Thinkpads Forum

My new X1 Carbon is scheduled to arrive today, and I'm thinking about what I need to do first once I take it out of the box.
I have previously owned a ThinkPad T40p, T41p, and T61p. As I think back to those ThinkPads, I typically have upgraded the hard drive and memory right away. Obviously I won't be doing that with the X1C. In the process of upgrading the hard drive, I always clone the recovery partition, Hidden Protected Area, or whatever it was called at the time from the old to the new hard drive. I usually make a stand alone backup as well, or get the recovery CDs for my laptop. The bottom line is that I like knowing that I can get my laptop back to its factory state if I change my mind or just decide to sell it.

In addition to the above, I like to install a clean version of the operating system myself to get rid of the extra baggage Lenovo/IBM has included. In the case of the X1C, I ordered it with Windows 8 Pro. From the limited time I have spent with Windows 8, I'm not much interested in using it though as it drastically slows me down. The reason I ordered it this way is that I already have an extra license for Windows 7 Ultimate that I can install, and figured maybe some day I'll change my mind about Windows 8. So I might play with Windows 8 a little, but in short order I'm planning to downgrade to Windows 7.

With the above in mind, I have a few questions:

- What is the best way to backup the recovery partition on the X1C given that the SSD can't be removed, or at least has a proprietary interface, limiting cloning options?

- Given that the X1C does not have a CD/DVD drive, does Lenovo offer some sort of recovery solution other than recovery CDs (i.e. a USB stick)?

- What tips and tricks do I need to know to successfully install Windows 7 on the X1C?

- Is there anything else I should be considering?

Thanks!

-- Chris

Regarding backup: Lenovo will only ship DVDs if needed because of a drive failure in warranty. You need to beg, borrow, or buy (not steal ) an external USB DVD drive.
This is not a new problem. Many of Lenovo's products do not have a CD/DVD drive. USB DVD drives are cheap on eBay.

Regarding the X1C: It is too thin to accept an Ethernet cable. If you need to connect other than by wireless then you'll need a USB Ethernet connector. These also sell cheaply on eBay.

Let's face it ... these beasties are becoming like big smartphones so wireless is not normally a problem.

I hope this helps. Enjoy your new machine.

ccooper21 wrote:My new X1 Carbon is scheduled to arrive today, and I'm thinking about what I need to do first once I take it out of the box.
I have previously owned a ThinkPad T40p, T41p, and T61p. As I think back to those ThinkPads, I typically have upgraded the hard drive and memory right away. Obviously I won't be doing that with the X1C. In the process of upgrading the hard drive, I always clone the recovery partition, Hidden Protected Area, or whatever it was called at the time from the old to the new hard drive. I usually make a stand alone backup as well, or get the recovery CDs for my laptop. The bottom line is that I like knowing that I can get my laptop back to its factory state if I change my mind or just decide to sell it.

In addition to the above, I like to install a clean version of the operating system myself to get rid of the extra baggage Lenovo/IBM has included. In the case of the X1C, I ordered it with Windows 8 Pro. From the limited time I have spent with Windows 8, I'm not much interested in using it though as it drastically slows me down. The reason I ordered it this way is that I already have an extra license for Windows 7 Ultimate that I can install, and figured maybe some day I'll change my mind about Windows 8. So I might play with Windows 8 a little, but in short order I'm planning to downgrade to Windows 7.

With the above in mind, I have a few questions:

- What is the best way to backup the recovery partition on the X1C given that the SSD can't be removed, or at least has a proprietary interface, limiting cloning options?

- Given that the X1C does not have a CD/DVD drive, does Lenovo offer some sort of recovery solution other than recovery CDs (i.e. a USB stick)?

- What tips and tricks do I need to know to successfully install Windows 7 on the X1C?

- Is there anything else I should be considering?

Thanks!

-- Chris

I'm getting my X1 next week(hopefully), and I have the same question you posted. I was wondering what you ended up doing for a backup and then downgrade to Win7. Does the backup software allow you to just create ISOs to burn for later?

In regards to the statement about the laptop being too thin to accommodate an Ethernet port, that's not entirely accurate. If you look at the newer Samsung/Asus ultrabooks, they found ways to have this "expandable" ethernet port with a flap piece that when not in use, sits flush with the side of the laptop. I love that design, and rather disappointed that Lenovo didn't make that available on their X1. Fortunately USB 3.0 gigabit adapters won't break the bank.