Official Lenovo Thinkpad Clean Install Guide

CLEAN WINDOWS INSTALL GUIDE FOR THINKPADS
Works for all ThinkPad models + Windows XP/Vista 32-bit/64-bit


First and foremost, please make recovery disks by pressing the blue ThinkVantage button and locating the Rescue and Recovery program. Within, select the options to burn your Recovery Disks. DO NOT LOSE THEM- you can only make one copy!! These disks will restore your laptop to full factory settings.

You can keep the recovery partition on your hard drive (approx. 6GB) or you can proceed to delete it. Do not delete the recovery partition if you want to use Lenovo's software method!


Deleting the 6GB Recovery Partition:


1. Press WINDOWS + R to open Run window
2. Type "diskpart" and press ENTER
3. Type "list disk" in command prompt and press ENTER
4. Select the main disk (usually the largest one). For example, if your main disk is disk 0, type "select disk 0"
5. Once the disk is selected, type "list partition" and press ENTER
6. Recovery paritition will be around 4000MB to about 7000MB, usually labeled "partition 1"
7. Type "select partition 1" and press ENTER
8. Type "delete partition override" and press ENTER


There are two ways towards a clean install.

Option A:
You can use Lenovo's software method, which benefits those who are satisfied with the version of Windows they bought with their ThinkPad or consider themselves computer illiterate. In other words, if you are an idiot and you need idiot-proof instructions, do it this way.

Options B, C, and D:
You can also do a clean install from a Windows setup disc. This way is more conventional and allows people to install a different version of Windows that came with their computer. Option B is for people wanting to install the Windows Vista license that came with the ThinkPad. Option C is for people wanting to install their own copy of Windows Vista. Option D is for people who want to install Windows XP.
NOTE: Options B, C, and D will wipe out all Lenovo-flavored decorations, including wallpapers and Sidebar gadgets. Wallpapers can be downloaded here and include factory-installed Lenovo wallpapers in widescreen or standard aspect flavors. Included are the ThinkAmericas and ThinkAsia maps, Swoosh, and ThinkDots wallpapers.


Option A: Using Lenovo Recovery Software


1. Download and install ThinkVantage Base Software Administrator.
2. Run Base Software Administrator and start a new manifest. Select the software you want included with your install and save your install manifest.
3. Use the "deploy" function within Base Software Administrator to apply settings to your recovery partition.
4. Reboot your computer and press the ThinkVantage blue button.
5. After Rescue & Recovery pre-OS environment loads, start a recovery process and you'll be able to select certain options or otherwise do your customized recovery. Wait for the custom reinstall to finish.


Option B: Installing the copy of Windows Vista that came with your computer


IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION: Microsoft Windows Vista OEM Activation instructions are included. These instructions are legal to follow as long as you are using your own Windows Vista OEM license key and are activating the copy of Windows Vista only on the computer the software was purchased with.

1. Download and run this keyfinder and write down your OEM license key. Don't be lazy and use the one on the license sticker under your laptop - it's not the right one.
2. Download and extract the Lenovo OEM license file. Save it to an external storage device.
3. Download ThinkVantage System Update and save it to an external storage device.
4. Insert Windows disk and reboot.
5. On reboot, press F12 until temporary boot menu appears.
6. Select CD-ROM drive.
7. Windows setup will load. Proceed through install menus until setup is finished. When asked to enter product key, use the one you found in Step 1.
8. When Windows is installed and running, grab your external storage device and copy the Lenovo OEM license file from your storage device to the C: folder.
9. Open Command Prompt with administrator priviledges by typing "cmd" in the Vista search bar, right clicking "cmd.exe" and selecting "Run as administrator."
10. Type in Command Prompt two things:

Code:

slmgr –ilc c:/lenovo.oemcert.100036.xrm-ms

which installs the key. Wait for a dialog box to pop up indicating license file installation success and then type

Code:

slmgr –ato

into the prompt which activates Vista.
11. Install and run ThinkVantage System Update to install drivers. Not all the ThinkVantage software offered in the System Update program is necessary. To find out what each one does and which ones you want, check out the ThinkVantage Software Guide.
12. If you have the fingerprint reader, download and install fingerprint reader software.
13. If you have the webcam, download and install webcam drivers. These work for both Vista and XP.


Option C: Installing your own copy of Windows Vista


1. Download ThinkVantage System Update and save it to an external storage device.
2. Insert Windows disk and reboot.
3. On reboot, press F12 until temporary boot menu appears.
4. Select CD-ROM drive.
5. Windows setup will load. Proceed through install menus until setup is finished.
6. Install ThinkVantage System Update.
7. Run ThinkVantage System Update to install drivers. Not all the ThinkVantage software offered in the System Update program is necessary. To find out what each one does and which ones you want, check out the ThinkVantage Software Guide.
8. If you have the fingerprint reader, download and install fingerprint reader software.
9. If you have the webcam, download and install webcam drivers. These work for both Vista and XP.


Option D: Installing any copy of Windows XP


1. Download ThinkVantage System Update and save it to an external storage device.
2. Insert Windows disk and reboot.
3. Press F1 when restarting to enter the BIOS.
4. Change the SATA option from AHCI to Compatible. Also, change boot order so that CD-ROM is loaded first and then exit BIOS. Don't forget to change these settings back when the clean install is over!
5. Windows setup will load. Proceed through install menus until setup is finished.
6. Install ThinkVantage System Update.
7. Run ThinkVantage System Update to install drivers. Not all the ThinkVantage software offered in the System Update program is necessary. To find out what each one does and which ones you want, check out the ThinkVantage Software Guide.
8. If you have the fingerprint reader, download and install fingerprint reader software.
9. If you have the webcam, download and install webcam drivers.


For additional ThinkVantage programs, click here and select "ThinkVantage Technologies" in the first drop-down box.

For the original Lenovo factory-installed wallpapers, download and extract the files from here.

For additional drivers, click here.

 

Good work johnny, but it seems the links aren't correct.

 

Sure they are. I click them and they load just fine........

 

Johnny
what about adding this one to your Lenovo Thinkpad FAQ thread?

 

I did, as a link. LOL already people aren't reading the FAQ.

 

I think you should add this link so people can buy a Vista disc since I don't think they are shipping with one.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/addlicense/howto.mspx

Just to bad you can't link directly since it takes you to your basket after you hit "online"

 

Johnny
you made it easy for everyone , Thank you

 

Well done Johnny.

 

Sorry bout that. I don't know why they didn't work for me at first. Maybe it was the lenovo site. But once again, superb job.

 

johnny, are you using Vista 32-bit on your T61?