Bought Lenovo laptop - what pre-installed software isn't required.

[Technique]

I know - "whatever you wont use".

Thing is, i don't know what some of this stuff does. Never heard of it. Doesn't mean it's useless though.

Just wondering what some of this stuff is & whether it's needed or helpful.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I also always do a fresh install, but like xorangekiller said, you'll want to leave the majority of the Lenovo utilities. They are actually well built and provide a lot of needed functions for the machine.

For instance, the Fingerprint software allows your FP reader to work and support both logging into Windows and powering on the computer from a single swipe at a full power off state. The power utility does stuff such as completely powers off your DVD-RW drive when not in use. There are a lot of useful functions done by these utilities. The only ones I don't have installed are AccessConnections, Auto Scroll Utility, and Lenovo Solution Center.

[Technique]

I can find the drivers for thing like sound & display etc

Couldn't find where to download the programs such as the ones you mention LogicalApex.

Then there's the problem i just mentioned - the .iso wont burn to DVD+R.

[Detection]

I can find the drivers for thing like sound & display etc

Couldn't find where to download the programs such as the ones you mention LogicalApex.

Then there's the problem i just mentioned - the .iso wont burn to DVD+R.

Have a look in C:\ for folders called 'setup' - I know HP drivers are all stored there

Also if you have a recovery partition they could be sitting on that

[+Warwagon MVC]

Java - seriously? What about when you open websites & it states "you must have Java installed to view this site"? How do you get around it?

The rule of thumb with java is unless you KNOW you require it, take it off. Java is a MAJOR infection vector. Judging from that photo you even have an out of date version of it, which is the WORST case scenario. The newest version is 7 version 10. So if you know you don't need java I would HIGHLY recommend you remove it.

[Technique]

Regards Java - i installed it direct from the Java website. Has it only recently been updated (& by recently i mean past few days)? As like i say, i downloaded it direct from the Java website within the past week or so, so i would assume the main website would have the most up to date version...??

Also, i've tried viewing websites in the past & get told i can't view them as i require Java, so i need it it seems.

I'd like to burn that .iso - anyone any idea why it wont burn to DVD?

[Dot Matrix]

KILL JAVA! KILL IT WITH FIRE!

[Joshie]

As has been suggested already, any Lenovo owner should keep a copy of Lenovo System Update (easily found from your favorite search engine) handy at all times. Similar to WU, it sorts by priority, so you can avoid pure 'utilities' if you wish. It's a great all-in-one that will keep your drivers up-to-date, fill in OEM-specific gaps WU doesn't, and will even keep you on top of the latest firmware images.

I'm on my third Lenovo, and what I do is practically rote. After putting the System Update (and wifi drivers, to be safe) on a flash drive:

1) Create a recovery image.

2) Wipe and clean install Windows.

3) Make sure my network works--install drivers if necessary

4) Install and run LSU.

Windows Update might be in there somewhere, too. It polls for updates as soon as a connection is detected. I wouldn't recommend running both update tools at the same time, so it's probably best to go through the WU process before the LSU one.

It's a shame you don't seem interested in Windows 8, since its ability to wipe clean without the need to format or re-configure anything is so dramatically far ahead of anything Windows 7 can possibly be made capable of. Alas, too many people have convinced themselves that the desktop was 'abandoned' in Windows 8, and therefore has no added functionality over Windows 7. Their loss, I guess.

[WAQT]

My advice as many before me have given, wipe and install a fresh OS, that's what I always do.

But the problem is - How do i do a clean install when they didn't provide a Win7 disc (& i'm not interested in Windows 8 before anyone mentions it).

You can Google to find original digital river download links for Windows 7, you can then use the Windows 7 boot-able USB maker to make a boot-able USB and install Windows again.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

It's a shame you don't seem interested in Windows 8, since its ability to wipe clean without the need to format or re-configure anything is so dramatically far ahead of anything Windows 7 can possibly be made capable of. Alas, too many people have convinced themselves that the desktop was 'abandoned' in Windows 8, and therefore has no added functionality over Windows 7. Their loss, I guess.

Windows 8 has its advantages, but not enough to overcome my gripes with it. That is for another thread though ;)

I wiped Windows 8 from my T530 and put Windows 7 on it pretty quickly. But, to each his own. This is why we have choice :)

[Technique]

Should i make a separate thread regarding burning the .iso to DVD then? I've asked a few times but nobody seems to know.

KILL JAVA! KILL IT WITH FIRE!

Without coming out with such a statement - what do you do when you go on websites that require Java?

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Should i make a separate thread regarding burning the .iso to DVD then? I've asked a few times but nobody seems to know.

Depends on what the error is. You can use ImgBurn to burn it like I do for any of my optical discs, but without the specific error no idea why it won't do it. As Windows built in burner can definitely do .ISO burns.

[WAQT]

For those of you saying do a clean install -

would any of you install ANY of the Lenovo software shown in post #1, or would you ONLY install the drivers for the hardware & leave it at that?

