Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk'

Re:Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk' by aylons on Wednesday May 06, 2015 @11:59AM (#9499603)

My Lenovo came with a recovery partition from which I could reinstall Windows. However, I suppose it would also automatically reinstall crapware, which is beside the point.

The solution was to download an official Windows 8 copy from Microsoft's website - the Windows installer will get the license key from the EFI.

Not as good as a recovery disk, as you will need to download and install manually all drivers, but vetting everything is part of the point.

EDIT: for those looking, this is the link from where I downloaded the Windows 8 binary from Microsoft website: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-re...

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Re:Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk' by kbenson on Wednesday May 06, 2015 @12:22PM (#9499778)

I wasn't aware you could get vanilla windows install media for OEM license keys. Does this work with older windows versions as well? I have a Windows 7 Laptop that I would love to do this with,

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Re:Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk' by smwht on Wednesday May 06, 2015 @01:20PM (#9500229)

It's a new feature with windows 8[1]. Unofficially you can install windows 7 using the OEM key (note this is not the key printed on the sticker on your laptop) and then activate it.

[1] http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/save-yourself-from-yo...

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Re:Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk' by ams6110 on Wednesday May 06, 2015 @12:24PM (#9499791)

Hm, I thought the OEM license keys were not usable to install a retail version of Windows. Has it changed, or have I been wrong all along?

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Re:Lenovo: researchers find 'massive security risk' by smwht on Wednesday May 06, 2015 @01:21PM (#9500239)

Windows 8+ feature, see reply to kbenson above.

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