Thinkpads Forum

Hello, I primarily use Linux, however I am attempting to install the OEM Vista Business that came with my laptop into a virtual machine. I have 8 disks, 6 of them are labeled Product Recovery CD 1-6, one is labeled Supplemental Product Recovery CD, and another is labeled Rescue and Recovery CD.

Only the rescue and recovery CD is bootable, however as soon as it boots to a black screen with a grey "Thinkpad Rescue and recovery" image in the foreground, the virtual machine restarts. Is this a security measure so that the CD cannot be booted on non-Lenovo computers?

Is there any way to use the CDs that came with my laptop to create a virtual machine? Or perhaps some way to rip the cds and create a slipstreamed install disk?


Thank you,

Cameron

I'm pretty sure that the restore discs look for an IBM identifier in the bios before they will boot. Even if it did install it would partition the virtual hard drive and install the hidden restore partition and then have you install Vista from there. What a waste of a virtual hard drive.
I don't think there is a way to extract a usable installable clean Vista image from the restore discs. If you have a Vista COA sticker on the bottom of your Thinkpad you could try getting one of those "Vista anytime upgrade" discs and possibly install from it using the number from the bottom of your Thinkpad.

Are there any license issues? I thought Vista was a little screwy in that certain versions (like home basic or home premium....it's hard to keep track of all of them) can't be used in VMs while others can. Also, I thought there was an issue with OEM vs. retail versions working in VM (I'm not saying either won't work, just that the EULA may prohibit it).

Vista Home and Basic are disallowed to be used in a VM per the EULA, but Business and Ultimate are okay.

I don't mind the waste of the virtual hard disk space, I have quite enough of it... and after I get it installed I believe I should be able to create my own vista setup disk using a method similar to slipstreaming SP2 into an XP SP1 install. (using nlite and related softwares) (I don't know about the legality of that...)

So it looks like short of calling lenovo, installing it on another hard drive is my only bet. dang.