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Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

Windows 7 on ThinkPads
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house kitten
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Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#1 Post by house kitten » Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:05 pm

I purchased a used thinkpad T420 and the previous owner installed windows 10. I hate windows 10 so want to delete it. In the past I have used the win 7 pro x64 ISO which is no longer available. I do have another 420 pro x64 which I made recovery disks when new so I have those.

I used the recovery disk to overwrite windows 10 but it installed all the lenovo bloatware and simple tap, etc. I do not want those programs.

Is there any way to do a clean install with the recovery disks? Does anyone have an iso of this file they could upload? I know I can do a torrent installation but would not like to go that route.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:33 pm

Recovery disks are just that: recovery of the previous (ex-factory) state.
Since you already have recovery disks, you can/should delete your recovery partition.
Uninstall/delete all your unwanted bloatware, then take an image and use that for future re-installs.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#3 Post by house kitten » Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:50 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Recovery disks are just that: recovery of the previous (ex-factory) state.
Since you already have recovery disks, you can/should delete your recovery partition.
Uninstall/delete all your unwanted bloatware, then take an image and use that for future re-installs.
Thanks but that is not what I want to do. I have 2 T420's. One I just got used off ebay and came with windows 10 and I want to take it back to 7. I also have (since 2012) another T420 which I made recovery disks from. I did a clean install on the first (ebay) computer using the second computers disks and every thing worked fine except for the lenovo bloatware and apps like simple tap. Therefore I wanted to do a clean install. I called lenovo and they will sell me disks for $69 or a years worth of support for $199. No thanks.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#4 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Nov 20, 2015 1:25 pm

If you don't (want to) use the recovery disks, you'll need to get a W7 COA/key from somewhere.
The one under the T420-battery only works with Lenovo-W7.
W7 can be downloaded for free, e.g. here: http://www.pcsteps.com/45-download-wind ... ally-free/
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#5 Post by MikalE » Fri Nov 20, 2015 2:54 pm

These folks sell legitimate keys for .iso installs: http://www.keysaleonline.com

I've purchased from them in the past. They're good to go.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#6 Post by house kitten » Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:24 pm

MikalE wrote:These folks sell legitimate keys for .iso installs: http://www.keysaleonline.com

I've purchased from them in the past. They're good to go.
I have the key. It is the iso I need. The key is located under the battery and if I ever get an iso I will use the key I have for installation of Win 7.

I would rather not go the torrent route.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#7 Post by RealBlackStuff » Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:30 pm

I repeat: The one [key] under the T420-battery only works with Lenovo-W7.
It will NOT activate a standard non-Lenovo W7 version, legal or illegal!
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#8 Post by house kitten » Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:31 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:I repeat: The one [key] under the T420-battery only works with Lenovo-W7.
It will NOT activate a standard non-Lenovo W7 version, legal or illegal!
Well it did when I installed windows premium this summer for a friend. I had the iso and used the key under the battery. It works fine.

it also worked when I installed a SSD in my husbands computer. I used an iso and the key under battery. It has worked fine for 3-4 years.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#9 Post by Hans Gruber » Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:38 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:I repeat: The one [key] under the T420-battery only works with Lenovo-W7.
It will NOT activate a standard non-Lenovo W7 version, legal or illegal!
If you give me a car insurance quote I can tell you how to get around your current thinking regarding activating Windows 7 using the existing key under the battery. I am speaking from experience.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#10 Post by rkawakami » Fri Nov 20, 2015 3:57 pm

re: "clean install"

From your description, it sounds like you would like to (re)install a "retail" version of Windows 7. From my understanding those .ISOs are still available here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... d/windows7

Per the download page, you need to have a valid COA and it will only allow access to the version of Windows the COA is for. It's also my understanding that the ones attached to the system by the factory should not work in this case but it won't hurt to give it a try. I haven't personally installed W7 using this method on any of my systems so I could be wrong.

Any "recovery" or "restore" disk set you get from Lenovo will have their "bloatware" on it. In those cases, the previous suggestion applies: install it, run Windows Update until all critical/high priority patches are applied, use Add/Remove Programs utility or the bloatware's own uninstall routine to get rid of it, install whatever software you normally use and once you're happy, make a complete system backup using a third-party backup/clone tool and use that image to recover from.

