How to Install Windows 7 Uprgrade via XP CD,

I have been using Window 7 Beta in Bootcamp for about 6 months (came pre installed on 2nd hand Mac Book Pro Core Duo), and now I want to install Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade. I have a shrink-wrapped XP SP2 CD.
Problem is, *I have been told* that I can not use the XP CD because when installing Windows 7 upgrade, it will ask me to insert the XP cd, but Bootcamp will not recognize the eject button, so I can't eject the Windows 7 disc to install the XP disc to verify I have a valid previous windows version.
Is this correct? Is there a work-around?
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

Thanks for the reply.
The hatter wrote:
Install Windows 7 over itself.
Or you could have bought full retail.
There are registry edit hacks to let you install an upgrade.
Don't want to go there!!
Seems you were told wrong, 7 needs to just see XP on your hard drive, it doesn't ask for the CD.
My point was that I have the XP CD, not installed on a MBP, just on CD. And that I have Win 7 Ultimate Beta installed on a MBP.
This is why I will need to be able to eject the Win 7 Upgrade CD to install the Win XP CD to verify I own a previous system, and then eject the Win XP CD to Re-Install the Win 7 CD to complete the Win 7 install.
If I can use the Win 7 Upgrade, I can save myself at least $50 over using Full retail.
Windows 7 RC is starting its shutdown now that it is March.
Exactly. I get a number of ENDOF_NT_EVALUATIONPERIOD blue screens every couple hours.
Quad G5? obviously not the system you are talking about here...
And if Mac Pro (Intel) then putting Ultimate on its own drive?
Correct. I have a Mac Book Pro 2.16 GHz Core Duo, 2GB RAM, 32GB Boot Camp partition.
Snow Leopard 10.6.2, Boot Camp 3.1
Any other help would also be greatly appreciated.
TIA

Similar Messages

How to install Windows 7 via Boot Camp on late 2012 iMac

These notes reflect the installation of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit on my late 2012 27” iMac with a 3 TB fusion drive and running OS X Mountain Lion version 10.8.4.
After launching Boot Camp Assistant, click “Print Installation & Setup Guide” and keep this handy throughout the process. There are specific details in the Boot Camp Guide that are not covered by my notes.
Don’t do like I did and expect to start at 11:00 PM on a work night and have Windows 7 working before 1:00 AM - it can take much longer. Many of the activities are best monitored instead of going to bed hoping that next morning will greet you with success.
Download Windows 7 ISO file from Internet and burn to a blank DVD
Insert a blank DVD
Start Disk Utility.
From the File menu, choose “Open Disk Image” and select the ISO to be burned.
In the list of volumes, you will now see an item representing the ISO file. Select it.
Click the Burn button and follow the instructions.
Be patient. In my case the ISO burn seemed to be stuck at 80%. I walked away for a bit and returned to find the DVD successfully burned. This is an exception to not walking away during the Boot Camp process.
Although you should be able to burn the ISO to DVD with any external burner, in my case I found that an Apple USB SuperDrive worked during the Windows installation whereas an otherwise reliable third party CD/DVD/Blueray burner was not recognized by Boot Camp 5.0.3.
If you simply burn the ISO file to the DVD, the DVD will not work. A simple check is to view the DVD’s contents after it has been burnt. If it contains a .iso file only, then you can place that DVD in the trash and start over.
Take some to think through how much space you want to dedicate to Windows 7 that will be taken from your OS X allotment. If you change your mind later, you will need to start the process over, including reinstalling and reactivating Windows 7 and any other specialized software you’ve installed. In my case, I partitioned 251 GB to Windows 7 and that left 233.7 GB free during installation.
When you are ready to begin partitioning your hard drive, unplug all unnecessary USB drives. This includes external drives and your Time Machine drive. Use a USB keyboard with a USB mouse plugged into a USB port on the keyboard. Plug the USB flash drive containing Support Software you created with Boot Camp into a regular USB port. On the iMac, I used the port nearest the right side of the monitor while facing the screen. You also need the USB SuperDrive plugged in with the Windows 7 install disk in the drive. Boot Camp jumps from partitioning straight into installation.
Although the Boot Camp Guide indicates your Mac will default launch in Windows during installation, mine rebooted into OS X each time. When the screen goes white, just hold the OPTION button and select the Windows drive (not the Windows DVD). Be patient. It may look like the Mac is refusing to accept your selection of Windows, but it could be just a little slow to launch.
If you end up installing Windows 7 more than once due to crashes, confusion or whatever, check for a Windows.old file after you’re finished. If it exists, you can delete that file. It’s a place Windows 7 places files from previous installs in case you need to save something.
As of this writing, I need to use a USB keyboard to use OPTION to have the option to launch Windows 7. Once in Windows, my Logitech K760 bluetooth keyboard works fine. It takes too long for bluetooth to sync for the keyboard to keep up with the Mac booting up. Although Windows 7 recognizes my second monitor and the drivers are up to date, the second monitor has a black screen and windows cannot be moved onto the second monitor.
I hope that Apple continues to develop Boot Camp and improve the Installation Guide for future users. When Apple advertises a feature, such as Boot Camp, there is an expectation amongst consumers that it will simply work. When a key feature fails to live up to expectations, it reflects poorly on Apple.
Thank you,
Steven Cagle
<Link Edited By Host>

