Please help with Create Recovery Media

[visitor]

Hi all,
I know there are dozens of threads on this subject but so far my long browsing hours haven't clarified a few things.

The scenario:
The X60s that I bought used came with a non-factory installed version of Windows XP Professional 32-bit. But the original Service Partition is there (Disk Management shows it as SERVICEV001, and it can also be seen in the BIOS "security/pre desktop" section where it shows the "normal" status).
So I've been studying a safe way to restore to factory settings as well as being able to create Recovery media.

What I've done:
1- I first tried running the "Base Software Administrator" which in the end offers the option to full factory reinstall upon the following boot. No success, it booted again to the existing XP.

2-As suggested in some posts, I decided to install "Rescue and Recovery", version 4.21.
Just in case, I first created a CD version of a repair diskette, following instructions from Lenovo's pages.
But R&R installed without issues, apparently. I did notice that in the first reboot there was a "press F11" option blinking for a few seconds which wasn't before. After XP started, R&R continued some installation routine. When it stopped I rebooted again, and this time I saw no "press F11" option.
Back into windows, I pressed the ThinkVantage button, nothing happened.
Finally I went "Start/Programs/ThinkVantage" and found menus for "Rescue and Recovery" and "Create Recovery Media". Went there and faced this dialog which shows options for creating "Rescue media" and in the bottom half "Recovery disks". Afraid to do something wrong I clicked "Cancel" to further study available posts.

3-I read a user saying that proceeding with the above mentioned dialog he was left with only a rescue CD and no System recovery disks and that when trying again he was prompted by a message saying something like he "had already used up his only chance to create recovery media".
Other users said they succeeded but complained that they got 8 CDs when they would rather be with a single CD and a single DVD and they didn't understand why that happened even though they used a DVD/CD writer.

Thus my questions:
5- Should I select BOTH options (Rescue Media and Recovery Disks) or one at a time ?
6- What are the exact steps for creating a set of "1 CD and 1 DVD" that fully allows me to reinstall the original factory system, and avoid the 8-CDs set ?

7- If the Disks are created successfuly, will they allow for the same restoration as if done at boot with the "press F11" option ?

8- Will either of the two methods mentioned in question 7 allow again for Creating Recovery Disks after reinstallation ?

Many thanks for reading, any word of advice will certainly be appreciated by many Thinkpad users who like me are still puzzled and concerned by this tricky procedure.

All the best !

[Harryc]

Create the recovery discs and reload the machine. Backup your important files first because loading the discs and recovering to factory contents will erase your entire drive. Use the CD first, then a DVD (or 2). You will be prompted if you need more than one.

[visitor]

Hi, I understand the reinstall will erase all current data, but again back to question (5):
Should I tick BOTH options ("rescue media" / "recovery disks"), or only the second one to ensure that I get 1CD and 1 DVD instead of 8 CDs ? Will this second option alone(recovery disks) also include a bootable disk ?
I apologize for being so detailed, but I understand if don't do it in an exact way I might not have a second chance.
Thank you so much for helping.
Regards

[Harryc]

You don't want to rescue the machine (used if it won't boot), so just select the create recovery disc option.

[visitor]

OK, I solved the issue for my needs. So for anyone out there who also feels hesitant let me share my experience:

1- Remember, the notebook in this case is a second-hand Lenovo X60s running Windows XP Pro, outside the US.
2- The original HD is 80gb and was without the service partition, so I wanted to restart anew.
3- Outside the US, Lenovo don't just mail you a set of Recovery Disks, you have to locate a local authorized facility and wait one or two months for an order.
4- Not affording to wait, I decided to choose a different way: I had previously bought a broken X60s off the local e-Bay equivalent for parts reuse when needed, and thought I might as well check the disk which came in that machine. It was a 40gb Fujitsu.

5-With the 80gb HD still in use I ran anti-virus software in the 40gb Fujistsu placed inside an external USB enclosure. Then after powering off, disconnecting cables and removing the battery, I swapped the two HDs and booted off the 40gb fujitsu inside the X60s. It turned out it still had the service partition, such great news. But there was no option for using it.
I then went on reading just about all threads related to "factory reinstall".

6-Since there was no "F11" option at boot, and the ThinkVantage blue button was not doing anything, I decided to follow instructions for using the "ThinkVantage Base Software Administrator" (a little program that can be downloaded here:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... N#TBSAhttp://
It was easy to use and it has options for not installing things you don't want, by creating two configuration/personalization files.
Most relevant: it has an option of "reinstall factory system in the next boot".
But it didn't work, windows booted as it was taking no knowledge of restoration.

7- Following forum recomendations, I downloaded and installed Rescue and Recovery version 4.21 (4.3 is for Vista and 7).
I noticed that after installing RnR, in the first boot I quickly saw an "press F11" option, but then upon reboot it was gone. Fortunately, with RnR installed it enabled a menu for "Create Recovery Media". That's when I first wrote this post, afraid that I could screw things knowing that only one set of recovery media is allowed to be generated.

8- Encouraged by HarryC's response, I chose the second option (Recovery Media) as opposed to the first (Rescue disk). I had an external CD/DVD writer connected through USB and follow the instructions.
The FIRST disk must be a blank CD-R, then when asked for the next disk I inserted a blank DVD-R. Bingo! Recovery Disks successfully created ! Apparently the CD is the same as the "Rescue" CD had I chosen the first option.

9- Confident by now having Recovery Disks I decided to give another shot at the Base Software Administrator. It remembered the two files created in the first attempt and now, with RnR installed, the "reinstall in the next boot" option finally worked, factory system began being restored, wiping all existing data from the disk.

10-System reinstalled, I did the "Create Recovery Media" again. Disks created, I went on updgrading WIndows to SP3 and all important stuff from Microsoft as well as Lenovo's important updates. All that I need is functional so I didn't go on to more sensitive stuff like updating BIOS.
Now, with Rescue And Recovery again installed, I wasn't able to get to BIOS settings at boot, wether pressing the ThinkVantage button or other key it would invariably fall in a configuration loop telling something like "wait while configuring". I uninstalled RnR, and now at boot I could press F1 for BIOS or F12 for boot device order. The "press F11" option isn't there, but it doesn't hurt since I now have disks and the Base Software Administrator.

11- Next step is cloning the 40g Fujitsu back to the 80g HD (Samsung or Hitachi, not sure). I will do it by using Acronis True Image at boot (CD in external USB enclosure) with the 80gb back inside the X60s and the Fujitsu 40gb in the external enclosure, using "exact same disk" size option (to later regain the unallocated data with either Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director).

Observations: So far I haven't used the Recovery Disks. It's been widespread reported that if the disks are used for reinstall then they will again generate the hidden service partition, allowing again the option to "Create Recovery Media", but so long as the HD is FORMATTED first, otherwise the factory system will be installed but without the hidden partition.

I hope my experience can be helpul to others.
All the best !

T23=> X31 => T42 => X60s => X201s

[IvanAndreevich]

Mod Edit - content removed that described non-approved means to get recovery media. - Harryc