You will also have a PM from me in a few minutes.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#11 Post by Hans Gruber » Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:14 pm

rkawakami wrote:re: "clean install"

From your description, it sounds like you would like to (re)install a "retail" version of Windows 7. From my understanding those .ISOs are still available here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... d/windows7

Per the download page, you need to have a valid COA and it will only allow access to the version of Windows the COA is for. It's also my understanding that the ones attached to the system by the factory should not work in this case but it won't hurt to give it a try. I haven't personally installed W7 using this method on any of my systems so I could be wrong.

Any "recovery" or "restore" disk set you get from Lenovo will have their "bloatware" on it. In those cases, the previous suggestion applies: install it, run Windows Update until all critical/high priority patches are applied, use Add/Remove Programs utility or the bloatware's own uninstall routine to get rid of it, install whatever software you normally use and once you're happy, make a complete system backup using a third-party backup/clone tool and use that image to recover from.

You will also have a PM from me in a few minutes.
Ray, I tried your link and it works for the Win7 .iso download but it doesn't have an English version. There are 30 or more available languages but English is not an option.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#12 Post by rkawakami » Fri Nov 20, 2015 5:49 pm

Hans Gruber wrote:Ray, I tried your link and it works for the Win7 .iso download but it doesn't have an English version. There are 30 or more available languages but English is not an option.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#13 Post by UMPC2024 » Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:35 am

Does Microsoft's Digital River site not work anymore? I've got a W7 x64 Pro ISO from them way back when, but haven't ever tested it. If you wait until next week when I'm on Thanksgiving Break, I could share via the cloud. Or maybe user TuuS might have one, I bought some Vista COAs from him and he supplied the Vista ISO, so he might also have some W7 ones lying around.

Best of luck.

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#14 Post by Hans Gruber » Sat Nov 21, 2015 3:04 am

rkawakami wrote:
Hans Gruber wrote:Ray, I tried your link and it works for the Win7 .iso download but it doesn't have an English version. There are 30 or more available languages but English is not an option.
Image
All is not lost. Microsoft had the English version of Windows Premium 64bit for download. 3.06GB worth of .iso data. :thumbs-UP:
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#15 Post by RealBlackStuff » Sat Nov 21, 2015 5:50 am

There's nothing wrong with the link I supplied earlier: http://www.pcsteps.com/45-download-wind ... ally-free/
Not every torrent is invested with vermin!

BTW, Windows Premium's full title is Windows Home Premium, not what folks here usually want...

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#16 Post by MikalE » Sat Nov 21, 2015 6:31 am

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#17 Post by rkawakami » Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:34 pm

UMPC2024 wrote:Does Microsoft's Digital River site not work anymore?
As of a few months ago, that's an affirmative. Don't know the exact reason why MSFT took them offline.
Ray Kawakami
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#18 Post by UMPC2024 » Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:14 pm

Ah schucks, I did a quick web search and found that it redirects to some home usage program. Anyways, I forgot to say that the ISO I have is an English version and that I didn't take down the md5-checksum when I downloaded it.

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#19 Post by MikalE » Sat Nov 21, 2015 8:35 pm

rkawakami wrote:
UMPC2024 wrote:Does Microsoft's Digital River site not work anymore?
As of a few months ago, that's an affirmative. Don't know the exact reason why MSFT took them offline.
Because they want you using Win 10 spyware.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#20 Post by UMPC2024 » Sat Nov 21, 2015 9:49 pm

Because they want you using Win 10 spyware.
Second that.

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#21 Post by UMPC2024 » Wed Nov 25, 2015 5:11 pm

Alright, here's the Windows 7 x64 Professional ISO in English.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

Disclaimer:
I didn't get the md5-checksum when I originally got it.
Hopefully it's virus free, I scanned it before uploading with Avira and MalwareBytes.