Have you tried a USB installer?
Boot Camp Assistant will now ask if you want to install the Windows installer with the Boot Camp Dirvers onto a USB drive on some supported and not so support machines.
Do a search for "Windows USB installer" on Yahoo/Google and there should be quite a few.

2011 MBP 15", how to install Windows 8 via USB?

I successfully got my Windows 8 installation files on a USB. I just upgraded to Mountain Lion and no longer have the option to install Windows from another source. How can I install Windows 8 off my USB? BootCamp Assistant only offers the CD option.
Best regards.

On computers which Apple shipped with an Optical drive, then the Boot Camp utility expects you to use that optical drive to install your Windows OS. Since the 2011 MBP shipped with an optical drive, the Boot Camp utility expects you to boot the Windows installer from that drive.

I install windows 8 via boot camp but its corrept so i recover this by the bootable usb which is helping me to install windows 8 but in recovery my osx is formatted automaticly now its become a pc how can i install my mac osx again?

i install windows 8 via boot camp but its corrupt so i recover this by the windows 8 by the help bootable usb which is helping me to install windows 8 but in recovery my osx is formatted automatically now its become a pc how can i install my mac osx again in my mac mini? please help me

If you have a Mid 2010 model: Computers that can be upgraded to use OS X Internet Recovery. If later then see below:
Install Mavericks, Lion/Mountain Lion Using Internet Recovery
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND-OPTION- R keys until a globe appears on the screen. Wait patiently - 15-20 minutes - until the Recovery main menu appears.
Partition and Format the hard drive:
Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
After DU loads select your newly installed hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion. Mavericks: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion, Mavericks and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
If you have an earlier model:
Clean Install of Snow Leopard
     1. Boot the computer using the Snow Leopard Installer Disc or the Disc 1 that came
         with your computer. Insert the disc into the optical drive and restart the computer.
         After the chime press and hold down the "C" key. Release the key when you see
         a small spinning gear appear below the dark gray Apple logo.
     2. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue
         button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu.
         After DU loads select the hard drive entry from the left side list (mfgr.'s ID and drive
         size.) Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window. Set the number of
         partitions to one (1) from the Partitions drop down menu, click on Options button
         and select GUID, click on OK, then set the format type to MacOS Extended
         (Journaled, if supported), then click on the Apply button.
     3. When the formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Proceed
         with the OS X installation and follow the directions included with the installer.
     4. When the installation has completed your computer will Restart into the Setup
         Assistant. Be sure you configure your initial admin account with the exact same
         username and password that you used on your old drive. After you finish Setup
         Assistant will complete the installation after which you will be running a fresh
         install of OS X. You can now begin the update process by opening Software
         Update and installing all recommended updates to bring your installation current.
Download and install Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1.

I installed windows 7 via bootcamo itself!... the installation nd stuff went all well!... :) but now my macbook it luncking only windows 7 automaticaly when ever i switch it on! plzz tell me how to switch which back to os x mavericks....

i installed windows 7 via bootcamo itself!... the installation nd stuff went all well!... but now my macbook it luncking only windows 7 automaticaly when ever i switch it on! plzz tell me how to switch which back to os x mavericks....
plzz help me with it....

plzz help me out with this
my enthernet is connected well and good!....
but it is not allowing me to use the internet !...
it is saying "no data found"....
plzz i need ur help on connecting to internet!...
m using 13inch macbook pro!...
mavricks!....
i tried using System Preferences > Network > Ethernet > ( assist me) > ( diagnostics )
but wouldnt fix it!....
the results were ;-ethernet is green
network settings is green
but ISP,internet and server are in red!....

