Thinkpads Forum

Hi Guys...
I have just received my brand new T-410..... Its got OEM WIN 7 PRO on it.....

Problem is, its got too much bloatware and instead of uninstalling it, I would like to do a clean reinstall with the Win 7 PRO retail media.

Question is, Will I be able to to this? I mean reinstall and and the activate with my OEM key? Any tricks to it? Any wise words of wisdom before I start the format?
I would really appreciate all the help guys...

Hi,
AFAIK... the 'clean' install of windows7 I am assuming your want to install a RETIAL Version of Windows 7. That would mean new Lisc key to match the COA

Also; jsut curious > wha 'bloatware' do you have on there?

I/We have few T4x and T5xx here and they come pretty'clean' ie when you compare the laptops from HP & Dell etc > mostly I unisntall some of the TvT apps and we install our OWN VPN with custom 'wireless / lan drivers' etc etc.

Cheers

thanks for the reply Mike...
Its got SQL server 2005 plus office 2007 and other dvd playing software etc....
If I do a restore to factory default settings, will it allow me to do a "Selective" restore? Any idea about that?
Thanks for all your help....

Hi;

most of those you can keep.. AND i dont think you need to do a "Fresh Install" of windows to rid of things your not so happy with/dont want.

IF you send me a list of DONT WANT items via PM. I can help you with it.

Cheers

Custom restore used to be an option in the T61 era of ThinkPads, but for some reason Lenovo ditched it. Doing a clean install shouldn't be a problem. I might suggest waiting to put the key in until you've installed it, then activate it. As always make the recovery discs and a copy of the SWTools folder on the C:\ drive, in case things don't work out.

Thanks alot guys..... I went ahead and reinstalled WIN 7 PRO.... I really appreciate all the help

Stingray wrote:Thanks alot guys..... I went ahead and reinstalled WIN 7 PRO.... I really appreciate all the help

So your OEM product key worked OK with the retail media? I've got retail media for Windows 7 Home Premium, but my understanding is that every version of Windows 7 comes with all the code, and the license key simply activates features. I'd really like to use my OEM Windows 7 x64 Pro key to activate Windows 7 x64 on a clean install to an SSD...

AFIK.... keys from Lenovo will work on ANY RETAIL VERION of the same KIND
ie - Win7 PRO(lenovo) will work for RETAIL (PRO) version when you doing a "fresh" install.

However ; am not sure of COA and other 'legal' issues etc with RETAIL vs OEM....

Also if someone is instrested ,,, here a thread that might be instresting to read ,,,
(note my fellow aussie friends contributions - thanking him in advnace)

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=86878

Cheers

safelder wrote:
So your OEM product key worked OK with the retail media? I've got retail media for Windows 7 Home Premium, but my understanding is that every version of Windows 7 comes with all the code, and the license key simply activates features. I'd really like to use my OEM Windows 7 x64 Pro key to activate Windows 7 x64 on a clean install to an SSD...

Yes I actually installed it from the Original MS WIN7 media... however, I had to edit the ei.cfg file to change the value for 'Channel' = "OEM" from "Retail".... Once the Install was over, i called the MS toll free # to activate, and absolutely no issue there.... Piece of cake!