

 

Win7 Home Premium. (which will also be the first time I've even witnessed 7 IRL)

 

ups usually

 

It's signature required ups. I'm no qualified tax agent or anything, so dont quote me, but I believe sales tax is added on depending on what state you are in, and non taxed purchases from newegg (or whoever doesnt tax) are still expected to have tax paid (but from you rather than the vendor).

 

I would make your own Windows CD here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/428068-legal-windows-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html This way you can start installing right away once you get the laptop. There should a partitioned drive on the hard drive that comes with the laptop. If there is, copy it to a usb drive or like device and then install them on the new SSD after installing windows. If not, you can download the drivers here: Lenovo Support - Drivers and software - ThinkPad Edge 11, Edge E10, X120e

 

Thanks guys, looks like ya got me pretty well covered/hopefully I won't be back with any embarrassing questions.

 

how about just cloning the stock hd to the ssd? Would that work?

 

I've actually never cloned one before but I think it's high time I figure it out! (soon as Lenovo pulls their heads outta their a$$ & actually completes my order )

 

load Windows on a usb drive.

 

that works too. but some times the order of which you install the drivers and windows update might matter. at least that was the case with my dm1z that i'll be returning. hopefully wont have problems with the x120e fresh install.

 

Same her, i'm also replacing the hard drive with a Intel Postville X25-M SSD (and put in another 2GB of RAM) as soon as i recieve my x120e.

As i understand it the x120e does NOT come with a Windows7 DVD? And the only DVD it will let you create is a recovery DVD which you can't use for a fresh install?

So then the steps would be:

- download 'Windows 7 x64 English' ISO
- burn the ISO
- replace HD with SSD
- install Windows7
- use Windows7 key to activate (key is on a sticker on the laptop itself?)
- install Lenovo update manager
- get all needed drivers

This will be my first experience with Windows7 and SSD, so please let me know if the above is correct.

I ordered x120e with the Windows7 pro 64 bit OS, HD will go in external casing

 

Try this, it will go a lot smoother and quicker than bothering with an external optical. I booted off a higher class SD card for one of my installs, copying to a ssd was blazing fast.

I really wish the x120 could use msata, I would love to have a G2 minicard for the OS/apps along with a cheap data drive to store a ton of videos. I'll go back to drooling over the x220 now.

 

One forum member called in and asked whether the X120e supports mSATA, and after a long time, the rep told him it does. After Googling, though, I've found little evidence that the X120e would actually support it, though, and a Lenovo employee on the Lenovo forums admitted that he didn't know whether the X120e does.