How to install windows 8 on mac

I just bought windows 8 pro and am trying to install in on my windows. I have previously installed windows 7 via bootcamp but just deleted the partition because I want to start over from scratch with windows 8. I understand bootcamp needs to be updated to bootcamp 5 but every time I try to use the assistant and download the windows update to my external hard drive it freezes halfway through. I'm confused as to what I should do now. I downloaded the bootcamp 5 drivers from http://support.apple.com/downloads/#macoscomponents. I downloaded the first one,
Boot Camp Support Software 5.0.5033
I'm not sure how to install this or how it works exactly but there is a file in it called setup.exe but it requires a program to open it which i dont have. I have the unarchiver program but even that wont open the setup.exe. Is this the file I need and if so how do I go about updating bootcamp. I also found out that I have bootcamp Version 5.0.2 (462) but when I open the assistant the only option on there is "create a winows 7 or later version" I assumed I needed to update it because it says nothing about windows 8. Thanks for any help.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
You have to save the folder you downloaded into a USB drive. Then, after installing Windows, connect it and open the setup.exe file, so you will install the Windows support software. Windows support software is needed to make your computer run properly in Windows.
When you open Boot Camp Assistant, how many options do you see and how are they named? It's possible that your Mac isn't officially compatible with Windows 8 > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634

How to Install Windows 7 Without the Disc

1a) Here is very useful article from PCWorld.com. The article is entitled "How to Install Windows 7 Without the Disc" and means just what it says. The article also has links to Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder and legitimate Windows 7 ISOs from Digital River, a licensed distributor of Microsoft software. The article lists "Step 1" as;
"Find your Windows 7 product key: Typically this 25-character alphanumeric string is printed on a sticker affixed to your PC or on documentation included with your PC. Alternatively, you can use a keyfinder program such as Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to pull your product key from the Registry. You need your product key to reinstall Windows."
1b) Using a key finder, however, is only useful if the Windows 7 product key was printed on a sticker (Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity) affixed to your PC, on documentation included with your PC, or sent via email by Microsoft. Assuming your computer came from one of the big brand computer manufacturers... HP, Sony, Dell, Gateway, etc... as most do, it uses a generic "mass activation" OEM SLP key. Trying to use this key by itself isn't going to work. This OEM SLP key needs to be mated with an OEM SLP certificate and an appropriate OEM BIOS with a proper SLIC table.
1c) Here is where ABR Beta With Windows 7 Support comes to the rescue. Follow the "How to use it" section of ABR for Windows Vista for information and instructions on how to use ABR. The steps listed for Vista apply to Windows 7 as well. Perform the "activation backup" to "backup" and save the OEM SLP key and OEM SLP certificate. Save the entire ABR folder to an external location for later use. This will allow you to pre-activate your "clean" Windows 7 install on the computer you pulled the key and certificate from.
1d) Now install Windows 7 from your new "Windows 7" disc or USB stick, following all prompts as needed. Don't enter a Windows 7 product key if request. Also, don't allow Windows to try to auto-activate. Once Windows is fully installed, run ABR "activation restore" to "restore" the previously backed up product key and certificate to the new Windows 7 install. Verify that Windows is activated, repeat "activation restore" if needed.
2) Here is another useful article, this time from SevenForums.com. This arcticle is entitled "Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7" and provides detailed steps required to backup your computer, audit current hardware and software, locate software and drivers, install and activate Windows 7, and create a Windows 7 Backup Image of your fresh install.
Good luck.
Links to additional Windows 7 SP1 "Editions" and "Languages" can be found HERE and HERE.
Link to "ei.cfg Removal Utility". The "ei.cfg Removal Utility" is a simple tool that will remove the ei.cfg from any Windows ISO disc image, thereby converting the image into a "universal disc" that will prompt the user to select an edition during setup instead of being forced to use different discs for different versions of Windows 7.
Direct link to Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool.
<Cross posted to Notebook Operating Systems and Software for Notebook, Laptop, and Netbook users>
EDITED by Frank on 8/28/2013
Please click the white KUDOS star to show your appreciation
Frank
{------------ Please click the "White Kudos" Thumbs Up to say THANKS for helping.
Please click the "Accept As Solution" on my post, if my assistance has solved your issue. ------------V
This is a user supported forum. I am a volunteer and I don't work for HP.
HP 15t-j100 (on loan from HP)
HP 13 Split x2 (on loan from HP)
HP Slate8 Pro (on loan from HP)
HP a1632x - Windows 7, 4GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6130y - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6320y - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GT 240
HP p7-1026 - Windows 7, 6GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6787c - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GT 240

