Won't send recovery CD

Message

fls · #1 Post by **fls** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:39 am

I've contacted IBM Support (UK) to get a recovery CD for a T41p, which I wanted on-hand before I attempt to install Linux. They were very abrupt and told me they couldn't send one due to "licencing issues".

They said that if I try and install Linux and it goes wrong, or I want to roll back and the pre-desktop area is no longer available, then they will try and offer phone support!

Having paid in the region of £2000 for this laptop, which includes the cost of a Windows licence, I can't say I'm very impressed. Has anyone else had a similar problem? It seem that forum users based in other countries don't have this problem.

ian · #2 Post by **ian** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:47 am

IBM wont send 'free' recovery CDs if the machine for which they are being ordered is more than one month old...

To put this another way, the recovery CDs are available from IBM 'free' within the first month after purchase - I freely admit I may have got this all wrong, but I was under the impression this system still worked (until VERY recently) in the UK as well as the US

skanky · #3 Post by **skanky** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:56 am

the latest version of rescue and recovery comes with the ability to create recovery cds i think..

fls · #4 Post by **fls** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:11 am

ian wrote:IBM wont send 'free' recovery CDs if the machine for which they are being ordered is more than one month old...

To put this another way, the recovery CDs are available from IBM 'free' within the first month after purchase - I freely admit I may have got this all wrong, but I was under the impression this system still worked (until VERY recently) in the UK as well as the US

They won't even let me pay to have one! They say that it is not their policy to supply a recovery CD under most circumstances. The guy I spoke to refused to discuss it any further.

If I lose the predesktop area, then they "may" be able to send me a recovery CD (with a delivery time of at least 5 days) depending on what they think at the time, but I can't have one to start with.

So, if I have a problem I will be without my laptop for a significant period of time, rather than just being able to spend a couple of hours re-installing. I find this to be a bit poor, given that I have effectively already paid for the OS and installed apps.

ian · #5 Post by **ian** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:37 am

I couldn't agree more - you could try ringing them again, in the hope that you'll get someone more reasonable. I have a vague recollection of seeing the T41 listed on my set of English Recovery CDs (ordered from IBM UK before the month time limit - thanks N3il) - if you have more problems, PM me...

JHEM · #6 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:54 am

fls wrote:I've contacted IBM Support (UK) to get a recovery CD for a T41p, which I wanted on-hand before I attempt to install Linux. They were very abrupt and told me they couldn't send one due to "licencing issues".

You: "Hello, IBM UK? I need a set of recovery CDs for my Thinkpad as I accidentally erased the recovery partition while installing Linux".
IBM UK: "Sorry, no can do!"
You: "Oh my. Guess I'll have to phone/write UK trading standards and practices!"
IBM UK: "May I have your address sir? I'll send them out directly."

Regards,

James

Steve007 · #7 Post by **Steve007** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:56 am

JHEM wrote:
fls wrote:I've contacted IBM Support (UK) to get a recovery CD for a T41p, which I wanted on-hand before I attempt to install Linux. They were very abrupt and told me they couldn't send one due to "licencing issues".
You: "Hello, IBM UK? I need a set of recovery CDs for my Thinkpad as I accidentally erased the recovery partition while installing Linux".
IBM UK: "Sorry, no can do!"
You: "Oh my. Guess I'll have to phone/write UK trading standards and practices!"
IBM UK: "May I have your address sir? I'll send them out directly."

Regards,

James

Well yes, either that or just do a bit of shouting. Always seems to work.

skanky · #8 Post by **skanky** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:30 am

or just tell em that you got a new hdd and need the recovery cds to install windows on..

JHEM · #9 Post by **JHEM** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:40 am

Steve007 wrote:Well yes, either that or just do a bit of shouting. Always seems to work.

I've only found that to be effective when I was standing on the bridge of a ship!

Rattling the saber of UK Trading Standards is far more effective and actually has sufficient teeth to have some meaning.

I don't think I need go into the fact that the MS COA/EULA on the bottom of a Thinkpad is prima facie proof that you've already paid for the software when purchasing the laptop.

The average UK consumer lives in a veritable dreamworld when it comes to the protections afforded them under their consumer protection act. Would that we were so "enlightened" here in the colonies.

Regards,

James

mytp · #10 Post by **mytp** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:45 pm

I'd like to get the recovery CD's from IBM -- I'm still within the first month after purchase. If I claim that I accidentally erased the recovery partition, I'm afraid they'll ask me to give them some data regarding the HD, or some other information, to verify that what I'm saying is true. I have the same concern if I would say the HD became unusable. Does anyone have experience with this -- step by step how to convince IBM to send the recovery CD's??

banix88 · #11 Post by **banix88** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:42 pm

I just called IBM usa for the recovery disks, and they said they stopped sending the 'free disks within 30 days policy' about 2 months ago. I told then that i had actually burned the recovery disks, but i have problems with my media, and the CD's i created had bad sectors and could not be read. They told me to download them from their site and then burn them onto cds...

k3nnis · #12 Post by **k3nnis** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:28 pm

banix88 wrote:I just called IBM usa for the recovery disks, and they said they stopped sending the 'free disks within 30 days policy' about 2 months ago. I told then that i had actually burned the recovery disks, but i have problems with my media, and the CD's i created had bad sectors and could not be read. They told me to download them from their site and then burn them onto cds...

