Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,
I'm wishing to give my X201s a little extra breath by making use of all the 8gb RAM it has inside. The original 32-bit Windows 7 will only see less than 4gb RAM.
I have read threads saying that it is perfectly legitimate to use the same Microsoft certificate for having a Windows 7 64-bit installation replacing the factory 32-bit install so long as it is of the same version( Professional in this case).
I just haven't been able to find out how the installation should be done.
First, it is my understanding that the built-in recovery partition my X201s would reinstall the 32-bit factory version.
So then how am I supposed to do the 64-bit install ?
There's no DVD drive in the X series so I figure a different approach would be used such as with a USB flash drive.
But then, what would be the steps for that, should I download some ISO file, and would it be legitimate to do so ?
Finally, during the install process, how exactly should I proceed to make sure the machine's original Windows license is validated ?
I live outside the US, could use some help. Thanks everyone.

You can either try to obtain the original Lenovo recovery media,
or install the Microsoft ISO Downloader Tool and use that to download the correct version.

Oh, it appears that the ISO Downloader at the moment is specifically broken for Windows 7. Perhaps you can try the Microsoft portal:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... d/windows7

There are plenty of instructions online on how to create a bootable USB and pour the ISO image onto it for installation. Take your pick:
https://www.google.com/search?q=install ... 7+from+usb

As for activation, I think that the SLIC tables embedded in the X201s BIOS should allow it to automatically activate the appropriate edition of Windows 7, no matter what the installation source is, but I may be wrong.

IIRC the product key for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 Pro are interchangeable.

That said, I back up the installed product key and SLIC/XRM-MS certificate using SLIC Toolkit 3.2. Instructions can be found here.

After creating the Windows 7 installation flash disk, I search for and delete ei.cfg. Doing so lets me choose which edition (Starter, Home Basic, all the way to Ultimate) to install. This allows me to keep just 1 ISO file for 32-bit and another for 64-bit.

Copy the backed up product key and XRM-MS certificate into the flash disk. Download and copy the drivers as well.

When the installer asks for the product key, choose "Skip". Once Windows is installed, follow the instructions on the earlier link to reinstall the product key and XRM-MS certificate.

And if you use a set of Lenovo Recovery Disks for W7-Pro 64-bit from a newer machine (such as T400/T410/T420 etc.) it will automatically activate thanks to the Slic in the X201/s BIOS.

Thanks guys for the precious and specific hints, all duly noted. I am a long time loyal Thinkpad user, and Thinkpads.com is one important reason for it. I also have an X60s needing a new HD, or better an SSD. In the past I had a T23, a T42, and an X31 which made me addicted to the X series. I have written down personal thoughts about the perspective that all of us face of eventually migrating to newer models, maybe i take courage and post as potential help to users considering different models of this blessed series.
Back to the subject :
Knowing that a 64bit recovery from a newer Thinkpad would work, that seems like heaven and made me jump from the chair realizing that my W520 uses the 64-bit Win 7 Pro. But again, it's built-in, I have no physical disks for it either. Would it be possible to somehow extract that built-in original recovery to some install form ? I still have the original HD which I replaced with a Samsung 830 SSD. Or could I use somebody else's install, or download it somewhere ? The advice I'm getting here keeps me hopeful. Really appreciate.

Check this if your SSD still has the option: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht004960
Or put that old HD in and check it there.

Thanks again, I will study those instructions carefully. Seems I'm on the right track now.
All the best.