Fresh Install

I bought a refurbished Lenovo S20 ThinkStation about a year ago, which had Windows 7 Pro installed and came with DVD with its 25 Letter/Number key code.


I was going to reinstall the operating system using the disc supplied, but, I cannot find it.


I thought I would be able to down load a copy of the operating system from the Microsoft web site however this is not possible, even with a genuine key code.


As my Mrs is just about managing to use Windows 7, the pop up offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 is not a practical alternative.


So in an effort to sort things out I am going to install a new genuine Windows 7 Pro operating system with its own key code onto a new SSD in my ThinkPad X200t lap top and then transfer the SSD into my ThinkStation which has a 5GB HDD.


Can anyone see anything wrong with my suggested actions.


Thanks in advance.


Tim

When you purchase a machine, with pre-installed Windows it will normally come with a OEM version of the key. This key can only be used on the hardware supplied. If you have a genuine Windows OS and valid key you can install it on the machine.

Have a look at the http://www.linuxliveusb.com/ you will be able to create a bootable USB which will allow you to install the OS.

'Belarc Advisor' (freeby). This will produce a detailed report for your system;
Including installed software Licences and keys.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

It works.
Someone using the software - video -

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if you build out windows 7 onto a SDD from one laptop, then transfer the SDD into another laptop (in your case from a ThinkPad X200t to a Lenovo S20 ) for certain the hardware/drivers you build it out on the X200T will be different! therefore you may have issues once you install the SDD into the S20. Windows should be able to handle this, but it could also start to blue screen the OS on boot up!

why dont you download the Windows 10 boot up iso (Need to create a USB, DVD or ISO?)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

create the windows 10 ISO off a usb device (min 16gb) and install windows 10 (its free) on your S20 with the new SDD drive?

Well, I am not a Win of anytype fanboy, but just very recently fresh installed Win7 home premium onto my ancient NetBook - Advent 4211-B - 2GB ram, 3 y/old vertex 120 GB SSD.
After the usual palaver obtaining updates I finally got the thing totally loaded with all updates to date (I did a post on my findings during the marathon re: Win7 updates).
Anyway, during last Sunday I threw caution to the wind (given the hardware involved), allowed the Win10 update on-line.
The whole thing worked very well - the Netbook is running good, probably better than ever !!

I begin to wonder about my 'success' in upgrading an old Dell Win7 Pro to Win10 Pro, The Netbook and my hybrid desktop from Win7 through Win8 Pro , 8.1Pro and Win 10 Pro.
Cannot just be the power of the mc involved, cannot be my skills other than appropriate reading and hitting the correct key sequence, nor clean installs of Win10.

I am thinking, properly installed bloat free base O/S, Quick, and thus far, reliable Internet - 48Mb/s download.
Perhaps aided by the use of Classic Start Menu from classicshell.org - thus having Win7 style start button / menu, with the pinned Win10 start menu. (The wife will be happy with this !!).
Windows key + x gets a useful menu in all Win10s.

So all the crud listed is running as ok as ever on quite a range of machines both old and relatively new - home made and high street purchased.

Win10 or the process of obtaining it, is not as bad as some would have us believe.

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i have ran windows 7/8 and now 10. both far for performance and ease windows 10 wins hands down IMHO. Free upgrade runs out tomorrow so you need to upgrade be quick!

Win7 (Pro etc)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/10749/windows-product-key
When that is digested.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7

If needing a tool, and can satisfy tool requirements :-
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/download-windows-office-iso-disc-images
Leads to :-
https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

The 'tool' works ok.
I just downloaded and used it.
The Win7 Pro iso - will fit dvd - downloaded from MS in 9.6 mins 3.09 GB.
SHA-1 hash value was correct as per technet.microsoft.com

A satisfactory experience. - "Cannot be downloaded from MS." is tosh at this time !

The capability MAY disappear early September'ish - If you need a pristine .ISO get it now, before many hoops are place in your path.
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