Clean Install Guide (works for 32-bit or 64-bit)

Arki · 01-23-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpgofast

Yes, no problem taking an image from an 80 GB drive and installing it on a larger or smaller drive. There are NO activation issues. If the OS was activated before the image was made, it will be activated on the new drive after copying. Acronis works REALLY well. On every machine I own, I have a "clean" activated image. Once I start to see a performance degradation, I will reload my clean image and start new. I must say with Vista, this "cleanliness" seems to last longer. Also with Vista, it is very easy to move your personal data folders to another drive, so I partitioned my new drive and all my data is on the new partition. When I image my clean install back, all my data is still on the second partition and the Vista installation knows where my personal forlders are. I've been using Vista on a desktop since is was Beta 1,but when Vista first was released comercially, I tried it on my T60p. Due to driver issues, the laptop was really not very functional and I quickly reverted back to XP. In the past year, Vista has matured to the point that I feel it has definite advantages over XP and this machine will never see XP again.

Acronis is such a great product that I actually keep buying the newest version available as soon as it is released (since version 8). I can't say that about any other software I Use.

Also, I really like the Z61t. Great compromise in size and functionality. GP

So does that mean that if you have one copy of Vista or XP, you can take an image of it and install that image on as many computers as you like without any consequence? Besides the moral thought of piracy I mean.

Fignuts · 01-23-2008, 02:26 PM

Good lord, almost 100,000 views on this thread...one hopes that maybe Lenovo will get the point and offer a clean install option, eh?

stallen · 01-23-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fignuts

Good lord, almost 100,000 views on this thread...one hopes that maybe Lenovo will get the point and offer a clean install option, eh?

There is the base administrator option, but nothing is like a real clean install IMO. Most "power-users" would agree that it is the only way to go.

JBlue · 01-23-2008, 02:55 PM

I agree. This thread has been soo helpful. Initially I started off w/Vista 32bit clean install. After playing around and reading this forum..I completed a Vista 64 bit clean install. I am very very happy with it so far. NO BSODs. Things seems faster on 64 bit and knowing Vista uses my full 4 gigs of RAM plus my Turbo-Memory is a great feeling.

stallen · 01-23-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBlue

I agree. This thread has been soo helpful. Initially I started off w/Vista 32bit clean install. After playing around and reading this forum..I completed a Vista 64 bit clean install. I am very very happy with it so far. NO BSODs. Things seems faster on 64 bit and knowing Vista uses my full 4 gigs of RAM plus my Turbo-Memory is a great feeling.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I agree that 64-bit should be considered by anyone who needs to take advantage of 4GB of RAM. Also, the 64-bit platform is arguably more stable than 32-bit. And, my own personal experience has been that the driver support is there. I recently got an eSATA ExpressCard adpater. No problems with 64-bit drivers. I also just got a KPC680 ExpressCard for wireless broadband. No problems with 64-bit support from Verizon. I just don't think the excuse of "there isn't driver support for 64-bit" any longer applies (99% of the time anyway). Chances are that if your software or hardware works for Vista 32-bit, it will most likely work for 64-bit. I think when compatiblity becomes an issue, it is often a compatibility that needs to be worked out with Vista and not necessarily anything to do with 32/64 -bit.

Lao · 01-23-2008, 04:00 PM

Hi all!

Currently I am downloading the .wim files of a 64 bit Vista. I am planning to do exactly what you are talking above. I used Stallen and Orev's Clean Install Guide on my Lenovo R61i a couple of weeks ago. Only I used a 32 bit version that came on my HDD.

Of course, after I'm done with the 64 bit, I will post my feedback. Catch you later.

Arki · 01-23-2008, 04:48 PM

Congratulations, stallen, on your 1000+ posts!

Fantastic guide and a great attribute to the Lenovo section of NBR.

gpgofast · 01-23-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stallen

I personally haven't had any experience with Acronis. I'm guessing that it is superior to the built-in back-up and restore utility that is available only on Vista Buisiness and Ultimate editions (called "Complete PC Back-up and Recovery"). So far everything that you've mentioned can be done with "Complete PC..."

Have you personally had any experience with Complete PC? I'd like to hear why it might be a superior utility (or not).

This is my first exporsure to Vista Business, so I haven't had a chance to try it.

alen · 01-24-2008, 02:01 AM

Hello, I've just performed this install on my t60p vista business to go from 32bit to 64bit. Everything seemed to go fine (my total recovery backups were about 3 dvds), did the ABR activation backup as outlined in the guide.
However, when time came to activate Windows by using the ABR activation restore, I would get the following window:

and Windows would not be installed. I installed all the drivers, etc, but I have been unsuccessful in figuring out the way around this. Can I play around with the .txt files that the activation_backup tool created?

stallen · 01-24-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alen

Hello, I've just performed this install on my t60p vista business to go from 32bit to 64bit. Everything seemed to go fine (my total recovery backups were about 3 dvds), did the ABR activation backup as outlined in the guide.
However, when time came to activate Windows by using the ABR activation restore, I would get the following window:

and Windows would not be installed. I installed all the drivers, etc, but I have been unsuccessful in figuring out the way around this. Can I play around with the .txt files that the activation_backup tool created?

I need a little clarification. You said "windows would not be installed"??? It appears to be installed. When you go to the control panel are you activated? (as shown in the last screenshot of Step 3 in the guide.