ervis,
Before formatting the hard drive you should have been able to use the HP Recovery Manager to create your recovery discs or perform a system recovery. This is provided the recovery partition wasn't already corrupt or damaged. If the "D:" HP Recovery partition is missing or damaged and you don't have a set of HP Recovery Discs, you will need to use the information in my previous post to get your computer up and running again.
The information in the document referred you to applies to several different "types" of installations;
Using ABRbeta is only needed if you have an active OEM factory SLP (system locked preactivated) installation of Windows. You use ABR to pull the factory key and certificate off the computer, to reuse it on the same computer with a clean Windows install.
If you are just installing Windows and are going to use the Windows 7 product key on the COA on the side of your computer, all you need to do is download the same version of Windows that your key is for and burn the ISO. Now install Windows answering or following all prompts as needed (except do not enter the Windows product at this time... it will be entered later). Once Windows has completely installed, enter the key and activate it. Your Windows 7 OA key should work on a SP1 install without issue.
The only thing I see that could mess things up, is the language of the install. If you are still having trouble activating Windows, please reference the ISO you download and a post a photo of your Windows COA
with the key erased or Xed out.
Please send KUDOs
Frank
{------------ Please click the "White Kudos" Thumbs Up to say THANKS for helping.
Please click the "Accept As Solution" on my post, if my assistance has solved your issue. ------------V
This is a user supported forum. I am a volunteer and I don't work for HP.
HP 15t-j100 (on loan from HP)
HP 13 Split x2 (on loan from HP)
HP Slate8 Pro (on loan from HP)
HP a1632x - Windows 7, 4GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6130y - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6320y - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GT 240
HP p7-1026 - Windows 7, 6GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6450
HP p6787c - Windows 7, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GT 240

How to Install Windows 7 or 8 to Imac if you have never owned these OS's before?

Hi Guys / Girls.
I hope someone can help me.
I recently bought a new Imac (no optical drive). My OS is Mountain Lion.
I have seen many topics / videos on how to install Windows 7 or Windows 8 on my Imac, however I have a problem!
I don't own a copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Where can I buy and download it legally?
I tried the Microsoft website, but I can't find windows 7?
The download for Windows 8 is only an upgrade if you already have Windows 7.
Is there a way that I can buy and download the full version of Windows 8 without Windows 7?
Or can I download Windows 7 from somewhere?
The other option I have is I have an old Windows XP installation disc.
Can I some how bump this up to Windows 8 and then use bootcamp to install to my Mac?
I'm not sure which will be the best way to install the new Windows 8 to my Imac.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Well, a lot of questions here.
The reason you cannot download Windows 7 from Microsoft is that they discontinued it as a download in December 2012.
There are places you can download Windows 7 but probably not 100% legal - so I won't say anything more about these. However, you can still buy genuine versions via Amazon.
As you say, a full (non-upgrade) version of Windows 8 (actually 8.1 now) is not available from Microsoft as a download. Even if it was, it would be $200+
I suspect that your most economical option is to invest in a cheap USB CD/DVD drive to connect to your iMac and install XP under Boot Camp to see if you like the way it works. You could then decide if you want to upgrade.
You can upgrade to Windows 8.1 (about $120 for upgrade) from XP either by download or buying the upgrade discs - cost will be similar and if you already have the drive, then it will be straightforward installation. Again, copies available via Amazon.

Can i install windows 7 via bootcamp (MB Air) while using remote disc? I put the windows 7 disk in my macbook pro drive, and connect to my brand new macbook air. In bootcamp i allocate the partition then i click install and bootcamp will not see the disk.

