Thinkpads Forum

I have an old T40 2373-72U that never, ever gave me the option to create recovery disks when I turned it on for the first time many years ago.

Now I have taken delivery of a new W520 4276-38U. Will this machine offer me the chance to make recovery disks the first time I power it on? Should I use CDs or DVD-ROMs?

Thanks.

I don't recall it prompting me, but there is a program to run once you're logged in. Its Start Menu shortcut is named "Create Recovery Media." For some reason I can't find it in any program group, but you can just click the start menu and then use the text field to search for "recovery." Or dig for it in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Lenovo\Factory Recovery\recovburncd.exe"

I used DVD+Rs, though I suspect the first one (just to boot to the recovery environment) might fit on a CD.

Worked for me and it took me 1 CD and 2 DVDs.

Just curious--why did you choose one CD and two DVDs?

PsychBiller wrote:Just curious--why did you choose one CD and two DVDs?

The first media is the startup disc. It only contains the captive windows environment used to do the instlall (the old "Rescue and Recovery" disc). The actual system restore image is on the remaining media. Use DVD+R for this or you'll have a stack of CDs to the ceiling. I think mine took 3 discs (although the third didn't seem to use much of it).

PsychBiller wrote:Just curious--why did you choose one CD and two DVDs?

At one time in the past, I think the recovery programs required the first disk to be a CD. Remaining disks could be DVD.

Thanks for sharing your insight, everyone!