[align=center]Vista Clean Install Guide[/align]
Clean Install Vista with "Auto-Activation" NO NEED TO CALL MICROSOFT FOR ACTIVATION and with out spending any money.
This is how you can do a clean install while avoiding
all thirdparty software and "bloatware". I even consider the Thinkvantage utilities to be thirdparty. Really any application/utility that isn't part of the OS (Windows XP or Vista) is considered "thirdparty". Considering there have been quite a few problems with the new
T61's it is reasonable to at least suspect that there could be an issue with one or more of the Thinkvantage utilities on this new T61 (Santa Rosa) platform. Many people have been complaining about system freezes/lock-ups and BSODs (Blue Screen of Death). These problems are often resolved with a clean install.
This guide will show you how to do a clean install on your current hard drive or a newly installed hard drive using either the 32-bit Vista or 64-bit "Anytime Upgrade" DVD or other Vista installation disk. Unfortunately, the Anytime Upgrade Disk is no longer available from Microsoft. Please read the
FAQ for more information about what disks you can use.
NOTE: You can choose to have 32-bit Vista or 64-bit Vista regardless of what version you currently have installed!!!!
At first glance this guide might appear complicated. It is not! It is just very detailed. It consists of four basic steps.
STEP 1: Back-up your data.
STEP 2: Download the drivers.
STEP 3: Install and activate Vista.
STEP 4: Install the drivers.
I could just leave it at that. Doesn't that look simple? If that is all you need then look no further. For most people, this would leave a lot of unanswered questions. Read on and the guide will expand on those four steps. As you follow along I think you will find that this guide will greatly reduce any unexpected surprises during the install process.
DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS GUIDE FOR MORE INFORMATION
STEP 1:
!!!BACK-UP ALL OF YOUR DATA!!!
Make Recovery Disks: Open the start menu and in the search box, type "Recovery Media" (without the quotes). Then click Recovery Media from the window. *Be warned, you can only make ONE copy of the recovery media. If you mess up, you'll have to reinstall from the partition again in order to be able to make another recovery disk.* Make sure you have 3 recordable dvd disks available (or 1 CD and 2 DVDs. The first disk can be a CD). It takes 2 to 3 blank disks total. Then just follow the instructions and you'll be all set.
Back-up this file... c:\swtools\drivers
...and place it on a USB drive or a separate disk.
Back-up the
Lenovo Wallpapers (optional). Found here: c:\windows\web\wallpaper
NOTE: You will not use any of the back-up disks or files from step 1 to do this clean install. They are only used if you ever want to restore any optional files or revert back to the original factory state.
!!!DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL ALL OF YOUR DATA IS BACKED-UP!!!
REMOVE THE "HIDDEN PARTITION" (OPTIONAL): Please read the frequently asked questions at the bottom of the guide to learn how to remove the hidden partition. It is best to remove the hidden partition now to avoid a lot of hassle trying to remove it after the clean install.
STEP 2:
NOTE: This step involves DOWNLOADING drivers. When you get to step 4 you will come back to this step to INSTALL the drivers in the order listed below.
Download all drivers (listed below) to a USB drive. MAKE SURE YOU DOWNLOAD THE CORRECT VISTA 32-BIT OR 64-BIT DRIVERS FOR YOUR MODEL.
Download the Chipset/INF, Turbo Memory, and Matrix Strorage Drivers direct from intel.com to get the latest.
(NOTE: These three drivers are the same for every version of Vista including 32-bit or 64-bit.)
•
CLICK HERE Intel Chipset Driver/INF Update Utility for ALL 900 Series chipsets this includes the
T60/61:
INSTALL FIRST!!!
•
CLICK HERE Turbo Memory Driver (NOTE: Only install this driver on systems
with Turbo Memory. This driver will also install the Matrix Storage Manger Driver.)
•
CLICK HERE Matrix Storage Manager Driver (NOTE: Only install this driver on systems
without Turbo Memory. Do not download/install this driver if you have installed the Turbo Memory driver.)
Download all other drivers listed below direct from:
Lenovo Downloads & Drivers or
Driver Matrix Page
(NOTE: Most of these Drivers are available in EITHER 32-bit or 64-bit. Make sure to download the correct driver.)
•ACPI Power
"Management Driver" NOTE: The ACPI Power
"Management Driver" and the Power "Manager" are two different things. The "Driver" is all that is necessary. The Power "Manager" is a ThinkVantage utility and is not necessary. (NOTE: If ThinkVantage Power Manager is installed it can only be removed properly in "safe mode". As for the ACPI Power
"Management Driver", uninstallation should never be attempted.)
• Video Driver- Make sure to select the correct driver for integrated graphics (Intel 965/ Intel GMA X3100) or nVidia graphics (nVidia 140M or 570M) depending on what your laptop has for graphics.
•Audio Driver
•UltrNav DRIVER
•UltraNav UTILITY
•Wifi Driver
•Hotkey Driver
•System Interface
•Integrated Card Reader (for models with integrated card reader)
•Intel PRO/1000 LAN adapter
•Modem Adapter
•Download all registry patches found at the bottom of the
Driver Matrix Page that apply to Vista.
Download these if your system has these options:
(NOTE: These three drivers are the same for every version of Vista including 32-bit or 64-bit.)
•
CLICK HERE Wireless USB Software
•
CLICK HERE Bluetooth Driver
Bluetooth Driver Install Tips: Before installing the Driver, press Fn and F5 at the same time. You should see an on-screen display that allows you to turn "on" Bluetooth. Now install the driver. If Fn + F5 does not work to turn on bluetooth then install ThinkVantage Access Connections. After Access Connections has been installed you should be able to turn "on" Bluetooth and install the Bluetooth driver. After the bluetooth driver is installed, you can uninstall ThinkVantage Access Connections from the control panel.