Can i install windows 7 via bootcamp (on my MB Air) while using remote disc? I put the windows 7 disk in my macbook pro drive, and connect to my brand new macbook air via remote disk. In bootcamp (on my air) i allocate the partition, then i click install, and bootcamp will not see the disk from my macbook pro's drive. How do i get the bootcamp assistant running on my MB air to automatically find the disk in my macbook pro with the ISO image of windows 7? The remote disk on my air can find the cd but bootcamp will not begin installing it. Anyway to do this without buying the damned usb drive?

I don't know first hand if you can use the Remote Disk option with Windows but as of 10.7.2 you can now use BCAssistant to make a bootable USB (thumb drive or external disk) W7 installer with the Boot Camp drivers installed also. Have you tried that yet?

How to install Windows 8.1 with Windows 8 Product key?

I have purchased Upgrade pack from Windows 7 to Windows 8. I have also Updated the OS to windows 8.1 through Store. How to install Windows 8.1 with Windows 8 Product key?

The download link for the Windows 8.1 installer at the Upgrade with Product Key Only does not accept a Windows 8.0 product key. I ended up using the trick suggested by Andre Ziegler in this thread to obtain the 8.1 download independent of the Windows
Store, but I haven't yet checked if the 8.0 key works from 8.1 Setup.
I do IT for a living but I have plenty of family members that bring their notebook PCs to me and ask me to do the heavy lifting, and I'd rather not re-download the same 3.6 GB every single time someone tells me to fix their PC. I also want to be able to
re-install 8.1 from the source media in case of a catastrophic hard disk failure and I have to replace the disk.
As an aside, tools that retrieve product keys for installed products end up retrieving the 8.0 product key from an 8.1 install that was upgraded via the Store. It kind-of makes sense that an 8.0 key could work to install 8.1 because 8.1 is supposed
to be a free upgrade for licensed 8.0 users, but this doesn't seem to work until after 8.1 is successfully installed via some trickery and the user supplies the 8.0 key to activate it.

How to install Windows 8 from flash drive

So I want to install Windows 8 via a flash drive . But I don't know how to do it because when I go through the bootcamp setup it asks for a disk. So is there some software to trick my computer into thinking that my flashdrive is actually a disk?

Vegerot wrote:
Okay. Is it possible—if I don't have a large enough DVD—to use multiple smaller DVDs to store it?
The smallest DVD is large enough to hold the Windows installation iso.
It will cost less than $1
Here's a pack of 50, for $15.00

Installing Windows 7 via Bootcamp with OS X Lion

Hi all,
I have just bought a new 21.5 inch iMac preinstalled with SL and have the Install DVD for 10.6.7.
I have recently upgraded to Lion OS X (eligible for free download due to recent purchase of the iMac), but now want to install Windows 7 via Bootcamp. As I understand it, I have to reinstall the drivers for Windows 7 to work, but I only have the DVD for SL, not Lion.
Can you advise on how to get around this? Can I save the drivers for Lion on a blank DVD - if so where do I find the files? If I'm right, I think I select 'Download the windows support software for this mac' option when I first go in to Bootcamp and have a blank DVD in the drive. Then I can use the DVD as if it were a Lion Install DVD - is this correct?
Think I also need a USB wired mouse as wireless is disabled when installing windows.
Thanks for your time

Sorry I didn't respond sooner....Hurricane Irene knocked out all our power
The initial install (at least for most of the reboots) does correctly reboot to Windows. However, towards the end of the Windows setup, where Windows is fully functional but is configuring itself, you may accidentally boot into OS X. Once you get Apple's Boot Camp drivers installed, you can set the target disk for a reboot, so that you don't need to hold down alt/option. In addition, you can also set the target disk in Lion via System_Preferences>System>Startup_Disk.
Unfortunately, the excellent boot manager rEFIt doesn't work with Lion (because of the hidden partition that Lion adds). Maybe they'll get it working soon, then you can use it and not worry about holding down alt all the time.

Macbook retina has no CD drive - how to install Windows??

I have the new Macbook 15" retina and I'm trying to install Windows 7 via Bootcamp, but I just realized there is no CD/DVD drive on this model to insert the Windows disc. How to I install Windows and the drivers???

I am not 100% sure, but the retina mbp is the only new MBP that allows booting fron an external DvD drive.
If it will not boot directly, use another computer to make an ISO file (on USB) from the Windows CD and use that one to install Windows. The OS10.7 and 10.8 Bootcamp can not handle XP only 7 and 8.

