Question about restore CDs and "clean install" CDs

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Antioch · #1 Post by **Antioch** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 1:04 pm

Hi guys.

I recently wiped the service partition off of my X60 by mistake before I could make any restore CDs. I know I could call Lenovo and ask for them - and probably get charged, but before then I would like to know if any of these options will work:

I have a set of system restore CDs I made with my T60 laptop - will they work on the X60?

I also have a "clean XP install CD" I made from the instructions in this forum - can I use that to install XP on my X60?

Will either of those options work?

Thanks for the help.

bonestonne · #2 Post by **bonestonne** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:42 pm

clean install is for freshly installing XP while sometimes removing the old OS, or sometimes upgrading.

system restore CDs are used to recover from a constant BSOD reboot cycle, or maybe an issue with the OS...it just repairs the OS, requiring one to be present.

#3 Post by **ryengineer** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:38 pm

bonestonne wrote:system restore CDs are used to recover from a constant BSOD reboot cycle, or maybe an issue with the OS...it just repairs the OS, requiring one to be present.

They wipe out your hdd and restore your system to original factory state, regardless whether or not your system is having any issue(s).

To the OP, you could and it might work but technically it's illegal.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:48 pm

bonestonne wrote:system restore CDs are used to recover from a constant BSOD reboot cycle, or maybe an issue with the OS...it just repairs the OS, requiring one to be present.

The Product Recovery Discs (could be called system restore CD's) completely erase all partitions and data on a hard drive, then create the hidden partition and the Windows C: partition and reinstall all the software as the ThinkPad originally came from the factory. They even work on a brand new hard drive with nothing on it. Some have successfully used these discs on models they were not originally designed for. I imagine the success rate would depend on how alike the two different models are.

AFAIK, any Rescue and Recovery backups you have made could be used to reinstall the system on a ThinkPad. Whether these will work on a different ThinkPad, I am not sure. You would need a Recovery Media CD or else have made the Rescue and Recovery backup bootable for this to work. I do not use Rescue and Recovery for my backups, so I am not quite sure of the capabilities of it's restore mechanism. The backup software I use (which did not come from Lenovo) requires Windows to be installed first for it to work.

The "clean XP install CD" should work if it was properly made. No way to tell for sure unless you try it out. First you need to see if it will boot. Next you might need to enter a Product Key for the installation to complete - depending upon how the CD was created. Not just any Product Key will work. Not until you enter the product key and it is accepted can you be absolutely certain you have the correct key for your CD.

bonestonne · #5 Post by **bonestonne** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:32 pm

do remember the difference between Destructive and Standard reformat with a recovery CD. Destructive reformat will recreate factory installed partitions and make it "like new". Standard reformat will preserve the current state of your computer, only reinstalling base system files.

similar to just a Repair option.

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 8:08 pm

I don't know which CD's exactly, you are referring to bonestonne. The Windows installation CD provided by Microsoft. The Product Recovery CD's available from Lenovo or by burning your own set from Start > All Programs > ThinkVantage > Create Rescue Media > Product Recovery or Start > All Programs > Access IBM > Create Recovery Discs. Or Rescue and Recovery backups made with Rescue and Recovery or Rapid Restore Ultra.

The Product Recovery CD's do not have any Standard reformat or Destructive reformat option.

#7 Post by **ryengineer** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:07 pm

I am curious to know as well.

bonestonne · #8 Post by **bonestonne** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:00 pm

the destructive and standard reformat aren't on the CD normally, its actually the trigger for a reformat...such as hitting the F10 key on some computers....it starts a reformatting UI, which you would then select which reformat to use, and then insert the CDs for the reformat.

puts computer back to factory settings completely if Destructive.

Destructive reformat is the equivalent of a clean install.
Standard reformat is the equivalent of a repair install.

maybe that makes more sense to some people?

one wipes the hard drive, one doesn't.

#9 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:54 pm

bonestonne wrote:its actually the trigger for a reformat...such as hitting the F10 key on some computers....it starts a reformatting UI

I believe you are speaking in general terms and not in reference to ThinkPads specifically.

