Didn't I receive Rapid Restore PC?

[Kike G.]

Hi,

I've just bought a refurbished T40 (details on my signature) through IBM Certified Used Equipment's web site. I'm afraid it doesn't bring the so-offered IBM Rapid Restore PC software in it. At least, I can't find the program. As the computer was bought in the U. S. but I brought it with me to Peru---where I actually live---I don't know who to ask it for.

Here are the details. I'm sorry if this turns to be a long story.

I live in Peru (South America). However, an American friend of mine living in the U. S. bought this refurbished T40 for me through IBM's CUE web site about a month ago. A couple of weeks ago I traveled to U. S. to pick it up and bring it to my country with me. Now I'm back in Peru... with my T40. As you see, the notebook is still covered by the three month warranty that Lenovo offers for these equipments.

The laptop is cool. But when I tried to run IBM Rapid Restore PC software (in IBM's CUE web page you can read that all CUEs come with this software), I couldn't.

When I click on "Access IBM" and then click on the IBM Rapid Restore PC option, it appears a single screen entitled "Get the latest in rescue and recovery technology", which says: "Get the latest in recovery technology! IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore software provides an enhanced support environment to help you get up and running in the event of a failure of the operating system, virus attack, or many other issues. You can rescue files, restore your system to a previous backup, get key system information, connect to the Web, or use other resources to diagnose, get help, and recover." That screen offers only two Internet links:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/think/thinkvan ... store.html, and this one: http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... Q2QAK.html. When I go to those links, they speak about another software called "Rescue and Recovery 4.0". I understand that this is a different software; it might does similar things compared to the one I was looking for... but wasn't it. So I looked up for a B plan.

I tried turning off the equipment and initializing F11 applications before Windows started. There appeared an option to run IBM Rapid Restore PC software. When I clicked on it, it appeared a kind of DOS message that said something like this: "IBM Rapid Restore PC is not installed in this equipment".

So I got the message: I don't have the software.

I turned back to that Rescue and Recovery web page. Did I have to install it instead of IBM Rapid Restore PC? That would be ok (well, actually the file of the new software weights 450 Mb... it's pretty much for a download!), except for the following:

1) When I read the list of "Supported Systems" for this new software, my ThinkPad T40 doesn't appear, so I understand I can't install it.

2) Even if it would be possible to install it in my system, this "Rescue and Recovery 4.0" offered in the web site is just an upgrade for version 3.1. or 3.0, and I don't have none of those versions (as you see, actually it seems that I don't have any backup software installed in my system apart from XP's one).

3) Also the web page says that this Rescue and Recovery 4.0 is only compatible with Client Security Solution 8.0 or later, that I'm not sure that I have (I even don't know what that is).

The whole situation is weird because, as you can read in the IBM CUE's web site, all refurbished notebooks come with some common features, that include IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore... but mine doesn't.

I called IBM support center for Latin America, but they told me that they couldn't do anything about this. It was the first time that they heard of something like this happening. Also they said that as the computer was bought in the U. S., I had to call there.

IBM/Lenovo's support center for U. S. only receives calls from U. S. phones. I tried chat, but they keep the same policy: they only chat with U. S. residents. I sent them two e-mails and got no answer till now.

What can you recommend me?

Thank you,

[bill bolton]

What can you recommend me?

Firstly, you really should purchase from local suppliers that will give you support if you are unable to deal with this sort of issue yourself!

Anyway, the downloads and drivers section of the support web page for your 2373-7CU model provides a link to the download site for RnR v3.01.0042 (dated 2006-09-11) which means that version definitely works on a T40.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[sktn77a]

Alternatively, you could call or e-mail IBM Technical Support and explain the omission to them and ask them for a set of recovery CDs.

[GomJabbar]

Rapid Restore was part of the earlier versions of Rescue and Recovery. The Rapid Restore name was dropped in later versions.

I see there are two similar versions available for download on the link Bill Bolton provided above:

Rescue and Recovery v3.01.0042 and Client Security Solution v6.01.0042

Rescue and Recovery v3.01.0037

Both links include the Client Security Solution software. The second link states that you can choose not to install the Client Security Solution portion when installing the package (if that is what you wish). The first link may provide this option, but it is not stated as far as I can see.

Unless you feel you really need the Client Security Solution, I would recommend not installing it. A misstep at some later point in time could make your data files inaccessible.

You may have the installation program for the original Rescue and Recovery and Rapid Restore Ultra program that came with your T40 in the following directory: C:\IBMTOOLS\APPS\IBMRNR\

[Kike G.]

Firstly, you really should purchase from local suppliers that will give you support if you are unable to deal with this sort of issue yourself!

Hi, Bill,

Yeah, that's right, I should have. But I had an important reason for having did so: prices. I don't know if we are allowed to talk about this here, but let me put it this way: the same refurbished T40 CUE is also offered by Lenovo Peruvian's facility; with the total amount that I would have to pay to buy it here, there in the U. S. A. I could have bought two (same model, same type, refurbished both), and still had some money for a nice laptop backpack. So as had this kind of free air tickets to NYC, I decided to buy it there. That's the story.

