Windows 8 Recovery Disk

[DLX34]

Got my first ever thinkpad today, loving it so far, the keyboard and trackpad are a delight, i've read alot of people dont like this new chiclet keyboard but it's very comfortable to me personally. Trackpoint will take some getting used to for this noob though!

Along with that, comes a noob question.

The operating system I got is Windows 7 Pro, and there is a recovery drive for it which I have created/copied to a USB.
But along with the computer, i got 3 Windows 8 disks :-

Applications and Drivers Recovery (Disks 1 & 2)
Operating System Recovery Disk

I guess its not really a question, im just double checking that I understand this correctly.
Since I have created a usb from the windows 7 recovery drive, am i now able to use these windows 8 recovery disks as an 'install' for windows 8, with the option to roll back to windows 7 from the recovery usb if i want?

This is also my first time using/possibly using windows 8, so I just want to make sure I understand this right before I go messing things up from the word go!

[DLX34]

Hmm, is my question so stupid that it doesn't bare a response or did it make no sense? lol
I'm not actually thinking of upgrading to windows 8 as I have no real use for it not having a touchscreen, its just handy to know what I could do with these disks.

[tinue]

As far as I know, only very few Thinkpads are delivered with Windows 7 pre-installed, plus Windows 8 recovery disks. This explains why you do not get many answers. I am expecting one of these myself (a W530), but didn't receive it yet.

My understanding is the same as yours: You can switch between Win7 and Win8, once you have created the recovery media for Win7. Most likely Win8 want to install with "secure boot", which needs to be enabled in the BIOS. You would have to switch this to the correct setting before you attempt to recover either Win7 or Win8.

Regards, Martin

Edit: P.S. I recommend Windows 8 actually, even without a touch screen. It is so much faster than Windows 7, and has many small enhancements which in total give a much better experience.

[DLX34]

Thanks Martin, ill turn on Secure Boot and give Windows 8 a shot at some point.

[trhbme1]

Of course after create the rescue USB using Windows 7, you can always restore your system to the condition when you created the rescue USB.

The X230 has no optical drive, so with your Windows 8 DVD set, you need to use either an external USB optical drive or convert the DVD to USB drive. Google the info.

If it is for me, I would use software such as Norton Ghost or Acronis True Image to create a raw copy of the current drive (in your case, pre-loaded with recovery partition for Windows 7). Then install the Windows 8 for trying. After successfully installed and configured Windows 8 to your liking, then you should create another image of your Windows 8 system. That way, it will only take about half an hour to switch back and forth between Windows 7 and Windows 8. In case you have 2 hard drives (I do), you can leave the original drive with Windows 7 as it, then install the Windows on to the 2nd drive. This scenario would allow you to (at boot time) to select either booting from Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Your post was from Feb. Don't know if the above provide some idea. Hope it help. Message me if you have any question.

[sktn77a]

If you want to try Windows 8 from the installation disks I wouldn't overwrite your Windows 7 HDD - I would try it on a different HDD. The reason is that Lenovos now come with the windows activation key hard coded into the BIOS and you may not be able to re-activate Windows 7. Look in the BIOS to see if you have an OS (Windows 8 or Windows 7 ) listed there.

[jayton4]

If you want to try Windows 8 from the installation disks I wouldn't overwrite your Windows 7 HDD - I would try it on a different HDD. The reason is that Lenovos now come with the windows activation key hard coded into the BIOS and you may not be able to re-activate Windows 7. Look in the BIOS to see if you have an OS (Windows 8 or Windows 7 ) listed there.

I would agree with trying Windows 8 on a separate HDD because it is much easier and faster if you want to go back. Just swap drives. Once you decide which one you want to use install it on the HDD you plan to keep permanently in the machine.

However, the activation key is not in the BIOS, the SLIC 2.1 table is in the BIOS. You can still reactivate Windows 7 later with the Lenovo OEM certificate and OEM key. Since your laptop came with Win7 preinstalled, you probably have a Windows 7 sticker under the battery and do not have to worry about any of that anyway.