Install Windows 7 Recovery Media in Virtual Machine

I run Linux as my primary operating system and usually run Windows in a virtual machine for those times I need to test websites in Windows etc. After receiving my ThinkPad T410s, I was disappointed to find out that Lenovo doesn't provide a normal Windows recovery disc (like Dell and other companies). I had to create the recovery media for Windows 7 Pro 64bit from within Windows itself (basturds ).

I tried installing the recovery media inside a virtual machine that I set up in Virtualbox with Kubuntu. I wasn't surprised that it didn't work. Are there any tricks to install Windows 7 Lenovo recovery media in a virtual machine? I have no intention to run Windows as my primary OS or waste space on my 80gb SSD with a dual boot.

 

Suggestion: download the ISO for the edition of Win 7 (probably Pro?) that came with your machine and just use the product key printed on the label in the battery bay. The pre-loaded Windows is great if you're running it on the metal because it contains the drivers and Lenovo utilities; but once you're running inside a VM, those really don't apply and you're better off with a "clean" generic Win 7 installation anyway.

 

Recovery Discs are not install discs. They contain images that also include all the bloatware, and also are locked to installing only directly on the hardware. You need to download an ISO image of Windows and use the key on the bottom of the laptop to install it clean into a VM.

 

Hmmm I think that's pretty much what I said? LOL.

 

Thanks, that worked

Downloaded from here and installed using the key:

http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

I didn't try activating yet, but that shouldn't be a problem. Waiting until the final release of Kubuntu before wiping the drive and recovery partition to do the actual install.

In the past I always installed a fresh copy of Windows instead of the recovery media because of the bloat factor. I've been using a developer copy of Windows XP in Virtualbox for so long now that I haven't had to deal with this kind of stuff in years.

Windows 7 64bit actually runs quite well in Virtualbox, much better than my last attempt to get Vista 64bit running properly.

 

I wanted to make the point that Recovery Discs are not the same as a clean install disc, and also that they are tied to the hardware. You didn't say either of those things.

 

Well, not in so many words... Anyway sorry I'm not trying to be difficult about it--I just thought it was a little amusing. Please, forget I said anything.

 

Great news!