I will download and install the "On Screen Display". It helps show graphics when volume is turned up/down, track pad enabled/disabled, etc. I like that it shows whats been done, and its not that heavy on system resources.

I downloaded the .iso linked

Just tried burning it to DVD & got the attached error message. Any idea why?

Use this offical MS software to make a boot-able USB/CD Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool

[Technique]

Depends on what the error is. You can use ImgBurn to burn it like I do for any of my optical discs, but without the specific error no idea why it won't do it. As Windows built in burner can definitely do .ISO burns.

I'm confused - i posted a screenshot of the error, but you're asking what the error is..??

WawasTariq - thanks.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I'm confused - i posted a screenshot of the error, but you're asking what the error is..??

WawasTariq - thanks.

Yea I didn't notice the screenshot, but I'm at work so I'm also half reading the thread. But use ImgBurn imho as that MS error means little to most of us.

[Technique]

Hang on a second.....

The last time i did something like this was in the days of WinXP when OEM & retail were a factor, but somewhere in this thread it says that no longer happens.

I have a Win7 Pro 32bit & 64bit DVD i used to install Win7 on my PC - key is locked to my PC.

Could i just use this very DVD to do a clean install?? And use the key on the laptop with the DVD? Instead of struggling with this .iso not burning?

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Hang on a second.....

The last time i did something like this was in the days of WinXP when OEM & retail were a factor, but somewhere in this thread it says that no longer happens.

I have a Win7 Pro 32bit & 64bit DVD i used to install Win7 on my PC - key is locked to my PC.

Could i just use this very DVD to do a clean install?? And use the key on the laptop with the DVD? Instead of struggling with this .iso not burning?

The "retail" version will accept the OEM key (I cant remember the story on activating it as there was that whole OEM activation hack hoopla around the launch of Windows 7) just fine...

That being said, you want to be sure you have the recovery image burned in case it all falls apart you have a stable rock to stand on. So don't do anything drastic without that media created.

[Technique]

Yeah i've just created the recovery CD & DVDs & tested them out - they worked - they put the laptop back to its original state.

Just a bit of a lightbulb moment - i remember that being said about the keys a few posts back & it didn't hit me at the time that i could probably use my current WinXP Pro DVD.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Yeah i've just created the recovery CD & DVDs & tested them out - they worked - they put the laptop back to its original state.

Just a bit of a lightbulb moment - i remember that being said about the keys a few posts back & it didn't hit me at the time that i could probably use my current WinXP Pro DVD.

XP? Don't go back that far. I'd recommend stopping as far back as 7 really.

[Technique]

XP? Don't go back that far. I'd recommend stopping as far back as 7 really.

My typo mistake. Sorry. Don't know why i said XP.

[Technique]

I've done a clean install & am in the process of putting everything back on (well, the stuff i want anyway).

When i did a clean install, i had the option of deleting the partition which holds the Lenovo recovery. It's about 15GB i think (laptop is turned off, so i'm guessing) & the total capacity of the HDD is 500GB.

I didn't know whether it'd be safe to delete this partition or not, so i left it. This post is just me asking whether you guys would now delete this?

Just to note: I've made the recovery CDs & DVDs & tested them out - they work. I also noticed there's an option to instead of making 3 recovery DVDs, putting the data to a USB memory stick - so i've ordered a 16GB one to do this with as i guess it'd be quicker. I don't know if i'd be able to do this though if i was to fully delete that partition.

[ashpowell]

The recovery partition is usually literally for that, for recovering your computer back to the original state. - Pretty much the same as the disc you've created.

Keep it if you want the option to restore from that partition, if you want to restore from your dvd recovery disc then you may remove it.

(I'd remove it personally for the extra 15gb if it were me)

[Karl L.]

I agree with ashpowell. I ALWAYS remove the OEM recovery partition when I format a computer. So long as you have an installation disc available that you can use to reinstall your OS if necessary, its redundant at best. I never even bother creating the recovery discs as you did, but I suppose that it doesn't hurt to have a backup.

If the partition is at the beginning of your hard disk, like most OEM recovery partitions I've seen, its probably a bad idea to boot into GParted (or another partitioning program) to remove it and expand your primary partition at this point unless you are prepared to reinstall Windows again. Windows will often place the bootloader on the first usable partition on the disk, which is usually the recovery partition when it exists. If you delete the partition, the bootsector won't be able to find the bootloader, which then, obviously, can't boot Windows. Even if the bootloader is on your primary Windows partition, you will still prevent the bootsector from finding the bootloader if you expand the primary partition into the free space at the beginning of the disk created by deleting the recovery partition. It is possible to reinstall the bootsector/bootloader using your Windows installation disc after such an operation, but its tricky (and, honestly, probably beyond your skill level at the moment).

[Technique]

So how would you delete that partition & then merge the created 15GB with the OS partition?

[Karl L.]

I would boot from a GParted Live disc, use GParted to delete the recovery partition and expand the primary partition into the free space, and use bootsect from my Windows 7 installation disc to reinstall the bootsector. In most cases, though, it would probably be easier to just reinstall Windows and repartition from the Windows installer.