Factory Install vs Fresh Windows Install

My x220 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium on a glacially slow 5400 RPM hard drive. I also have a 7mm 7200 RPM Hitachi 320GB HD along with a copy of Windows 7 Pro. Of course I have no problem with using the 320GB HD and installing w7 Pro, but a lot of people around here have been saying how the factory install somehow gets much better battery life and runs better than a fresh install.

I don't see how a fresh install with all of the same drivers could be any different, there can't be anything magical in the factory install that would somehow give it better battery life right?

Should I just proceed with my fresh install or will I actually be losing something by not using the factory image?


Thanks

 

I actually experienced that with my Z61t. I purchased it through my workplace and it had none of the ThinkVantage software and the battery life was quite different ordering the recovery discs from IBM and using Lenovo's recovery DVDs.

IMO I would at least create recovery media first, and use it out. Disable some of the ThinkVantage software if you feel you don't need it. Generally business notebooks don't have that much bloatware. I can tell you the 2 Dell Latitudes I purchased had no bloatware and I actually kept the factory image.

 

Think of it this way: it's really not so bad beginning with the factory install and then simply removing things as you discover you do not need them. This is what I elected to do considering the stories about various tweaks and adjustments which were made to improve battery life and boot times for the factory image. I am quite happy with my current setup (which is still in progress as I have a lot of software), and it's wholly based on the factory image.

 

Well its not that I have a problem with using the factory image, its just that I want windows 7 pro and not the windows 7 home premium that comes with the laptop. I wonder if there is a way for me to get the windows 7 image from lenovo and use my existing W7 pro license.
Any suggestions?

 

I really don't know if there is a way to get W7 pro image instead of W7 home. But I do know you can request the dvds.

In my case, the SSD in my unit failed after 5 hours of use. I called Lenovo and they said they will send me a new one. They also asked me if I made a recovery media (on a usb stick for example). I did make one, but I told them that I am not sure if it is working for two reasons; the recovery image could not install on my failed SSD and I haven't had the chance to test it on another drive.

Then, they told me they will ship the replacement SSD along with some recovery dvds and I should first try the usb recovery stick. If it does not work, I then can use the dvds. Today I received 5 dvds that include W7 pro, applications, and drivers. Note that my system WAS configured with W7 pro.

Maybe they will help you if you told them that you have the key and just want the actual image. I am, however, not sure if that will work.

 

you can try the win7 anytime upgrade with your win7 pro key. i don't know if that will work coming from a lenovo win7 image though.

back to the original question, if you did a clean install with all the drivers installed from lenovo's site, it should be exacty the same as a factory image in terms of performance and battery life. the extra lenovo tweaks are included in the lenovo rapidboot technology driver.

 

I wouldn't think so. Make your recovery media, copy the C:\SWTOOLS folder and follow these instructions for a Windows 7 clean install:

Lenovo Support - Windows 7 Clean Installation - ThinkPad T420, T420s, T520, W520, X220 and X220 Tablet

Don

 

Sorry for the little hijack...

I did a clean install and installed the necessary drivers manually. However, I remember that the DVD drive was in "power off" mode and i could power it on/off any time before the clean install. Does anyone know what feature is that or which utility need to be installed?

 

Lenovo Power Manager allows you to configure whether the optical drive is on or off for battery / mains and each power profile.

John

 

I completely skipped the recovery media lol. Never used them before, never will.

 

after a week of tweaking and playing around, my fresh install is right up there w/ Lenovo for battery, boot and speed.
Problems being caused for slow boot was nothing. it's the same w/ rapid removed.
Airbag protection removal gave me speed, battery gain.

 

FYI, in case anyone was looking for the answer to the original question, you CAN do a Windows Anytime Upgrade from Home Premium to Professional using the Lenovo image. I just did it without any problems on a machine fresh from the factory.