Installing Windows via USB on an X220 – please advise.

[Classic600X]

Hello All,

I am about to order an X220 (with the IPS screen) via an eBay power seller in the States and have it shipped to me in London, it comes with a 1yr Lenovo international warranty (I have accounted for the import tax in my budget).

When I receive the laptop I plan to remove the default HDD and replace it with a Crucial M4 (7mm) 128GB SSD, so will need to do a clean Windows install. This will be my first computer without an optical drive (I plan on buying a basic USB DVD burner later).

So, how do you install Windows via USB? I feel silly asking this as I am someone who has always built my own desktop PCs and should really know this I've just always had optical drives.

I have an RTM Windows 7 Home Premium (upgrade) disc, however this licence is currently in use on my desktop.

My questions are:

1. Will The X220 have a Windows 7 licence sticker on it (I assume it should have as the seller says it ships with Windows 7)? If so, will I be able to install Windows using my Windows 7 RTM upgrade disc but use the licence key on the laptop sticker?

2. How would I use a Windows DVD to create a bootable USB?

3. I only have a small 1GB USB pen, could I use a USB external hard disk to install from instead?

I'm really sorry, I'm a complete novice in this area.

Thank you in advance

[ellipse]

Hello,

Look here: http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345, it served me well.

[Jack Watts]

I used this guide here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo- ... ost8280806

I did the "clean install" which included downloading W7 from Digital River. 1) I don't know if the license is imbedded into your discs, but I don't believe it is. If so, just download a copy? 2) The Microsoft ISO file DVD/USB copy tool in the link above worked perfectly and 3)I believe an external HD is actually preferable as it will copy faster (supposedly). I used an 8GB flashdrive (it was pretty slow).

I'm not computer-savvy at all with the instructions above I managed this transplant just fine.

[Classic600X]

Thank you! These are great guides

[awolfe63]

Or just get a USB DVD drive for $40 and make the recovery disks.

[jdrou]

1. Will The X220 have a Windows 7 licence sticker on it (I assume it should have as the seller says it ships with Windows 7)?

I wouldn't count on this unless the seller says specifically that it includes the sticker (CoA). It's very common to sell laptops on ebay with Windows installed "so you can verify functionality" but leaving license responsibility to the buyer.

[ZaZ]

I wouldn't count on this unless the seller says specifically that it includes the sticker (CoA).

One can certainly ask before buying.