The nearest thing to the above in a ThinkPad is to press the Access IBM button or ThinkVantage button or F11 key at the IBM/Lenovo splash screen on boot up. This normally boots up Rescue and Recovery from the hidden partition which has the option to restore Factory Contents. Doing so will wipe (reformat) the C: partition and restore Windows and all the IBM/Lenovo factory drivers and software. Partitions other than the C: partition should be unaffected, however all non-factory installed programs will no longer be installed, so this is not a "Repair Install" as can be done with a Windows Install CD.

You also have the option while booted up into Rescue and Recovery to restore a backup you might have made. This will bring your computer to a previous configuration with all the software which you had installed at the time.

Another option is to recover files off of a hard drive that will not boot (this assumes the hard drive is not totally trashed).

Finally, you can run diagnostics and connect to the internet or other network via ethernet.

WVZR1 · #10 Post by **WVZR1** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:08 pm

I'm interested also in what's required here for a "clean xp only" install. Could an OEM XP CD from a builder/vendor(not from the major players, Dell,HP etc) with the use of the OEM key included on the T60(or whatever) work for a clean OS install?
In the 7 CD pack available from Lenovo, is one of the CD's strictly the XP install? 7 CD's is a good bit of information.

#11 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 6:59 pm

WVZR1 wrote:I'm interested also in what's required here for a "clean xp only" install. Could an OEM XP CD from a builder/vendor(not from the major players, Dell,HP etc) with the use of the OEM key included on the T60(or whatever) work for a clean OS install?
In the 7 CD pack available from Lenovo, is one of the CD's strictly the XP install? 7 CD's is a good bit of information.

1. Yes, with the key printed on the COA label.
2. None of them will install just XP. You have to use all the CD's.

To the best of my knowledge, the latest T6x, R6x, and X6x models have a selective install option when you restore factory contents using the ThinkVantage button on boot up. The older ThinkPads do not offer this option. I do not know much more about it than this, but there are a couple of threads here on the topic, as well as a thread in Lenovo Blogs by Matt Kohut.

#12 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:32 pm

WVZR1 wrote:I'm interested also in what's required here for a "clean xp only" install. Could an OEM XP CD from a builder/vendor(not from the major players, Dell,HP etc) with the use of the OEM key included on the T60(or whatever) work for a clean OS install?

You won't be able to activate XP with the key affixed on the back of your notebook.

pianowizard · #13 Post by **pianowizard** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:42 pm

ryengineer wrote:You won't be able to activate XP with the key affixed on the back of your notebook.

I installed OEM Win XP on my A31p, X60s and Toshiba Portege R100 and successfully activated all three using their COA codes.

WVZR1 · #14 Post by **WVZR1** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:58 pm

Well I expect I'll be finding out directly. I've a set of restore cd's but I might just try it with an OEM first. I've really struggled with some of the IBM "advantage" options and maybe it will suit me fine with maybe less "bells and whistles". Would you expect you could selectively add those that you were interested in? The Intel 3945 abg is giving me fits.
Thanks for the responses. I'll post back I'm sure.

#15 Post by **ryengineer** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:08 pm

pianowizard wrote:I installed OEM Win XP on my A31p, X60s and Toshiba Portege R100 and successfully activated all three using their COA codes.

I should've been more clear. You can make use of that Oem license as long as you're using the appropriate corresponding version.

WVZR1 · #16 Post by **WVZR1** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:42 am

ryengineer wrote:
pianowizard wrote:I installed OEM Win XP on my A31p, X60s and Toshiba Portege R100 and successfully activated all three using their COA codes.
I should've been more clear. You can make use of that Oem license as long as you're using the appropriate corresponding version.

The XP is a "generic" XP build that is recent. Will it activate over the internet or will it require a phone activation? Will the "restoration partition" be destroyed in the format or should the drive be wiped first by "killdisk" or a similar operation?

I appreciate the information!

pianowizard · #17 Post by **pianowizard** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:31 am

WVZR1 wrote:Will it activate over the internet or will it require a phone activation?

For some reason, internet activation has rarely worked for me. I usually need to use phone activation. No big deal, it takes only about 5 minutes.

WVZR1 wrote:Will the "restoration partition" be destroyed in the format

At the beginning of the installation process, you are asked to choose which partition to use. You can leave the recovery partition intact if you want.

Question about restore CDs and "clean install" CDs

Question about restore CDs and "clean install" CDs

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