How to install windows on macbook air

when i install windows 7 with bootcamp. my mba is restart and boot from windows but my mba keyboard is stuck. any key not working.
i have troubled how to install windows on macbook air 11 inches.

Hey komalsingh,
Thanks for the question. I understand you are having issues with your MacBook Air keyboard and BootCamp. The Boot Camp Installation & Setup Guide provides some information that may be relevant:
(Click image to view larger)
via page 8 of
http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1636/en_US/boot_camp_install-setup_ 10.8.pdf
Thanks,
Matt M.

Looking for a way to install Windows Intune via powershell

I'm very new to Powershell and completely lost on how to do this.
Looking for a way to install Windows Intune via powershell from a self extracting zip file I will send to remote users. This will also need to run Corp admin level privileges to install.
Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi Mtirado,
For Windows Intune issue, I recommemd you can post in dedicated forum for more effective support:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?category=windowsintune
If you get the initial Powershell script, and the script encounter error or problem, you can post back with current script and issue.
Thanks for your understanding.
If you have any feedback on our support, please click here.
Best Regards,
Anna Wang
TechNet Community Support

How to install Windows 7/Vista as 2nd OS and retain predesktop environment (service partition)

This is a step-by-step instruction how to install Windows Vista or Windows 7 as a second OS on a Lenovo Thinkpad that originally shipped with Windows XP AND how to retain the access to the Lenovo Service Partition.
I have been searching the internet for instructions like these but could not find anything useful. So I am posting it
here. Maybe this helps other users.
I have tested the procedure below with installation of Windows Vista Ultimate (64bit) and Windows 7 Ultimate (64bit). I believe that the procedure will also work with the 32bit versions of these OSs. I am not totally convinced that this works when the OS to install is Windows XP (64bit or 32bit). XP has a completely different boot sequence compared to Vista or 7. The basic steps would remain the same, but the XP setup is less forgiving when it finds an unknown partition. If somebody wants to try it out, please post your results as a reply to this forum entry.
Never never never try to install an older OS (like Windows 2000 or NT) as a second OS when XP is already installed! This is doomed to fail.
The procedure below does NOT work for Linux installations. I am not a Linux wizard, but any Linux bootmanager I know about is incompatible with the Lenovo Service Partition.
The procedure was tested on a Thinkpad R61 model 8918-B9G. It should work similar on other models.
You definitely need a service partition with Rescue&Recovery version 4. It will NOT work with older versions of R&R or if the service partition is not a type12 partition (see below how to find out about that).
I assume that the harddisk partitions are unmodified, i.e. still have factory settings. This is likely the case if you
never attempted any OS install or recovery action. If this is not the case, the procedure may or may not work.
You also need a bootable CD with a tool that can change the size of your current system partition. I was using gparted live version 0.5.2-9. ( http://gparted.sourceforge.net/ )
Everything you do is at your own risk. I am in no way related to Lenovo, other than being a customer using their
products.
Step 1) Make a full backup of your harddisk. Get yourself recovery CDs for your Thinkpad model if you don't have any. The changes we are about to make can completely screw up your harddrive. A typo is sufficient for that to happen.
Step 2) Power on the system. Check that you can boot into the Service Partition by pressing the Thinkvantage button when the startup screen appears. (Older systems may have a differently named button.) If there is a problem booting the service partition now, it is likely that the rest of this procedure will not fix it.
Step 3) From the service partition choose 'Warmstart' to reboot the system. Reboot Windows XP, logon.
Open a command prompt. CD to the following directory:
\Program Files\Common Files\Lenovo\BMGR
On a german language system (like mine) it is
\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR
If you have an older IBM system the directory may be named
\Program Files\Common Files\IBM\BMGR
or something like that. Maybe you need to search around.
In the following, I will call this the "BMGR dir".
Enter the following command:
