Thinkpads Forum

I bought a Lenovo Thinkpad W520 and an M4-Crucial 512 GB SSD for my dad.

I assumed it would be NO problem to install Windows 7 Pro to the new SSD hard drive. Sadly, I learned that Lenovo no longer ships media disks w/ the computer.

Because I have to leave day after tomorrow (Aug. 7) I would GREATLY appreciate help:

(A) from someone who would share a download of the .iso

OR

(B) Someone who can give me some super directions on formatting (I keep trying different ways in Computer Manager) and cloning the existing drive.

Thank you sincerely.

You can make the recovery discs from your W520 using the ThinkVantage software and use those discs on the new drive to restore it to the factory install. If you wish to do a clean install, you may download a Windows disc here.

ZaZ wrote:You can make the recovery discs from your W520 using the ThinkVantage software and use those discs on the new drive to restore it to the factory install. If you wish to do a clean install, you may download a Windows disc here.

I wish I could... Apparently Lenovo only lets you attempt to make recovery discs one time, and I didn't know I shouldn't do that to my new SSD...

Again, I would be SO grateful if someone would share theirs so I could download it. It's my last day here w/ my dad and I don't know how I can get this done when I'm not in the same place w/ him.

Kylan wrote:I wish I could... Apparently Lenovo only lets you attempt to make recovery discs one time, and I didn't know I shouldn't do that to my new SSD...

Again, I would be SO grateful if someone would share theirs so I could download it. It's my last day here w/ my dad and I don't know how I can get this done when I'm not in the same place w/ him.

i think ZaZ is suggesting that you reinstall and boot the original hdd, and then run "create restore disks" from there. then, remove the platter drive, install the ssd and run the recovery process to image the ssd.

ZaZ... if i misinterpreted, please correct me.

You did not. As I also state you may also download a Windows disc.

Link

I wasn't sure I could get that Win7 download pieced together correctly. I ended up using the Acronis cloning software. It wasn't free, but would have saved me a dozen hours of headache...

Thanks for all the help!

Just install Win7 from scratch.
Less cruft and you can grab the drivers from IBM's site before you begin (the ethernet and wifi ones at the very least so you can download the rest

You can download the ISO legally from the link provided earlier in this topic.

Drivers, utilities and power manager for the W520 run around ~830 MB

Windows serial key is under the battery. You can have that done in under 1/4th of a dozen hours

You can also build, from your own installed OS, create an ISO with nLite. It will even pick up the Serial and eventual service packs, drivers, etc... from the current running OS.
Then with that iso thing reinstall from scratch on the new cd.
nLite is a very powerful tool, intuitive and stable, that you use in such cases. And it is free.

kpoman wrote:You can also build, from your own installed OS, create an ISO with nLite. It will even pick up the Serial and eventual service packs, drivers, etc... from the current running OS.
Then with that iso thing reinstall from scratch on the new cd.
nLite is a very powerful tool, intuitive and stable, that you use in such cases. And it is free.

Was looking for something like this. Thanks.

To the OP, as others have said. Fresh install is the best way to go. Win 7 does a great job of aligning the new SSD and making all the proper settings. Make sure you run WEI after all the drivers are loaded. It really doesn't take that long. It's something I'm doing while watching TV or puttering about doing mindless chores.