Regards,

[Kike G.]

Hi, here's how this story is going on.

You may have the installation program for the original Rescue and Recovery and Rapid Restore Ultra program that came with your T40 in the following directory: C:\IBMTOOLS\APPS\IBMRNR\

I checked it out, but I didn't find no "IBMRNR" directory. In the path C:\IBMTOOLS\APPS\ I found two directories that could be the installation files. The first one is called "RRPC"; the second one, "RRPCAAP".

I explored RRPC and discovered a setup.exe file. Also there was a text file that said "Product Name: Rapid Restore PC". "So I found it!", I thought.

So I ran the setup.exe file and it began to install. While it was installing, a failure message appeared in the screen for a few seconds; it said something like "This program was unable to make a disk partition". After that, the "The installation is finished" dialog box appeared, and the program asked me to reboot the system. After rebooting, a DOS-style screen said something like: "Now the program is creating a partition in your hard disk. Do not shut down your computer or your disk could become unusable". A progress bar showed how the partition was being created!

When the system rebooted again, a new partition appeared: a "E" hard disk called "IBM_SERVICE", with only 309 Mb of total space. Also when clicking Start/Programs, it appeared a new menu called "Rapid Restore Temp", with two shorcuts on it: "fininst" and "strtrrpc"; the first one was a shorcut for this path: "C:\Program Files\xpoint\pe\fininst.exe"; the second one, for this one: "C:\Program Files\xpoint\pe\strtrrpc.exe". I'm afraid of clicking on any of those two shorcuts.

So now I have an undesired hard disk partition (and an unuseful one, because of its reduced space). This partition is filled with files such as Autoexec.BBB, Hymem.sys, IBMBIO.com, etc.

I don't know what to do. Should I restore my system (once again) to its original fabric values? That means loosing of software, data… but, above all, loosing of time.

What might have happened?

...you could call or e-mail IBM Technical Support and explain the omission to them and ask them for a set of recovery CDs.

Actually, I did! Before doing all of this, I ask for help and for the disks, but they said that the disks wouldn't help, because I would end up having no more than the same files that I already have now with only my preinstalled files.

However, after having accidentally created this new partition, I called them again to ask how could I eliminate it. They only offered me the installation CDs, which I accepted. So the disks are on their way here.

Does someone know if using the CDs can be of any help in a case like this? How should I use them? If I install everything again with the disk, would this represent that I'll have a new Windows XP key number? Also, is it possible to format the disk completely (I mean, destroying all preinstalled partitions and software) and then to use the installation CDs to set it all as it normally comes from the fabric? (I mean, with that hidden partition, with Rapid Recovery PC working and storing backups in that hidden part, with the system still recognizing Windows as original software, with all IBM drivers properly installed, etc.).

I see there are two similar versions available for download on the link Bill Bolton provided above... The second link states that you can choose not to install the Client Security Solution.

Actually, I don't know that Client Security Solution is. Any further reading?

Unless you feel you really need the Client Security Solution, I would recommend not installing it. A misstep at some later point in time could make your data files inaccessible.

I accept the advise. I'm downloading the second link (thanks for indicating me which software to download!). I'll try to install it, but I'm afraid it might create another partition in my disk .

[Kike G.]

Hi,

Here's one additional fact. I tried with the other directory, the RRPCAPP one. I ran the exe file. This turned to be the files I needed. It appeared the instalation wizard. Everything was going fine. But there was a problem. When I came to this screen, I couldn't go on:



As you see, both installing options are disabled. Troubleshooter didn't help.

Any ideas? My HD is 40 Gb, and now it has 16 Gb of free space.

[GomJabbar]

I believe Rapid Restore is not going to work for you. The backups apparently have to be saved to the hard drive before they can be copied over to other media. You do not have the hard drive space for this.

I recommend you look into cloning your hard drive or using a different backup program such as Roxio Backup MyPC. The only problem with Backup MyPC is that you need to have a Windows install CD or have Windows installed on the hard drive before you can restore a backup. I use an earlier version of Backup MyPC that was previously owned by StompSoft. I find it to be very good backup software.

The IBM(R) Rapid Restore(TM) Ultra program enables you to use removable media (USB hard disk drive, DVD drive, or CD drive) to restore the contents of the hard disk in the event of a hard disk drive failure. Copying your backup files to removable media enhances backup protection and enables you to restore your system from any of your archived backup files.

To archive your backups, complete the following procedure:

From the IBM Rapid Restore Ultra main window, click Backup and select Copy backups from hard drive from the drop-down list.

Select the medium you want to save your backup files to by clicking the appropriate radio button.
The backup files that will be copied are listed on the user interface.

Click OK. to continue.

You will need blank removable media when copying backups from the hard drive to CD or DVD. Make sure that you label each disc as it is created, and that you store them together in a safe place.