Reinstalling W7 on Laptop From Friend - Not Sure Which Install Type

[Rex32]

Hello All,

I recently purchased a Lenovo x201t laptop/tablet from a friend of mine for a killer price. It has 8GB of DDR3 RAM, an Intel Core i7 processor, etc... It is just a really loaded laptop but it is hanging all the time, crashing, etc... So I want to do a fresh install.

Unfortunately, this laptop does not have an o9ptical drive but I did follow instructions to copy all my W7 installation media to a USB key and I will use that for the installation, but I have two things I need to sort out before I can begin and I can't seem to figure it out myself.

The laptop is currently running W7 Ultimate, x64.

1) The laptop shipped with an OEM Version of W7 Professional and there is a COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop with a product key on it, I'm assuming I could use this if I were to download an OEM W7 Pro x64 install DVD and put it on the thumb drive, but I really want to use W7 Ultimate as that is what is on the laptop now.

I used Belarc Advisor to print out a complete configuration of my hardware configuration so I can be sure I get everything reinstalled properly and it was also able to pull out the product key for my current W7 Ultimate installation, that I assume I can reuse but that is what brings me to my second problem...

2) I'm not sure of installation method that my buddy used to install W7 Ultimate x64 on this machine and I can't get a hold of him for a few weeks as he is out of the country and away from any computer/iPad/Blackberry/etc... So I figure he had to do one of three things; 1) Purchased W7 Ultimate Upgrade and upgraded the W7 Pro installation that was already installed 2)He could have used an OEM version of W7 Ultimate x64 to do the new installation or 3) He could have purchased W7 Ultimate x64 from a local retailer or online and did a complete clean install with a full retail version of W7 Ultimate x64.

How can I figure out which type of media my product key is valid for? I'm sure there must be some way to figure this out, but I can't seem to find that information anywhere and I thought if anyone knew, it would be you guys!

Please let me know if I'm missing and information or if I can provide more information to help me solve this puzzle.


Thanks,

Mike

 

[theog]

You can reinstall with the Recovery USB pendrive, than use Anytime upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

 

[essenbe]

Right click on computer, select properties. Look in the lower left corner at the numbers. If the numbers have OEM in it, that will answer part of your question.

 

[Rex32]

Yea, it does have OEM in it...

What next?

 

[Rex32]

You can reinstall with the Recovery USB pendrive, than use Anytime upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

I'm lost on this, could you explain in more detail?


Thx,

Mike

 

[theog]

Step one:
Reinstall Windows 7 Pro with Recovery USB Pendrive.
How to use Lenovo Recovery
Lenovo Support - How do I recover my factory installed programs and files? - Desktops and Workstations

Step two:
Upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate using Anytime upgrade.
No install files needed.
Only the Ultimate key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

 

[Rex32]

How can I verify that that method with work with my product key?

Thx!

 

[Rex32]

And is this the equivalent to doing a clean install? I really want to start fresh and have a nice, fast laptop...

I'm researching how to create the USB Recovery drive now...

And do I use the product key from right clicking on computer and selecting properties to activate my Ultimate upgrade?


THX!

 

[theog]

If your Windows 7 Ultimate product key is legal, it will work.

 

[Rex32]

Honestly I'd really like to do just a completely fresh install of W7 Ultimate, but I need to figure out what my key is good for... Any more ideas on that front?

 

[Rex32]

If your Windows 7 Ultimate product key is legal, it will work.

It is legal, I just don't know if it is an upgrade key or a full installation key.... That is where I'm stuck.

I basically need to figure out what media my key came with so I know what media to use to reinstall W7...

 

[gregrocker]

While you can first try to clean reinstall with the Ultimate Product Key you audited from the HD, I would clean reinstall with the Pro Upgrade key on the COA sticker since you know it's legit and belongs to the owner of that machine. OEM in the Ultimate Product ID in Computer>Properties could indicate a cracked pirated copy.

Here are the steps to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM based on hundreds done here: Reinstalling Windows 7

Before reinstalling I would use Theog's links to attempt full Factory Recovery from boot (which self-activates) to see what it has to offer, maybe make the Recovery Disks. If it doesn't run then you can feel free to delete it during Clean install as given in the steps above.

 

[theog]

1) YES, you will be doing the Lenovo clean install.
2) You stated in post 1, you had made your Recovery USB Pendrive.
3) Anytime upgrade will do all activating for you.

If you would like a clean, clean, take look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html
But you will need a Startup Repair disk:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[Rex32]

I don't think it is a cracked version of W7 Ultimate... The guy I bought it from isn't computer savy enough to install cracked W7 OS.

I wish I could just type my product key in somewhere and it would tell me what type of installation it will be good for.

Is that really the only difference between pro & ultimate? If so, I'm fine with Pro.

Let's put it this way, if this were your laptop and you were having issues with performance right now, what would you do to get a fresh install of W7?


Thx,

Mike

 

[theog]

If your Windows 7 Ultimate product key is legal, it will work.

It is legal, I just don't know if it is an upgrade key or a full installation key.... That is where I'm stuck.

I basically need to figure out what media my key came with so I know what media to use to reinstall W7...

I wrote the tutorial using a full key.

 

[Rex32]

So I googled my product key that is reported in computer properties and it is on some shaddy forums referring ot SLP OEM installs or something, idk...

I think using the Lenovo Recovery option and putting a fresh Lenovo W7 professional install might be the best way to go, it also seems like the simplest...

The USB thing I created that I referred to in post #1 is a bootable USB Stick with the W7 Ultimate x64 Retail Disk image files extracted on it...

I'm still checking if I can use the lenovo revoery tool, I'm going to reboot now and try pushing f11, will report back.


Thx,

Mike

 

[theog]

I don't think it is a cracked version of W7 Ultimate... The guy I bought it from isn't computer savy enough to install cracked W7 OS.

I wish I could just type my product key in somewhere and it would tell me what type of installation it will be good for.

Is that really the only difference between pro & ultimate? If so, I'm fine with Pro.

Let's put it this way, if this were your laptop and you were having issues with performance right now, what would you do to get a fresh install of W7?


Thx,

Mike

Step one:
Reinstall Windows 7 Pro with Recovery USB Pendrive.
How to use Lenovo Recovery
Lenovo Support - How do I recover my factory installed programs and files? - Desktops and Workstations

The above.

 

[Rex32]

Okay, I'm going to explore that option now.

Is the language pack really the only difference between pro and ultimate, if so why the hell would anyone buy ultimate?

-Mike

 

[Rex32]

Oh one more thing regarding my product key... When I used Belarc Advisor to give me a report on the laptop, the key that contains the OEM part is reported first and the a second key is in parentheses, any idea what the second key is?


Thx,

Mike

 

[gregrocker]

Even better question is why would anyone buy Pro or Ultimate when Premium suits the vast majority of users, costs $89 for OEM or $125 for three Upgrade licenses right now on Amazon.

You can unlock the Pro version in the Ultimate flash stick you created to do a clean install if Factory Recovery doesn't run or suit you after a test drive. Just browse into the Sources folder to delete ei.cfg file and it will give you a menu with all versions.

The number with OEM is the Product ID used only by MS as a cross-check. The Product Key is the other number. Is the Product Key readable on the COA sticker? Copy it down and put it away for safe keeping now.