W541 Recovery help..

[chazz]

Hi All
Not been here for awhile, hope everyone is doing well.

Recently I've purchased an used W541 off #bay.
The machine is currently running Win10 pro (from the seller), the sticker on the back is Win7 Pro.
No other additional Thinkpad bells or whistle applications.
I was able to go on Microsoft and make updates, It's showing "all up to date". Like wise all Lenovo drivers are all up to date.
So I am assuming it has legit OS from the seller.

I wish to do fresh, out of the factory re-install but
I do not have any Win 10 OS keys or any disks to do the fresh install.
I've went on the Lenovo Recovery Media USB route, but hit a dead end.
Its showing me that they can not find the serial number (maybe because out of warranty/no longer in service since
this is an older machine?)
If I call Lenovo would they provide me with Win10 recovery media version? or the original Win7?
even If the current machine is running Win10 (with existing digital key in the Motherboard?),

I like to get a set of W541 Recovery disk WIn10 either in CD form or USB drive.
I may try the WTB section to see if any one has a set they like to part before I contact Lenovo.
I been alittle behind on the latest and greatest machines and OS system.
Any information on best way to go about getting a fresh W541 factory re-install with Win10 version would be appreciated.
Cheers...

[Brad]

Happy Holidays!

The only Lenovo factory recovery media available will be for the operating systems that this model shipped with.

Since this model debuted in 2008 and Windows 10 was released in 2015 there would be no Lenovo Windows 10 recovery media.

An option would be a retail install of Windows 10 which would need further updating with Lenovo drivers.

Another would be to get the Lenovo W541 Windows 7 recovery media and take the upgrade path to Windows 10 if there is one.

Brad

[RealBlackStuff]

Since this model debuted in 2008 and Windows 10 was released in 2015

W541 came on the market in 2014...

[Brad]

I searched far and wide and missed it. I looked at the W series and not the specific W541.

I work on not letting the facts get in the way of my replies

Thanks for the update.

Happy Holidays!

Brad

[OneByteCPU]

You can go to Microsoft and download the Windows 10 installation media. Your Windows 7 key will activate the Windows 10 Install or just tell the setup program that you have no key. Since it already had activated Windows 10 on it, it will activate again once you connect it to the internet.

Do not connect to the internet until the installation is complete (just keep telling it you don't have internet) otherwise they will try to force you to tie it to a MS account.

Then once you finally connect to the internet keep checking for updates until it says it's fully updated. This can take a while. Choose all optional updates too, to get the latest drivers. Or go over to Lenovo's site and install Lenovo Vantage and use it to check for hardware specific updates.