The following instructions explain how to install Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System (OS) on a Lenovo Thinkpad computer with a blank hard drive or a hard drive that will be completely wiped clean during the installation process. (All existing files will be deleted.)
Note: This install process is based upon default BIOS configurations of the listed Thinkpad systems. This means the OS install will be in standard Thinkpad BIOS hereafter known as legacy BIOS. There will be a separate installation document written purely from a UEFI BIOS configuration. The Lenovo Windows 7 preload is configured for Legacy BIOS in first boot order and UEFI second.

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Affected configurations
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Any of the following ThinkPad systems:
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Windows 7 Clean install
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This document will function as the detailed instructions for standalone installs of Windows 7 Lenovo ThinkPad's. This document has the following sections:
| Operating system install | |
| Device Driver install | |
| Lenovo Application and Utility install |
Note: You must agree to the license terms to install Windows 7.
At this point there are two methods for Device driver and Application installs. The simplest is to use ThinkVantage System Update 4.0 to download and automatically install all the required device drivers and applications. This method also ensures that device driver and application dependencies and co-requisites' are installed correctly.
Click here to download the ThinkVantage System Update 4.0.
The second method is the manual installation of each device driver and application individually. This method is time consuming but does allow for some control over application install paths.
For existing Windows 7 preloads there exists a "C:\SWTOOLS" folder that contains the original device drivers and apps for a re-install. For those users who purchase a full retail copy of Windows 7 this folder is not available and thus all device drivers and applications must be downloaded individually.
Below is the folder listing of the Lenovo Windows 7 Preload.