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#22 Post by theterminator93 » Wed Nov 25, 2015 9:22 pm

If that's a bust, I have the factory recovery media (e.g. OS install disks and separate drivers/applications disks) for the T420 you can use to install a Lenovo OEM copy of Windows 7 Pro x86 or x64 and can either upload the ISOs or send you disks. You simply say "no" during recovery when it asks you to insert drivers and applications media and all it restores is the OS.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#23 Post by house kitten » Tue Dec 01, 2015 10:06 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:I repeat: The one [key] under the T420-battery only works with Lenovo-W7.
It will NOT activate a standard non-Lenovo W7 version, legal or illegal!
It worked. I used an iso uploaded and the key under battery. I had a problem with activation but used the phone number they provided and it worked.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#24 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:39 am

If you downloaded that iso from theterminator93, then you used Lenovo-W7...

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#25 Post by cadillacmike68 » Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:39 pm

I don't know what all the fuss is about. Using the Lenovo recovery discs is easy (if a bit tedious). After that you just remove what you don't want.

Then you have a "clean" install that you can image and restore as needed.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#26 Post by house kitten » Fri Apr 08, 2016 11:26 am

perry4pc wrote:I you have lost the Lenovo recovery disk for Windows 7, its easy to get it in ISO format from any outer source, i have downloaded one from here [url]http://<deleted>/[/url] and it went well. But you need to have proper license key to activate, otherwise keep enjoying trial version only.
yup thanks got it from someone else. I needed the 7 pro not ultimate. I really would love to find the win 7 with service pack 1 included.

Admin edit: Removed URL from spammer's quote.
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#27 Post by Tentpole » Tue Apr 12, 2016 8:29 am

Before I waste hours getting nowhere, can you guys please advise me if I can create a recovery CD or flash drive image from my T420 and install onto the X230 I have just bought with blank HDD and SSD? The T420 has Win7Pro64 SP1 and both the T420 and X230 have OEM COA stickers for that version.

FWIW, I tried to order recovery media from Lenovo but the ordering webpage froze on me and I don't expect that to be a quick or promising route.

If that fails I could try to use the standard media as you covered earlier (I'll download later today) with the OEM COA and a phone call if necessary, but I feel the recovery image route sounds the most likely to succeed. I can deal with bloatware but I just need the installation.

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#28 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Apr 12, 2016 9:40 am

If you didn't create them already, then yes, you can create T420 recovery CDs, that will also work on your X230.
You'll need to update some drivers for the X230, but that's easy.
Before install, read this first: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=120270

Officially this creating is only possible once, but there are unofficial options: https://jchaven.wordpress.com/2013/08/3 ... novo-t530/
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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#29 Post by Tentpole » Tue Apr 12, 2016 10:09 am

Thanks RBS, I'll let you know if that works. I have never created recovery disks but as I am not the original owner of the T420, someone else may have. However I have read elsewhere how to unlock more than one copy

http://superuser.com/questions/384658/w ... o-thinkpad

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Re: Clean Windows 7 install on Thinkpad T420 with recovery disks

#30 Post by Tentpole » Tue Apr 19, 2016 7:34 am

All sorted. The new SSD took a while to arrive but installation on my X230 and activation was clean and easy:
1. Downloaded Win7 iso file, plus "Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool-Installer-en-US.exe" from Microsoft
2. Copied ISO to blank USB drive with the MS tool to create a bootable drive (could have made a disk but why bother and the X230 would need an external optical drive) & insert into X230
3. Start up X230 - the boot process allows you to interrupt booting and select a different boot drive, no need to change BIOS settings
4. Install Windows (nice and fast with SSD), type in COA from under battery and be told that I have 3 days to activate
5. Find and install Ethernet driver, go through a few Windows Update cycles, download drivers package from Lenovo - could have manually installed drivers at this point but instead:
6. Download, install and run Lenovo System Update and let it update all drivers etc
7. Activate Windows: Computer-Properties-Windows activation, dialled the automated phone service, told it I have a volume license agreement, gave it my mobile number and received a link by SMS, went through activation codes as instructed and success :)

No need for recovery disks or original Lenovo Win7 CD - it all worked with a vanilla iso and the OEM COA under the battery. Thanks for the tips RBS and other guys.

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