bmgr32 /info /v
You should get an output similar to this:
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>bmgr32 /info /v
It's a Lenovo MBR
Opened Master Boot Record to see whose MBR it is.
It's a Lenovo MBR
Opened drive for reading
Partition 0 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 1 the SP? (512) Label is SERVICEV
Using version 2.05 of Lenovo Boot Manager
Reading: \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0
        MBR Sector 1 Index: 1   Checksum: 00    Disabled
        MBR Sector 2 Index: 4   Checksum: 03    Passed
        MBR Sector 3 Index: 5   Checksum: FD    Passed
        MBR Sector 4 Index: 6   Checksum: 58    Passed
        MBR Sector 5 Index: 7   Checksum: 96    Passed
        MBR Sector 6 Index: 8   Checksum: 7F    Passed
        Data Sector Index: 3   Checksum: F1    Passed
        Original MBR Index: 2   Checksum: BD    Passed
        No Patch Sectors
        Checksum Byte: 00
        Think Flag: 1
        WinPE Partition (0-3): 1        Alt Boot Partition (0-3): 1
        Boot Config: 2 (Service Partition containing two Service OS's)
        Boot State: 0                   Alt Boot Flag: 0
        (Normal booting operation, will boot to Customer OS)
        RRU: 00000000 00000000          Prev Active Part: 255
        Previous Partition Type: FF     Patch IN: 0     OUT: 0
        CIRT Disabled
        TOC: 0000000000000000           Lock: 0
        Show Error: 0                   Halt on Error: 0
        CIRT Load Return: 0
        CIRT Execute Return: 0
        Pause Duration: 10              Scan Code: 0085
        F11 Msg: To boot to the Rescue and Recovery Environment, Press F11
        Check Msg: There has been a signature failure
# active type      start CHS      end CHS      startLBA       size
0   0x80   0x07      1   1   0   239 255 255           63    301296177
1   0x00   0x12      0 193 255   239 255 255    301296240     11279520
2   0x00   0x00      0   0   0     0   0   0            0            0
3   0x00   0x00      0   0   0     0   0   0            0            0
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>
The important thing to look for is the 0x12 partition type in the partition table at the bottom. This is the service
partition. If you do not have a 0x12 partition, then you can stop here because the rest of the procedure will not work
for you.
Step 4) Shutdown and boot gparted from CD. Shrink the system partition to the desired size. Do NOT touch the service partition! Do NOT attempt to create another partition! Leave the new white space on the disk untouched! Apply changes and restart the system.
Step 5) Reboot XP. gparted has set the NTFS dirty bit. This will cause XP to run a full CHKDSK. Depending on how much files there are on the partition this may take considerable time. Let CHKDSK run to completion. When CHKDSK finishes, the system will automatically reboot.
Step 6) XP reboots now. Logon. When loading the desktop, XP will show a popup window, stating that system settings have been changed and new devices been discovered and that the system should be rebooted. This is ok. XP actually recognized the shrunk system partition and applied the necessary changes to its own system parameters. Click YES to reboot the system.
Step 7) XP reboots. Logon. Open a command prompt, CD to the BMGR dir and enter:
bmgr32 /info /v
The output you get should be similar to the output you have seen in step 3, except that the partition 0 size column
shows a smaller value.
Step 8) Shutdown, restart. Check that you can still access the service partition by pressing the blue Thinkvantage button when the system startup screen appears.
Step 9) From the predesktop environment choose warmstart. Reboot XP. Logon, logoff, shutdown.
DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!!! If you start the Windows Vista/7 install right after shutting down from the predesktop
environment, the Win Vista/7 setup program will screw up your harddisk! The Lenovo MBR bootmgr reboot takes two steps for completion. The first step is the shutdown and the second step is executed when booting from harddisk. A boot from the Windows CD will skip this second step and disaster finds its way...
Step 10) Insert the Windows Vista/7 DVD and boot it. Start the setup. Choose "Custom (advanced)" install. It will show the partitions on the disk. Select the white space (unallocated). Click on "disk options (advanced)". Click on "New" to create a new partition in the white space. Keep the default size, click "Apply". Click "Format". A popup window appears stating that the partition may hold OEM data. Continue. Click "Next". Installation starts.
Continued in the second post...

