How does Lenovo deliver windows 7 specific upgrade?

[gazi666]

On the day when Windows 7 release, I know I will get a Windows 7 installation disc (I have paid the fee). But I don't know whether the disc includes stuff of ThinkVantage.

My notebook contains C, Q, S drive. C drive contains Windows and my personal data. I know Q and S drive store something for recovery. After I install Windows 7, and one day I perform recovery, what will happen? Returning to Vista or Windows 7.

Also, from ComputerWorld, it says Lenovo boots the startup speed of Windows 7. I don't know whether it is pure software improvement or requires help from hardware. My notebook is T400s and it is very new. I hope my notebook can be utilized for Windows 7.
Link: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/ ... ws_7_boots

Sorry for many questions. Thanks for any reply.

[Harryc]

I have never seen Lenovo deliver an OS without it being in a Recovery disc format, which installs the recovery partition/s. I can't see why Windows 7 would be different. You'd have to create recovery media from your current Vista installation prior to installing Windows 7, or else you will loose the ability to reinstall Vista since the W7 discs will erase the entire drive. The discs are not out yet, so for the time being you won't get an answer better than honest conjecture.

[Art Vandelay]

I thought I would be getting a standard Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DVD. I dont want all the Lenovo software - just the OS. So this is going to be some Lenovo specific disk, not something produced by Microsoft?

[ZaZ]

If it's the recovery discs like Harry said then it'll format it to like a factory install of a ThinkPad with all the ThinkVantage Tools and other software. If you want a clean install you'll as noted need a Windows disc. Head on over to Pirate Bay and get one, at least while there still around.

[Art Vandelay]

I think I'll just order an OEM disk.

[gazi666]

Thanks for comment. Let's wait and see

[WilsonF]

When IBM supplied upgrades to Vista from XP, it sent what appeared to be plain Vista upgrade DVDs with none of the ThinkPad applets. Consequently, to get the Lenovo applets you had to copy the C:\SWTOOLS folder to a new location before doing a clean install. I would assume Lenovo will do the same but I haven't seen it mentioned.

Win7 upgraade disks won't install unless the install routine first detect an installed operating system. After it detects the installed OS, it will let you delete the partition and start over again.

The way I have done this is to intall to a new HDD with the old one in an ultra-bay. I first copy the Vista install DVD to a thumb drive with a FAT32 file system and an active partition, and make the system boot from the USB drive so it detects the installed OS on the second HDD. However, i do this mostly because I want something I am SURE I can return to if the new install doesn't go right or if I just want to use the old OS for some reason (for example, i didn't copy something I should have) until I have used the new OS for a few weeks and am confident that everything is OK.

[Wendy]

When IBM supplied upgrades to Vista from XP, it sent what appeared to be plain Vista upgrade DVDs with none of the ThinkPad applets. Consequently, to get the Lenovo applets you had to copy the C:\SWTOOLS folder to a new location before doing a clean install. I would assume Lenovo will do the same but I haven't seen it mentioned.

Win7 upgraade disks won't install unless the install routine first detect an installed operating system. After it detects the installed OS, it will let you delete the partition and start over again.

The way I have done this is to intall to a new HDD with the old one in an ultra-bay. I first copy the Vista install DVD to a thumb drive with a FAT32 file system and an active partition, and make the system boot from the USB drive so it detects the installed OS on the second HDD. However, i do this mostly because I want something I am SURE I can return to if the new install doesn't go right or if I just want to use the old OS for some reason (for example, i didn't copy something I should have) until I have used the new OS for a few weeks and am confident that everything is OK.

This is exactly what I do except for the thumb drive. I love the ultrabay hard drive adapter and always use this method. Never have to worry about not having a functioning computer.

[gsfriend]

I talked to my Lenovo reps a few weeks ago (I'm a reseller) and they said that the Windows 7 FREE upgrade program is put on by Microsoft, not Lenovo, so the upgrades will be delivered from Microsoft in DVD form directly. There will be no ThinkVantage solutions included.

However, I did upgrade my T400s a few weeks ago to Windows 7 Professional (I've got the MS Action pack as well, so I got the retail copy about a month ago) and I only had to download a few drivers from Lenovo's site. The network card was NOT one of them, so I just downloaded everything directly from the upgraded computer.

[WilsonF]

To get the ThinkVantage solutions, copy the C:\swtools folder to somewhere temporary before you install. Everything is there, although Lenovo is posting updated software for Win 7.

[Harryc]

I talked to my Lenovo reps a few weeks ago (I'm a reseller) and they said that the Windows 7 FREE upgrade program is put on by Microsoft, not Lenovo, so the upgrades will be delivered from Microsoft in DVD form directly. There will be no ThinkVantage solutions included.

What happens to the recovery partition in this scenario? Is it effected at all?