Download each of the required / desired drivers and extract them to the "C:\drivers" folder. This is the default file extraction path if no changes are done. The following instructions presume the default extraction path is used. There other folders within the "C:\drivers" folder. Make note of each location as each device driver is downloaded and extracted. Some drivers have an option to install each device driver as the file extraction is complete. This method of install is acceptable. Since this option is checked by default, should you choose to install the device driver later, the box should be unchecked prior to clicking Finish.
Note: Required Lenovo ThinkPad Device Drivers and OSFixes
The use of only device drivers and fixes supplied by Lenovo should be employed during the install of Windows 7. The use of 3rd party drivers is not supported by Lenovo and issues arriving from the use of non-Lenovo supplied drivers will be referred back to the vendor.
The remainder of this document is written with the perspective that a copy of \SWTOOLS is available and device drivers and apps will be installed from that folder. Reboots are required after some device driver installs, so reboot when requested.
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The device driver install sequence is dependant on the System Interface Driver install being the first to be installed. This driver has common DLL's that other Lenovo utilities use.
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BIOS
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The bios for each system being installed should be upgraded to the most current for each machine type. There are bios updates for Windows 7 that will be needed. The machine specific bios can be found on the Lenovo support website.
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SMIF (System Interface Driver)
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\swtools\hotkey\setup.exe
This driver is installed with the HotKey or OnScreen display driver.
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IMSM (Intel Matrix Storage Manager)
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IMSM driver needs to be installed via INF install via device manager, running install.cmd from "\prepare" folder will result in a file copy error. Locate the "standard AHCI serial ATA controller" entry in device manager and right click to update driver, pointing to \swtools\imsm folder.
Note: This driver is known as Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver.
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Intel Chipset driver
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\swtools\intelinf\infinst_autol.exe
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Audio
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\swtools\audioc\setup.exe
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Intel's AMT technology
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\swtools\amt\ipt\setup_intel_ipt.exe for Intel's Identity Protection Technology.
Check box to "Install Intel Control Center".
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APS (Active Protection System)
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\swtools\readyapps\hprotect\setup.exe
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Power Manager Driver and Utility
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\swtools\drivers\pmdriver\setup.exe
Select reboot later and immediately install Power Manager
\swtools\readyapps\pwrmgrv\setup.exe
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Video Graphics subsystem drivers
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\swtools\drivers\video\setup.exe
The video subsystem is Intel HD or Nvidia HD graphic depending on specific model.
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Intel Ethernet
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\swtools\drivers\ethintel\apps\prosetupdx\win32 or win64\dxsetup.exe
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Monitor ICM file
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Open device manager and update the Generic PNP monitor listed, by right click and update device driver.
Point installer to "monitor" folder, click Close to complete install.
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Communications Utility and Camera driver
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\swtools\readyapps\tcomm\setup.exe
\swtools\drivers\camera\setup.exe
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Modem
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\swtools\drivers\modemom\setup.exe
Modem driver install will launch NetWaiting app install, then digital line detect applet install.
Note: Some models do not have a Modem as standard equipment.
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UltraNav
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\swtools\drivers\unav\Setup.exe.
Click Restart later, then run Setup from "UNAVUtil" folder.
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Bluetooth (on select models)
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swtools\drivers\tpbtooth\setup.exe
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FingerPrint Reader (FPR)
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\swtools\readyapps\fpr\setup.exe
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Thinkpad Device Experience
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\swtools\apps\Lenovo Thinkvantage Tools\deinstall_tp.exe
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Lenovo Rapid Boot
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\swtools\drivers\rapidboot\setup.exe
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Multi-Card Reader
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\swtools\apps\multicard\setup.exe
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Intel Wireless Network Drivers
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\swtools\drivers\wlantint\autorun.exe
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USB 3.0
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\swtools\drivers\usb3.0\setup.exe
Note: USB 3.0 is a feature of select T420s models. The USB 3.0 port is readily recognized by the Blue Plastic tab.
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Wireless Display
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\swtools\apps\WiDi\WiDisetup.exe
Wireless display is a video technology that allows for wireless video transmission to a TV monitor.
http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/technology/wirelessdisplay.htm
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BingBar
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\swtools\BingBar\InstallMananger_GEN_GEN.exe
Installs the BingBar toolbar for Internet Explorer.
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BizTree (Business in a Box)
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\swtools\biztree\Business-in-a-box-setup.exe
Note: On Select models only.
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Lenovo provides the necessary files and instructions to manually add Lenovo engineered fixes and updates in the osfixes folder within the swtools folder.
These individual updates / fixes are listed below. All of these updates are on a Lenovo Win 7 preload.
If the function of each fix or update is required / desired then follow the instructions given below with full instructions provided within the readme file of each respective update folder.
There exists a folder within the \SWTOOLS folder called READYAPPS. This folder contains various Lenovo ThinkVantage Technology applications and Utilities.
These include:
| Access Connections | \accon |
| Client Security Solution | \css |
| Rescue and Recovery | \rnr |
| Lenovo Toolbox | \ltt |
| AutoLock | \autolock |
| SimpleTap | \simpletap |
| System Update | \tvsu |
| ThinkPad User Guide | \userguide |
| Warranty Information | \wrnty |
Other applications reside in the ReadApps folder but those apps are installed during device driver install listed previously in this document.
In the \SWTOOLS folder is a folder listed as APPS which contain other Lenovo preloaded applications. These applications include but are not limited to:
Other Lenovo utilities:
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CTRLWOL
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Enable Wake On LAN from Sleep for Energy Star V4.
Run "ctrlwol_inst" to enable, "ctrlwol_uninst" to disable.
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DisIMSS
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Disable to load IMSS (Intel® Management and Security Status Application) in tasktray for Windows 7.
Run "DisIMSS.reg" to disable to load IMSS icon in the tasktray.
More detailed information can be found in the readme file for DisIMSS.
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DISKUPDT
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Fix for Issue of HDD with HDP Detection for Windows 7.
This package contains a fix for an issue that Password-protected secondary hard disc drive (HDD) is not detected in Computer after resume from sleep. To Install:
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Win7\W7DEVOR
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Registry Patch to arrange icons in Devices and Printers folder of Windows 7 and
This registry patch is to hide icons for internal devices that appear in "Devices and Printers" folder.
To install, right click on "DevORApply.inf" file and select install.
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WOWLAN
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Registry Patch to disable Wake On WLAN feature in WiFi adapters to install:
OSFIXES (operating system fixes)
There is also a folder under the SWTOOLS folder called OSFIXES. This folder contains required Microsoft HotFixes and QFE's for the correct function and operating of the Thinkpad computer system. Each of these patches needs to be installed as part of any mass image deploy or custom image build.

Windows Device manager after base OS install.

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| Country Availability | ||
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| Available | Worldwide |
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