The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Help with Clean Windows 7 Install

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by larryf, May 14, 2011.

  1. larryf

    larryf Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    51
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I received my X220 and ran through the initial setup in Windows 7 Pro and then created the recovery disks (1 Boot CD and 3 data DVDs). I also ran the ABR Backup to backup the license data. Pulled the factory hard drive out and put in a new blank SSD.

    Rebooted using a USB DVD drive and started the restore. Everything went fine until it asked for DVD #3. After inserting it, I got a message "this is not the correct DVD, insert the correct DVD". No way around this message and it never would continue.

    So....I did a fresh install from a Windows 7 ISO. However, when I got to the screen to enter the Window key, I did so and it came back and said "Product not a valid SKU", installation continued and I had a Windows 7 Home Premium edition installed.

    I then ran ABR Restore and it "said" the license key had been transferred and installed. However, when I look under My Computer, it still shows 30 days left and not activated.

    Any ideas what I can do to get my Windows activated?

    Thanks
     
    larryf, May 14, 2011
    #1
  2. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    1,531
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If you're installing Home Premium you won't be able to use the Pro key. Make sure you have the proper version, or a fixed ISO that gives you a chooser to install any version.

    legal downloads

    You shouldn't need to worry about any tools to get or transfer license information. Just use the key on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop. Worst case, they'll make you call the number to explain that you're just doing a fresh install, but it very rarely comes to that, and I've never ever had anyone question my explanation (I did it a lot with XP). Also, make sure you have that key saved in a safe place, like a Dropbox sync. They wear off really easily.
     
    Ethyriel, May 14, 2011
    #2
  3. indesertum

    indesertum Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    i also need help

    i downloaded a x64 pro iso from msdn (legal key included). downloaded the windows 7 usb tool and turned a 4gb usb drive into a bootable windows usb.

    i turn off the computer. turn it on, press F12 at the screen, change priority to usb in the bios, exit and even if i restart the computer again it just refuses to boot from the usb

    any tips? im sure im making a noob mistake somewhere, but i dunno what
     
    indesertum, May 14, 2011
    #3
  4. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    1,531
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    If I had to guess, it would be that the partition isn't active. But that's pretty much random conjecture.

    Try following these directions instead.
     
    Ethyriel, May 14, 2011
    #4