Step 11) Win Vista/XP will reboot several times during installation. You will always see the Windows bootmanager with an entry for "Earlier Windows version" and "Windows Vista/7". DO NOT DARE to touch the blue Thinkvantage button on any reboot or press any function keys!
Step 12) When the installation is finished, check that you can successfully reboot Win Vista/7 by selecting it from the Windows bootmanager.
Step 13) Reboot XP by choosing "Earlier Windows version" from the Windows bootmanager. Open a command prompt. CD to the BMGR dir. Enter the following command:
bmgr32 /info /v
The output will now look like this:
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>bmgr32 /info /v
Opened Master Boot Record to see whose MBR it is.
Opened drive for reading
Partition 0 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 1 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 2 the SP? (512) Label is SERVICEV
# active type      start CHS      end CHS      startLBA       size
0   0x80   0x07      1   1   0   254 255 255           63    109675692
1   0x00   0x07    239 255 255   239 255 255    109676544    191619072
2   0x00   0x12    239 255 255   239 255 255    301296240     11279520
3   0x00   0x00      0   0   0     0   0   0            0            0
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>
startLBA and size will of course differ, depending on the actual partition sizes you have set. Note that Windows setup moved the service partition to entry 2 of the partition table. If you do not see the 0x12 partition then stop here.
Otherwise the following step will likely screw up you harddisk.
Enter the following command (case sensitive?):
bmgr32 /Fbootmgr.bin /m0 /IBM /v
The output will look like this:
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>bmgr32 /Fbootmgr.bin /m0 /IBM /v
installing MBR
finding free sectors
Sector 9 is free
Sector 10 is free
Sector 11 is free
Sector 12 is free
Sector 13 is free
Sector 14 is free
Sector 15 is free
Sector 16 is free
Opened Master Boot Record to see whose MBR it is.
It's a Lenovo MBR
Opened drive for reading
Partition 0 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 1 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 2 the SP? (512) Label is SERVICEV
Setting Think bit
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>
This command reinstalled the Lenovo bootmanager in the MBR that was erased by the Win Vista/7 setup program.
Enter the following command:
bmgr32 /info /v
The output will now look like this:
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>bmgr32 /info /v
It's a Lenovo MBR
Opened Master Boot Record to see whose MBR it is.
It's a Lenovo MBR
Opened drive for reading
Partition 0 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 1 the SP? no, type 0x07 is not correct
Partition 2 the SP? (512) Label is SERVICEV
Using version 2.05 of Lenovo Boot Manager
Reading: \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE0
        MBR Sector 1 Index: 1   Checksum: 00    Disabled
        MBR Sector 2 Index: 11 Checksum: 03    Passed
        MBR Sector 3 Index: 12 Checksum: FD    Passed
        MBR Sector 4 Index: 13 Checksum: 58    Passed
        MBR Sector 5 Index: 14 Checksum: 96    Passed
        MBR Sector 6 Index: 15 Checksum: 7F    Passed
        Data Sector Index: 10 Checksum: 01    Passed
        Original MBR Index: 9   Checksum: 12    Passed
        No Patch Sectors
        Checksum Byte: 00
        Think Flag: 1
        WinPE Partition (0-3): 2        Alt Boot Partition (0-3): 2
        Boot Config: 0 (Service Partition containing one Service OS)
        Boot State: 0                   Alt Boot Flag: 0
        (Normal booting operation, will boot to Customer OS)
        RRU: 00000000 00000000          Prev Active Part: 255
        Previous Partition Type: FF     Patch IN: 0     OUT: 0
        CIRT Disabled
        TOC: 0000000000000000           Lock: 0
        Show Error: 0                   Halt on Error: 0
        CIRT Load Return: 0
        CIRT Execute Return: 0
        Pause Duration: 10              Scan Code: 0085
        F11 Msg: To boot to the Rescue and Recovery Environment, Press F11
        Check Msg: There has been a signature failure
# active type      start CHS      end CHS      startLBA       size
0   0x80   0x07      1   1   0   254 255 255           63    109675692
1   0x00   0x07    239 255 255   239 255 255    109676544    191619072
2   0x00   0x12    239 255 255   239 255 255    301296240     11279520
3   0x00   0x00      0   0   0     0   0   0            0            0
C:\Programme\Gemeinsame Dateien\Lenovo\BMGR>
So you have actually regained the Lenovo bootmanager. But you are not done yet.
Step 14) Shutdown. Restart the system. DO NOT PRESS THE BLUE THINKVANTAGE BUTTON AT THE SYSTEM STARTUP SCREEN!!! IT DOES NOT WORK YET! When the system startup screen DISAPPEARS, quickly press F11 (maybe several times). The system should now boot the predesktop environment from the service partition.
Step 15) When the predesktop is there, choose "warmstart". When the system startup screen appears, press the blue Thinkvantage button. The system should again boot into the predesktop. The blue Thinkvantage button now works permanently.
Step 16) Check that you can boot Win XP and Win Vista/7 from the Windows bootmanager. You're done!

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