Thinkpad X301 Windows Vista Business - Upgrade to Windows 7

[Nifill]

I'm planning to upgrade the OS from Vista to Win7, however I'd like to retain the use of the Thinkvantage Rescue and Recovery utilities.
Clearly I plan to have copies of my data stored on external drives for later recovery both as R&R created image backups and a generic file-system level copy.

My understanding is that the drive partitioning, used for R&R backup/restore functions and a factory image of the OS, are created by the factory install process and indeed
re-created using the recovery media.

If I install Windows 7 from standard Retail CDs, will this completely wipe-out the drive partitioning, meaning that the R&R utilities can no longer be used?

I'd like to transition from factory installed Vista to Windows 7 but retaining the full Thinkvantage R&R environment.. Any ideas or clarificationw would be welcome.

Nigel X301 4GB, 128GB SSD Windows Vista Business :

[Harryc]

Moved to Windows 7 forum.

[billp117]

It is my understanding that upgrading from Vista to Win7 does not remove the hidden partition. I upgraded my X300 to Windows 7 with no issues. However, if you upgrade (which is the custom installation that erases your hard drive) XP to Win7, I understand the partition is not usable.

Personally, once you have Win7 running you probably will not go back to Vista. I want the extra space and decided to make the hidden partition viewable by changing the security setting in the bios. Then blow out Vista and load Win7.

You have lots of choices. Perhaps others will comment and you can make your next move.

[Nifill]

Many thanks for your input. I guess that once you've upgraded to Win 7 in this manner, it's not possible to create a Win 7 recovery media set?

Nigel

[billp117]

Win7 will let you make a set of back-up disks.