x220 clean install

Can someone link me to a guide on how to clean install windows 7 on my intel 310 40 gb in X220? I have a set of Lenovo recovery disks and a 16 gb USB drive with me. The mSATA disk has already been installed into the computer.

Thanks!

 

can anyone help please?

 

You've got to give people more than a hour to respond. No bumps for 24 hours, per the forum rules.

You can't do a clean install from the recovery discs. You'll need a Windows disc.

 

How do I get a windows disk? I tried to follow these instruction but

1) oscdimg.exe -bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com -u2 -h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso (this command didn't work)
2) the link to the software on booting through USB drive was broken.

Can anyone help?

 

Given that you have a genuine license of Windows 7, you could download the original iso file of Windows 7 installation disc from the internet (Professional x64: 0BCFC54019EA175B1EE51F6D2B207A3D14DD2B58; Home Premium x64: 6C9058389C1E2E5122B7C933275F963EDF1C07B9), burn it onto a dvd disc or copy the files into your usb flash drive, install the OS and drivers, then activate with Lenovo Windows 7 OEM SLP Key and Certificate, which can be extracted from the original factory OS or downloaded over the internet.

 

Thanks! Do I just copy and paste the iso files onto my USB drive or is special formatting required?

 

Do you want to do a "clean install" of Windows 7, or do you just want to install Windows 7 on a new mSATA drive? If you don't care whether it's clean, the easiest thing to do it just create your system restore disks onto your 16gb USB stick then restore your system onto the new drive.

 

Use the Lenovo factory image. Significantly lower power consumption compared to clean install.

 

I want to do a clean install. In fact, my x220 was back from repair and the technicians tried to help me install the recovery image onto the SSD but they failed because it is too small (40gb only). They told me that they only have a disk that installs everything (all the partitions, etc).

Is there a straightforward guide about doing a clean install with a USB stick?

Thanks.

 

If you wish to use a usb flash disk instead of burning iso onto a dvd disc, then you could use WinRAR or any other software to extract all the files inside the iso file onto the usb flash disk. That should make the usb flash disk bootable.

 

Lenovo has made step by step guide here.

And you drivers for X220 is here.

/Thomas

 

so, i should use the iso method in the link that i provided?

 

I understand that this guide exists. But where can I find the windows 7 disk in step one 'Boot the Windows 7 Full install disk '?

The disks I obtained from Lenovo included
1) Operating system recovery disk (1 disk) - tried to use this to install but didn't work.
2) Applications and drivers recovery disc (2 disks)
3) Supplemental recovery disk (1 disk)
4) Additional software recovery disk (1 disk)

 

If you're unsure do the following:

- Download the relevant version of Windows 7 according to your OEM license sticker from this site. x86 indicates a 32 bit version, most likely you want the 64 bit version (x64) for your X220.

- Download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool and run it. Locate the ISO you downloaded and place in a blank USB key (at least more than 4GB) and proceed with the steps. This will convert the USB key to become Windows bootable on startup.

- Depending on the size left on the USB, download the graphics driver, wireless or ethernet driver, Intel RST driver and System Update. Place these (extracted) in a new folder (name the folder DRIVERS) inside the bootable USB stick.

- Restart the system, boot off the USB stick (use F12 to select boot options). Follow the instructions and do a Custom Install. During the partition section, go to Load Driver and locate the Intel RST drivers inside the DRIVERS folder and let it load. Afterwards proceed with install.

- Load up the desktop and install the graphics and wireless/ethernet drivers from the USB stick. Afterwards install System Update and let it run to gather the rest of the missing utilities.

You can use my T420 Windows Clean Install Guide (in my sig) as reference since the installation process for the X220 and T420 are quite similar.

 

Excellent information!!! Exactly what I was looking for. Too bad it didn't come in the forum search. Thanks so much, I'm trying your method now!

 

After successful installation of windows 7 onto my SSD, as well as verification using the software ABR, I tried to install drivers (display, wireless, ethernet, etc) but none of them worked.

I am unable to connect to the internet via the cable or wifi, so I could not go to system update to get the drivers.

What should I do now?

Is it a problem with the copy of Windows 7 I installed?

 

I found out a solution myself. It seems that, in order to connect to wireless internet, you would not only need to install intel drivers but also ThinkPad 1x1 11b/g/n Wireless LAN PCI Express Half Mini Card Adapter as well.

My X220 is now working fine, thanks for all your help.

The only query is that a full boot now takes 40 seconds. Is this normal for the X220 + Intel 310 40 gb? I thought someone reported 20 seconds?

 

I was able to clean install with recovery disks.

Boot from the recovery windows disk, when it asks "do you have the drivers and applications disk", click "no". Chose each time it asks for additional software disks and it will finish with just windows.

40 second boot with 310 ?????

The e420 (with i5-2410m) I'm returning was doing 16s with Vertex 2. This is why I don't want mSATA lol. Huge diff between 40s and under 20s.