Lenovo Windows 8 Downgrade

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ClickRight

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OK, I have a bunch of Lenovo e530 laptops with Windows 7 preinstalled. They come with media for windows 8, but no COA obviously. There is also no COA for Windows 7.


I'm just not sure what to do to activate it. When I go to activate, it says:

  1. Buy a new product key online
  2. Type a different product key
  3. Contact Microsoft To help resolve this problem

Picking "Contact Microsoft To help resolve this problem" goes to a Lenovo customized help screen with the telephone number for Lenovo's technical support (1-800-565-3344). Any thoughts / suggestions?

PS. Our Best Buy is selling the same laptop (my client brought one in) and it's doing the same thing.
 
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Lenovo

Did you look under the battery. Seems like the last time I did Lenovo the COA was under there. After the way the new coa paper wears off after a time.
 
DanB said:
Did you look under the battery. Seems like the last time I did Lenovo the COA was under there. After the way the new coa paper wears off after a time.
Click to expand...

Nah, these are downgrades they won't have a COA. NORMALLY - they use pre-activated system images and you don't need to worry. Possibly yet another Lenovo f-up?
 
seedubya said:
What did Lenovo tech support say?
Click to expand...

They said to call MS at 1-866-234-6020.

DanB said:
Did you look under the battery. Seems like the last time I did Lenovo the COA was under there. After the way the new coa paper wears off after a time.
Click to expand...

No COA under the battery I'm 99% certain. I will check again tomorrow.


UPDATE: I called MS, and they said "We don't handle that information because we're not OEM". This was after I called Lenovo who said to call MS. AHHHH -- very frustrating!!!
 
ClickRight said:
OK, I have a bunch of Lenovo e530 laptops with Windows 7 preinstalled. They come with media for windows 8, but no COA obviously. There is also no COA for Windows 7.


I'm just not sure what to do to activate it. When I go to activate, it says:

  1. Buy a new product key online
  2. Type a different product key
  3. Contact Microsoft To help resolve this problem

Picking "Contact Microsoft To help resolve this problem" goes to a Lenovo customized help screen with the telephone number for Lenovo's technical support (1-800-565-3344). Any thoughts / suggestions?

PS. Our Best Buy is selling the same laptop (my client brought one in) and it's doing the same thing.
Click to expand...

I've been buying tons of these units and they all have been pre activated. They should have the ability to create image disks. Why are you having to activate?
 
UPDATE:

I came back to my office. There's nothing under the battery. I called Lenovo again and got a really helpful gentelmen who told me this:

Recovery media has to be sent out (approx 4 biz days) and all the machines need to be reimaged :eek:

I have 2 in my shop now and 4 more on the way. The 4 more that are on the way aren't so bad, but the other 2 are already customized and software installed, activated and everything!

He said here's 1 other possibility, and that's calling Lenovo sales care and explaining the situation (1-877-884-4659 Option 2) He said they've really worked some miracles in the past and he said "Oh God.. they really gonna need to work with you on this one"

What I don't understand is -- isn't it a MS requirement for there to be a COA for Windows 7 when it is preinstalled? I have some Lenovo B590s here with Windows 7 pre-installed (and avtivated...PHEW!) and no COA either.
 
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ClickRight said:
UPDATE:

I came back to my office. There's nothing under the battery. I called Lenovo again and got a really helpful gentelmen who told me this:

Recovery media has to be sent out (approx 4 biz days) and all the machines need to be reimaged :eek:

I have 2 in my shop now and 4 more on the way. The 4 more that are on the way aren't so bad, but the other 2 are already customized and software installed, activated and everything!

He said here's 1 other possibility, and that's calling Lenovo sales care and explaining the situation (1-877-884-4659 Option 2) He said they've really worked some miracles in the past and he said "Oh God.. they really gonna need to work with you on this one"

What I don't understand is -- isn't it a MS requirement for there to be a COA for Windows 7 when it is preinstalled? I have some Lenovo B590s here with Windows 7 pre-installed (and avtivated...PHEW!) and no COA either.
Click to expand...

No because you purchased Windows 8 machines and exercised your downgrade rights, which Lenovo did for you.

I ask again. I've purchased nearly a dozen of these units and they all came with Windows 7 preinstalled images with Lenovo bloatware and everything. They were preactivated just like any such image. Why are having to activate them. Did you format them without making the install media?
 
nlinecomputers said:
No because you purchased Windows 8 machines and exercised your downgrade rights, which Lenovo did for you.

I ask again. I've purchased nearly a dozen of these units and they all came with Windows 7 preinstalled images with Lenovo bloatware and everything. They were preactivated just like any such image. Why are having to activate them. Did you format them without making the install media?
Click to expand...

They were not preactivated. The one my client brought me only had 3 days left to activate. The one I bought had 21 I believe. I did not reinstall, I guessing Lenovo screwed up?

PS. Does this mean each machine needs it's own recovery disk from Lenovo or will 1 do them all?
 
I got up early and called 1-877-884-4659 Option 2 first thing this morning. They said they can't help me because I didn't buy direct from Lenovo :( I even told the tech support guy I got them from my supplier.

They told me to call Reseller support @ 1-877-536-9955 and they have created a case number for me. The lady I spoke with said I was the second to call with this issue.

I'm afraid this is going to take some time :(
 
UPDATE: Got a call from Lenovo's customer care team. They know exactly what's going on! Apparently they had a huge issue with this earlier in the month and had to recall several models. They thought it was all over... until I called :(

She said it's a file that has to go into the BIOS (I assume the SLP code) and that they can't send it to me, I have to ship the laptops out. So they're sending a prepaid label for the laptops I have, they're shipped to Toronto and then to Cleavland I believe.

The good news is: The machines don't have to be re-imaged. The bad news is it's going to take a few days and delay some of my work.
 
That means that the systems have the proper image on them. You need to make the Windows 7 dvd set for the machines. I'd make a copy for your self as storage.
 
nlinecomputers said:
That means that the systems have the proper image on them. You need to make the Windows 7 dvd set for the machines. I'd make a copy for your self as storage.
Click to expand...

I have been making 16GB USB keys -- much faster and easier :) I know you can't make two copies from the program, but I guess I could duplicate the USB key.

nlinecomputers said:
What about reflashing the BIOS?
Click to expand...

I thought about that, but I figured they would have told me to do so if they thought it would work. I figure that it's something they need to embed into the the area that doesn't get updated by the BIOS flash utility.
 
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