My laptop didnt come with a windows disk...

[Biscuit]

Hi all,

My Lenovo 121e didn't come with a windows disk and i would like to put my SSD in there. I have done this before and i put one of my ultimate licenses on it however i have used that on something else now so i would like to keep the license that came with the laptop. The problem is that the damn thing didn't come with a windows disk so im not really sure what the best method of swapping the licence over is.

I dont really want to clone the hard disk as (as i understand it) windows will do optimisation on the install when you do it on an SSD.

Anyone have any ideas?

[KeyboardDemon]

You can get software that will will just port the HDD installation across, I think Acronis have something like this but I forget the name of the package.

As far as I'm aware you hook up the SSD using an external enclosure, run the software and it does the rest. Once done you simply swap out the drives and boot your now faster laptop with longer battery life.

[g8ina]

If its Windows 7, you can legally download a DVD image off M$ website...

Ignore this websites title...

http://www.windows7hacker.com/index....icial-website/

[Biscuit]

but will that work with the lenovo product key? I thought sometimes some product keys were fixed to certain OEM windows?

[g8ina]

ahhh not sure then, as these are retail.

[Rob_B]

They usually have a restore program to create the discs no?

[KeyboardDemon]

They usually have a restore program to create the discs no?

The restore program returns the drive to the state it was in when it originally left the factory, they work by reading the data from a hidden partition on the drive itself, naturally removing the drive would also remove the hidden partition.

Take a look at Acronis Migrate Easy 7.0 to see if this will cover your requirements.

[DannyM]

So far as I am aware, the keys are not specific to each device in Windows 7.

The key is just used to identify which version of Windows to install, such as Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate etc...

Windows then creates a license file tailored around the machines hardware.

[Mama Sumae]

As long as you download and install the correct version of windows for your key it should be fine, obviously the installation wont be pre-activated so you will have to ring MS when you're done.

You can have a look at Lenovo's Support forum (if such thing exists) and you probably find other users doing just this, MSI for example even provided me with the links g8ina posted when I had a similar issue.

[Rob_B]

The restore program returns the drive to the state it was in when it originally left the factory, they work by reading the data from a hidden partition on the drive itself, naturally removing the drive would also remove the hidden partition.


Take a look at Acronis Migrate Easy 7.0 to see if this will cover your requirements.

That's one thing it does, I've had a course of lapped where the restore program has an option to burn restore discs as well.

[jim]

So far as I am aware, the keys are not specific to each device in Windows 7.

The key is just used to identify which version of Windows to install, such as Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate etc...

Windows then creates a license file tailored around the machines hardware.

Same here. I think in Vista you had to have exactly the right disc to fit your key, but not the case in 7.

[Biscuit]

Well i can give it a go using the official ISO, whats the worst that can happen

Thanks guys il let you know how i get on.

[Pob255]

There are different license versions for windows7, I've already come across key and version incompatibilities on OEM systems.

There's a few brands now that don't supply discs, but one of the first things you need to do is burn an image of the hard drive to dvd as part of the initial setup process when you first load up windows on the laptop (current new toshiba's do this)
Windows7 has it's own backup system built in and some companies keep an image of a hidden partition on the hard drive (dell & acer do this) but that's not use if the hard drive fails, so it's always best to make a dvd image.

Are you going to use an existing SSD or buy one for this purpose? if you plan to buy one then crucial do a transfer kit version of the m4, it comes with a sata to usb adaptor and imageing software cd and kingston take it a step more with their upgrade kit version that includes a 2.5" external drive enclosure, so you can turn the old hard drive into an external one.

[Biscuit]

I already had a samsung 830 which came with some norton software but it had limitations to do with the type of boot record used so it was pointless really.

In the end the key which was on the bottom of the laptop worked fine with the downloaded iso. I did have to activate it on the phone which was a bit of a ballache but not too bad.

I have had pretty bad luck though. Just before i went to switch to the SSD and install windows... the hard drive broke i though no worries il put my ssd in it it then send it back once i get a bit of time where i dont think il need it but no, i dropped it in the airport today so if i send it back it will look like i dropped it and thats how it broke d'oh!

[Behemoth]

I used my retail Windows 7 Home premium install DVD with the code on my laptop, when it refused to activate online I just called MS up and it worked that way

[lohsmith]

I recently purchased a HP Probook 4330s. I was amazed to discover that it neither had discs with it, or the option to burn restore discs.
I called up HP (using a saynoto0870.com number), told them I was having a wireless card issue and that I was v.disappointed to discover that I could only do a factory reinstall using the recovery partition....
They sent me a HP Windows Professional 64 bit OEM disc, along with the drivers and software on a second CD. It now means I can install a fresh copy of Windows 7 Pro on my SSD without being lumbered with all the rubbish that OEM's stick on their laptops.
Long and the short of it, call up Lenovo. They'll probably send free discs if you employ the right bargaining tactic