Thinkpads Forum

I am planning to install a fresh copy of Windows professional 7 x64 on the SSD I am yet to receive. But there is no Windows 7 disk provided with the laptop. Where can I get the Windows 7 disk for W520?

From http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52133 , the second recovery disk contains the Windows installation media. I am creating the disks now. I will post more info once I find out.

I just checked the 2nd DVD. It's showing a binary image. I guess there is no way to know without using the recovery image directly.

Yeah, that's one of the other things I don't particularly care for... especially with things like UEFI booting seeming to require a non-R&R reinstall, a real Windows disk would be nice. You can get one from Newegg for $140 and it comes with a free second license . If I ever get some free time, I will see whether the one bought through Microsoft's academic offer to upgrade my T61p (rest in pieces) works here.

I will see whether the one bought through Microsoft's academic offer to upgrade my T61p (rest in pieces) works here.

It does.
That's a full Windows 7 Professional image that can be used at any time.

The .iso should be available online. Do a Google search. You will need our license and enter it.

Perry

You mean pirated? No thanks!

I bought a copy of Windows with my laptop. I can expect to obtain a media containing the OS legally. Why would I bother to go for a pirated one?

There are links floating around to the microsoft download site - you get an offical image, all you need to do is enter the key. or see if you can find a windows 7 disk, make an iso, and remove the block - this will allow you to install any version off that disk. IIRC (and correct me if I'm wrong), as long as you have a license on your system, you are allowed to use the software, the installation media does not matter - my T61 came with xp installed, had a vista license. I installed vista using a disk I had from another system - As far as I am concerned, as long as microsoft gets their pound of flesh, I should be allowed to use what I am entitled to.

Edit: the unblocked iso will allow you to run any version for 30 days, but you need to install the version you have a license for to activate it.

You just need to delete the ei.cfg file in the sources directory. I just did this with a USB key I made to create a Uber Windows 7 x86/x64/Server 2008 R2 installer All Versions. Great to have in your toolkit. (You need to make a custom Install.WIM file if you want all version + all architecture + Server, but that's not terribly difficult)

plympton wrote:You just need to delete the ei.cfg file in the sources directory. I just did this with a USB key I made to create a Uber Windows 7 x86/x64/Server 2008 R2 installer All Versions. Great to have in your toolkit. (You need to make a custom Install.WIM file if you want all version + all architecture + Server, but that's not terribly difficult)

Sweet, so what all do you need for this, just any windows 7 (64bit?) iso?
Found a quick walk through for this if anyone else was interested.
http://g0b3ars.wordpress.com/2009/09/20 ... usb-stick/