Rescue & Recovery update question

[majro]

I wanted to restore SWTOOLS directory from a backup that I made immediately after having my R61i delivered. I fired up the R&R, chose to restore individual files, and, the backup just isn't there? Few days ago I updated R&R to the newest version 4.2. Does that mean that it rendered my backups unusable??

Also, does the update of R&R software make some changes to the hidden partition as well?

Thanks for your help.

majro

//edit
I just found out that updating R&R deleted my backups on hard drive!!
Luckily I had one on DVDs. Hopefully it will work.

[ryengineer]

snip....Also, does the update of R&R software make some changes to the hidden partition as well?....snip

Yes it does, in addition to changing the GUI to simplified look, newer version (4.2) of Rescue and Recovery automatcally tries to fix problems on your HDD when you boot in the predesktop area.

[Quantique]

Is it related to that (Lenovo support quoted):

Symptom

After completing a Factory Restore using a CD/DVD, the system does not enter the Rescue and Recovery workspace after the F11 or blue button is pressed during the boot cycle on a computer using Windows Vista.

When Windows Vista Rescue and Recovery is upgraded, it disables the Rescue and Recovery in the Factory Restore from installing during a Factory Restore process to prevent version conflicts. Consequently, the PE area is not created.

Solution

If you encounter this issue, manually reinstall Rescue and Recovery.

CMVC Defect #: 384364


And would it be the origin of the famous "Bootmgr missing" bug after a restore? As mentioned there:


Symptom

Starting the computer and pressing the ThinkVantage, LenovoCare, or F11 button results in the error message "BOOTMGR is missing, Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart."

In order to avoid upgrade incompatibilities, Rescue and Recovery disables the install modules used in a Factory Restore operating during the Rescue and Recovery upgrade process. If the computer is shipped with Windows Vista installed, and the user upgrades Rescue and Recovery, creates recovery discs for Factory Restore, and then restores from those recovery discs, an error message is displayed stating "BOOTMGR is missing, Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart."

Solution

Performing one of the following will result in a working Rescue and Recovery workspace:

Install the latest version of Rescue and Recovery.
Create recovery discs before upgrading Rescue and Recovery.
CMVC Defect #: 399031

Which would mean: you upgrade Rescue & Recovery, your factory restore hidden partition is now definitely missing the Rescue & recovery software, so after every restore, whatever it's done by the partition or DVDs you don't have the "Thinkvantage boot area" nor Rescue and recovery installed on your laptop, and you have to reinstall it manually...?

This is no longer "factory reset" then....

is ther any way to "fix" the factory reset parition, to inclure R&R in it as it was "out of the box"?

[hellosailor]

"And would it be the origin of the famous "Bootmgr missing" bug after a restore? As mentioned there: "

That's apparently what started a whole adventure on my machine. The R&R upgrade apparently fails sometimes, as does the System Update process, and neither one is very polite about letting you clean up the mess.

Given that Vista now has expanded recovery options of its own...I've got mixed feelings about third-party software complications [Lenovo] making my life "simpler" in a less reliable way.

No conclusions yet, only suspicions. A couple of other folks have commented elsewhere that Vista seems especially vulnerable to damage if an AV is running when ANYTHING is installed, including Lenovo updates.