•
CLICK HERE Finger Print Reader (This is the SOFTWARE/UTILITY and old driver.)
•
CLICK HERE Finger Print Reader (This is the latest DRIVER direct from UPEK. It is compatible with Vista SP1. It must be installed over the old Lenovo driver before Windows Update will allow SP1 to be installed.)
STEP 3:
1.Download Orev's Activation Backup and Restore (ABR) program. CLICK HERE:
Orev's ABR Utility
(Read the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom to learn about Orev's ABR Utility.)
2.Double Click the ABR file.
THEN copy the ABR folder to your
USB flash drive or external drive.
DO NOT COPY THE ABR FOLDER TO A CD OR DVD. IT WILL NOT WORK!!!
3.Double Click "activation_backup.exe". If all goes OK you will see two new files in the ABR folder.
•backup-cert.xrm-ms (This is the backed-up activation certification file)
• backup-key.txt: (This is the backed-up product key. Double click the .txt file to open. Make sure you have a key code of five sets of random numbers and letters. Write down the key code just in case it is needed for future use. Close the file. DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THIS FILE.)
!!!DO NOT PROCEED UNTIL YOU HAVE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THESE TWO FILES ARE IN THE ABR FOLDER ON A USB DRIVE!!!
4.Insert the Vista Anytime Upgrade DVD and shut down/turn off the computer.
(NOTE: If you are upgrading to a new hard drive, install the new hard drive now.)
5.Turn on the computer. Follow the prompt and "press any key" to boot to the install disk.
TIP: Just keep tapping the space bar about once a second after you push the power button until it boots to the DVD drive. If this doesn't work you need to power back down -> power up -> press F1 to enter the BIOS -> change the boot setting so the DVD drive is first -> then press F12 to save and exit.
6.Choose your language, Time/Currency, and country. Click Next.
7.Click on Install Now
8. The next screen is for your Vista key. DO NOT enter anything in this box. Be sure to UNCHECK the activate box. Click Next. The installation program won't believe you, so it will ask you again if you want to enter your key. Choose NO.
9. You will be asked which version of Vista you have purchased. Highlight the version that came with your computer. Check the box that says "I have selected the edition of Windows that I purchased". Click Next. If you do not pick the version you paid for, it won't work!
10.Accept Microsoft's license terms. Click Next.
11.Choose Custom (Advanced) Installation.
12. Your internal/primary hard drive is called "Disk 0" this is where you want to install Vista. Highlight Disk 0 and click "Drive options (advanced)"
•You will
most likely see Disk 0 Partition 1 and Disk 0 Partition 2. The larger partition is where Vista is installed. The smaller partition is the "hidden partition".
• To remove the hidden partition select the smaller partition and click "delete". This step can be skipped if you wish to keep the hidden partition. (I chose to remove it because it takes up space)
•Select the larger partition and click "Delete".
•Select "New" and select the largest size possible.
•Select "Format" then Click "Next".
(
NOTE: This is the most confusion part of the clean install process. Basically, if you do not want the hidden partition, you will delete ALL partitions and create one "New" partition of the largest size possible. Then "format" the new partition. If you want to keep the hidden partition, you will not delete the smaller partition.)
13.The installation program will now begin copying files
14.The installation program will reboot the computer. You can remove the DVD from the drive now.
15.Choose a username and password.
16.Choose a computer name and desktop background.
17.Choose an automatic updates option.
18.Choose a time zone, set date and time.
19. The gears of Vista will whirl for a few moments and Vista will start! Go to Control Panel>System and Maintenance>System. You will see that Vista is NOT activated. Close this window.
20.Insert your USB flash drive and navigate to activation_restore.exe. Double click the file to start.
21.A cmd window will open and you will see it doing it's thing. It should say "Successful". Close the cmd window.
22.Go to Control Panel>System and Maintenance>System again. Notice the difference?
STEP 4:
Install ALL drivers IN THE EXACT ORDER LISTED ABOVE. REBOOT after every driver installation even if it is not required. THE CHIPSET DRIVER MUST BE INSTALLED FIRST.
DRIVER INSTALLATION TIP: Many of the drivers (especially the drivers from Lenovo) do not actually install when you double click on them. Often times they are only extracted to the hard drive. It is then necessary to locate the extracted file on the hard drive and install it from there. Please read the "read me" file associated with each driver for installation instructions on each of the drivers.
~DO NOT INSTALL ANY THINKVANTAGE UTILITIES UNTIL YOU READ THE F.A.Q. REGARDING THINKVANTAGE BELOW~
Congratulations!!! Your clean install is finished!!! But let's run the Windows Experience Index before we quit.
Open Control Panel>System and Maintenance>System again. Click on Windows Experience Index half way down the window.
This will open the Windows Experience Index window. Click "Update My Score". Vista uses this score to determine if it will be able to handle the Aero interface.
BUG FIX!!! There have been reports of instability issues from having "Hybrid Hard Disk Power Savings Mode" enabled under the power management options. To disable Hybrid Hard Disk go into power management by clicking on the icon on the right side of the task bar. Click "More Power Options" then click "Change Plan Settings" under your selected power plan. Double click "Hard Disk", then Double Click "Windows Hybrid Hard Disk Power Savings Mode". Set both options to "DISABLED". Now click "APPLY" then click "OK".
There you have it! A fresh, clean Vista installation with NO extra crap. Guaranteed to make for a faster and more enjoyable computing experience!
If at any time you make a mistake you can use the recovery disk(s) or your manufacturers recovery method to restore your computer.
Good Luck and Enjoy!
