Bad Product Recovery Discs?

Message

MikeM · #1 Post by **MikeM** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:12 pm

Hi,

I just recently purchased a new T61p with Windows Vista Ultimate. I created the system restore disks and when I tried them I get an error message saying that "Product Recovery could not find file D:\Preboot\Utils\Convert.cmd" This happens if I try to perform a full or a custom restore of the system. I'm not exactly drooling to send Lenovo $50 for a set of restore disks. I checked the discs on another machine and the file doesn't exist.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

hart22 · #2 Post by **hart22** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:43 pm

Did you create system restore discs using Rescue & Recovery, or recovery media using the specific and separate utility that does this? I ask because to my knowledge the factory recovery media that you create (Start --> ThinkVantage --> Create Recovery Media) and which is available for purchase from Lenovo does not allow the option of a custom restore. That option is only available through Rescue & Recovery. Sometimes if you've made a simple set of system restore discs and then updated R&R the old discs won't work, as these discs only work for the version of R&R that created them.

It's only the factory recovery media that completely returns your machine to the original factory settings, with service partition and other base settings.

MikeM · #3 Post by **MikeM** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:15 pm

I created the disc set from the recovery media menu item from within the Vista OS. I did note that I was allowed to make only one set (why??)

Then I tried to restore the OS to a different drive (I have a pile of drives and caddies for this machine) and hit the wall.

It seems that I need to buy discs from Lenovo. They sent me XP discs, but not discs for the OS that I bought with the machine. Too bad they didn't send me Linux/BSD drivers and source code for the various bits of hardware instead of the XP. I think I'll just go ahead and order the factory restore discs from Lenovo and put them in a safe place. Then I'll have another HDD to use for my Linux/BSD programming, as I think I'm going to just '86 the Vista.

Thanks for your help,
Mike

#4 Post by **ryengineer** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:51 pm

MikeM, yes it's very possible to have a bad burn of disks through Rescue and Recovery, many users on this forum have also reported it previously (please search the forum).

IBM should be able to send you a free set if you explain your (mentioned) account to them.

Ken Fox · #5 Post by **Ken Fox** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:22 pm

Another option, if you don't want to bother calling IBM, and if you still have the intact original hard disk, would be to boot into the recovery space with the blue button, restore your system to factory contents, then after this is done you will be allowed to generate another set of recovery disks.

#6 Post by **bill bolton** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:27 pm

MikeM wrote:I did note that I was allowed to make only one set (why??)

Its a condition Microsoft puts on the distribution of pre-installed VLK (Volume Licence Key) system images.

Cheers,

Bill B.

MikeM · #7 Post by **MikeM** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:57 pm

ryengineer wrote:MikeM, yes it's very possible to have a bad burn of disks through Rescue and Recovery, many users on this forum have also reported it previously (please search the forum).

IBM should be able to send you a free set if you explain your (mentioned) account to them.

I called IBM and they are sending out a stack of custom burned cds according to the fellow that I spoke with. He said that they don't have these on hand and that it would take them 3-5 working days to process my order. I thought this to be rather odd. He also stated that according to my shipping manifest I should have received Vista Ulitmate recovery cds and the XP downgrade cds, but I have not yet heard of anyone that has recently purchased a new T61p receiving anything other than just the XP downgrade cds. Hmmm. Anyway, ~something~ is on the way. I'm getting the discs for free.

MikeM · #8 Post by **MikeM** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:02 pm

Ken Fox wrote:Another option, if you don't want to bother calling IBM, and if you still have the intact original hard disk, would be to boot into the recovery space with the blue button, restore your system to factory contents, then after this is done you will be allowed to generate another set of recovery disks.

THANK YOU!
I did indeed have the original HDD still unstepped on and was able to get the OS working again yesterday. I tried to patch everything up and ended up with my fingerprint reader no longer working, so I'm currently in the process of re-resurrecting the machine. My hobby is installing and tweaking operating systems, it would seem.

When I get it all nice I'm going to try clonezilla on it and see if I can get a good backup image. I have not yet attempted to make another stack of recovery cds.

I do very much so appreciate this tip.

Mike

MikeM · #9 Post by **MikeM** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:07 pm

bill bolton wrote:
MikeM wrote:I did note that I was allowed to make only one set (why??)
Its a condition Microsoft puts on the distribution of pre-installed VLK (Volume Licence Key) system images.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Thanks for the info.

I need to figure out what license files to lift off of the Lenovo Vista Ultimate install so that I can just take my Vista Business OEM DVD and install Ultimate on the Thinkpad without all of the Lenovo cruft and the Thinkvantage partition.

Mike

Fortunate · #10 Post by **Fortunate** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:58 am

Regarding making bad recovery disks, when I made my set, it took a good long time to create them, and I noticed that it did a full verify after burning the contents. Presumably this is to prevent a bad burn...

steveg47 · #11 Post by **steveg47** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:37 pm

MikeM wrote: I need to figure out what license files to lift off of the Lenovo Vista Ultimate install so that I can just take my Vista Business OEM DVD and install Ultimate on the Thinkpad without all of the Lenovo cruft and the Thinkvantage partition.

This url should help:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783

Bad Product Recovery Discs?

Bad Product Recovery Discs?

Who is online