Hi, I just got an e220s with a solid state drive. I love how fast this thing boots. I've been searching online for clean install guides and have found some really thorough ones. However, I was wondering if anyone can tell me whether formatting/partitioning and performing a clean install with my own windows 7 home premium (same as what's on my laptop) disc will remove the "Enhanced Experience 2.0" and rapid drive tweaks. Thanks!

Hi there
I found your post today ; since I was going to post something somewhat in the same topic _ so let me suuggest few things::

few points/suggestions to consider:
a) retain FACTORY partition ( recovery options ec)
b) Warranty issues (SSD fail often and WITHOUT NOTICE!!!)
c) As you stated - fast start ( lenovo secret sause!)

I would suggest that you retain the FACTORY installs as is..... and really take out the "EXTRA's" that often is not much help and use:
1) ALL thinkVantage items ( only think I keep = power manager) rest of ALL of them I take out!!
2) Remove ( reisntall your own) MS Products ( i even remove office reinstalled and also remove things like BING, Windows Live etc etc ) - jsut crap I dont need NOR USE!! > MS office I install my OWN dvd sicne its smaller footprint and much more faster!
3)Remove anything else - like SIMPLE TAP, REWSCUE AND RESTORE , AIRBAG protections( ssd dont need that and often Lenvo leave these on SSD drives also - weird they do that!)

Thanks once you have all the items remvoed , cleaned up , reboot and go to WINDOWS SYSTEM and CREATE A RESTORE POINT ( normal feature in windows) Than you can create and or save a RESTORE POINT on a DVD also etc etc. kEEP THAt for future restore ...I have done this to my 6+ personal thinkpads and they all worked - tested few times since I have tennagers who create havoc to laptops all the time . I have my restore on a seperate wSata hard drive ( offline always ) and restore via home network. restore and reboot and you done within 12 mins!!

Doing Fresh installs in newer Thinkpads ( I have 3 Edge E220s and one E520 for personal use by kids at home) and all of them have SSD and they SUPER FAST !! I couldnt reprocate the SAME "fast boot" when I installed FRESH WINDOWS x64 Ultimate on mine... so a Lenovo tech advised me to NOT REFORMAT .. as the 'secret sause" is lost and cannt be reinstalled ever .....

Just few things I am noting here ,,, thought might be of instrest to you....

Cheers

Hey ausmike,

Thanks so much for the reply! Yes the only reason I want to clean install is because there is so much thinkvantage stuff i don't need, like auto-lock, and I also want to delete the 8gb recovery partition because space on an SSD is precious.

I will take your advice and not install from my own disc because I don't want to lose Lenovo's secret sauce (apparently they have a modified boot stack or what not).

Thanks!