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    Clean install Vista on T61... please help

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008.

  1. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just bought a T61, 8 months old but in perfect condition, and want to do a clean install of Vista... but am having unexpected troubles. The 4 recovery CDs Lenovo included are useless, of course. I have called Lenovo support twice and both times they told me that they cannot send me a genuine Vista CD, that everything they have comes with their Thinkvantage utilities. I don't know what to tell them, they just repeatedly tell me to use Add/Remove.

    I've done my research. First, I tried to use this http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=240320, but they're not working anymore, which sucks because I have a legit key.

    I then tried with this http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=195197, but I don't have disks and my system came preloaded with Vista.

    This is my first time to use Vista at all, but I've done several clean installs of XP in the past with no problems. Is there something I can tell these fools to make them send me an OEM copy of Vista? I never had problems like this with Dell. I just want to get rid of all the crapware on my new notebook :/
     
    eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008
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  2. raysmd

    raysmd Notebook Geek

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    try the recovery cds first and then check to see if that loads the vista install folder that you can then use for a fresh install later on.
     
    raysmd, Aug 10, 2008
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  3. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    Where can I find that folder? I doubt it'll work, but I'll try anything.
     
    eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008
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  4. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    Also, would it be sufficient to just use the hidden partition and tell it not to install any thinkvantage stuff?
     
    eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008
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  5. niemi

    niemi Notebook Enthusiast

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    No, it still installs a lot of useless shiath and you'll have about 65 processes running against 50 or less than 50 on a fresh install.
     
    niemi, Aug 10, 2008
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  6. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    Believe me, I really want to clean install, but I'm getting no help here or at Thinkpad forums. I do not have an Anytime Upgrade DVD. I do not have an OEM copy of Windows. It would not be illegal for me to download the Anytime Upgrade and then do the clean install guide in this forum, so should I do that?
     
    eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008
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  7. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    Check out these 2 awesome and popular guides on this forum. You need to get your hands on a copy of Vista(OEM, Anytime Upgrade, Retail, etc) to do a clean install of Vista with only the programs you want. There is a way to do a clean install apparently with the Thinkvantage Utility "Base Software Administrator" but I am not sure about how to do it.

    Stallen's Guide
    Orev's Guide

    BTW - I am going to do a clean install as well and I can tell you what I am doing. I also bought a T61 with the OEM installed version of Vista. I bought a anytime upgrade disc on ebay and will use that to do my clean install using the Windows key I paid for with my laptop(100% legal). The Disc cost like $10. I would suggest you read the 2 guides above throughly and try to get your hands on a legal copy of Vista somewhere.
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 10, 2008
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  8. eqmassa

    eqmassa Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks, and thanks to everyone else too for the help. Looks like I'll be buying an upgrade disc on ebay too! **** bloatware...
     
    eqmassa, Aug 10, 2008
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  9. raysmd

    raysmd Notebook Geek

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    why don't you guys just download it from some nice websites?
     
    raysmd, Aug 11, 2008
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  10. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    Apparently there is only one site that is legal to download from, since they have distribution rights. That site has been broken for like 2 months now. The other sites on the web are not legal, from what I have read. MS licensing model is crazy and wicked complex :(
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 11, 2008
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