Can't clone drive using Macrium Reflect..??

JustAnotherSaver

jsmith9 said:

If it were me I would simply put the SSD in the laptop, install Windows 7 on it, customise it to how you want it, install any programs etc and when you are happy use macrium reflect to take an image of it

That is one possibility. I have a question for you though...

How would you install Windows 7 to the drive?

As when you go on the MS website to download the Windows 7 iso you are forced to input a valid key. When I use the key that is on the label behind the battery, i get an error message saying that this version of Windows was pre-installed on the machine ... and therefore can't download the W7 iso.

jsmith9

You are probably trying to download the Windows 7 retail version you need to download the OEM version you can Google it it but I found a hit here...

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-install-windows-7-oem/

jsmith9

P.s. you could also try the manufacturers website for your laptop and see what downloads there are there there may be a system disc containing Windows 7 OEM and the drivers for your laptop

JustAnotherSaver

jsmith9 said:

P.s. you could also try the manufacturers website for your laptop and see what downloads there are there there may be a system disc containing Windows 7 OEM and the drivers for your laptop

I can get the drivers for the laptop https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-l-series-laptops/thinkpad-l530/downloads/driver-list but see nothing on the lines of Windows 7 OEM install from them. Probably because the laptop is sold with a recovery partition so the way they'll see it is that should be enough.

But Lenovo CS are pretty poor. I contacted them asking how to buy a genuine battery and they can't be bothered to reply. I'm sure other people have great experience with their CS but that's irrelevant to me because my experience is poor.

jsmith9

Perfect - download the OEM windows ISO and burn it to  a CD and then install it on your laptop and then install the drivers from the Lenovo website you should be good to go

jsmith9

One thing you could try is to use whatever key combination you need to boot your PC into the recovery partition -  meanwhile connect your SSD to a USB port and if you are very lucky you may be able to specify that the recovery image is written to your SSD by specifying that drive letter..

JustAnotherSaver

jsmith9 said:

You are probably trying to download the Windows 7 retail version you need to download the OEM version you can Google it it but I found a hit here...

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-install-windows-7-oem/

Not sure what's going on but the link within your link takes me directly to the link that i said that i had tried and did not work.

I'll quote what i get when i try that...

The product key you entered appears to be for software pre-installed by the device manufacturer. Please contact the device manufacturer for software recovery options.

Heedtheadvice

Wow, you are getting s lot of support.

You do seem to be at a stage of 'just install win 7'.

Not a recommendatio (no experience of it) but have a read on page https://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-to-download-windows-7-8-and-8.1-installation-media-legally/           at/below section quoted

"Download the Windows 7 SP1 ISO Directly From Microsoft’s Website

Microsoft makes the Windows 7 SP1 ISO available for direct download through their site. The only catch is that you’ll need a valid product key in order to download the file–and OEM keys (like the one that came on a sticker under your laptop) won’t work. If that’s you, proceed to the next section."

JustAnotherSaver

SOLVED (sort of)

So since the Windows 7 OEM disc was apparently not going to help me and the retail version wouldn't as I had no key for it (other than the one that is tied to my PC) and this wasn't working, that wasn't working, cloning wasn't working so on and so forth

I cloned SYSTEM_DRV to the SSD.

I then went in to disk management, created the relevant partition at the end.

I then cloned Lenovo_Recovery to the SSD.

The numbers were slightly out so i had to go back to disk management and adjust.

I fired the laptop up and it wanted to recover so i allowed it but then it wouldn't boot and gave me some error message linking to some folder in Windows once it had finished.

So i then used the Lenovo Recovery Boot Media CD and the 3 Lenovo Recovery Data DVDs.

Windows is now up and running. I'm going to have to go through the painstaking process of setting it up how I want but at least it's working.

Heedtheadvice

great that you have progress, pain in the ar** that it will be to set up.

Do use your Macrium Reflect to create new rescue/boot media and do a full backup to a known good drive once you are running happily.....and install a good virus checker/firewall!