Hi there.

What's the address of the site?:)

Cheers.
Kenn.

Jay_T42 · #13 Post by **Jay_T42** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:05 pm

for T42 the recovery partition is about 4.5G
and so many people need the recovery CD
so I think there it gonna be painful both for IBM and us to download it from their website.

k3nnis · #14 Post by **k3nnis** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:27 pm

guys i just created the 7CD recovery cds by myself on the ibm t42. its on my programs list. Its under access IBM->create recovery discs.

Cheers.
Kenn.

brewt · #15 Post by **brewt** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:33 pm

JHEM wrote:I don't think I need go into the fact that the MS COA/EULA on the bottom of a Thinkpad is prima facie proof that you've already paid for the software when purchasing the laptop.

I believe that Microsoft only requires that the OEM either provide the installation CD or a provide a recovery partition. IBM provides a recovery partition, so they don't HAVE to provide the CD's. Of course, when you're paying this kind of money for a notebook, you kind of expect them to give you the $2 worth of CD's.

JohnDrake · #16 Post by **JohnDrake** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:01 am

Its Microsoft that squeezes IBM not to hand out these CD's...its lawyer stuff.

What you can do to get recovery CD's on a brand new machine...

You can lie a little. You can say the machine arrived TOTALLY BLANK. That it passes diagnostics (that you run from floppies, downloaded from the IBM website) but it has no recovery partition, no OS. You turn on the system and you get a blinking cursor in the upper left corner...thats it (But BIOS/CMOS stuff works fine).

You would have to do this after it has just arrived. If it has been a while...then you can say your hard drive got trashed, and your recovery partition, and you need the disks...but unfortunately, you may be charged for them, I think about $45 US.

fls · #17 Post by **fls** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 8:37 am

fls wrote:I've contacted IBM Support (UK) to get a recovery CD for a T41p, which I wanted on-hand before I attempt to install Linux. They were very abrupt and told me they couldn't send one due to "licencing issues".

They said that if I try and install Linux and it goes wrong, or I want to roll back and the pre-desktop area is no longer available, then they will try and offer phone support!

As this is a second machine I went ahead anyway, and as I suspected it might (because I've done this before

) the auto install wiped the HD. I contacted IBM support again who said they would get someone to call me back to see how they could assist me to reolve the issue (send the CD?).

That was five days ago and I'm still waiting. I called again yesterday and quoted the reference number they gave me but still nothing. Asking around at work, people with other (cheaper) brands of laptop don't seem to have the same problems. Maybe next time I won't buy an IBM.

own6volvos · #18 Post by **own6volvos** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 1:48 pm

Correct me if I am wrong, but when you own a license... it doens't matter what install disc you use, as long as the registration key is yours. This means you should be able to download a "backup" cd image of the winxp install disc for OEM platforms and use your own key from the sticker on the bottem.

brewt · #19 Post by **brewt** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:19 pm

own6volvos wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, but when you own a license... it doens't matter what install disc you use, as long as the registration key is yours. This means you should be able to download a "backup" cd image of the winxp install disc for OEM platforms and use your own key from the sticker on the bottem.

I believe most OEM cd's are still customized to work only with particular cd keys. For example, IBM cd key's will only work with IBM's OEM cds.

aleung · #20 Post by **aleung** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:52 pm

from what I know.. all OEM key is same.. no specific for IBM or who

aleung · #21 Post by **aleung** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 3:55 pm

there is still MS license issue. If i buy English version XP. can I use chinese version XP and use English license key ? it sound like not work that way.

fls · #22 Post by **fls** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:18 am

fls wrote:That was five days ago and I'm still waiting. I called again yesterday and quoted the reference number they gave me but still nothing. Asking around at work, people with other (cheaper) brands of laptop don't seem to have the same problems. Maybe next time I won't buy an IBM.

IBM Support left a message for me yesterday to say that they would be posting the recovery CDs! It might have been easier all round if they had done this when I first requested them, but hey. It does, though, look like I won't be charged. Now I can stop referring to my laptop as the 'stinkpad'

Matt_ · #23 Post by **Matt_** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 3:26 am

I am nearing the end of my 30 day period.
So I thought it couldn't hurt to try and see if they'll send me a set.
Now, although the first 2373-CWU that I ordered (and had to send back) back in October had SP1, the second one I ordered has SP2 and seems to have current everything. If I get lucky and they send me a set, will it have the same drive image that was on my thinkpad ?
And if strike out and have to make my own set, my thinkpad creates a drive image 100% equivalent to what I would get if I went into the pre-Desktop area and told it to restore the hard drive to the factory state that it was in when it arrived, right ?

mytp · #24 Post by **mytp** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 4:08 am

fls,
Can you say exactly what you told IBM that lead to getting the recovery CD's -- what the interchange was between you and the support person -- what you saw on your computer screen, what they tried to have you do, etc.?
Thanks

MadeInJapan · #25 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:04 am

What is the Download URL for the Disc Images for ThinkPads (has IBM posted them yet?)?

n3il · #26 Post by **n3il** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:07 am

MadeInJapan wrote:What is the Download URL for the Disc Images for ThinkPads (has IBM posted them yet?)?

The original poster meant "mailed" (in the UK post = US mail)

MadeInJapan · #27 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:34 am

Oh....Duh! Thanks

ZoneMan · #28 Post by **ZoneMan** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:14 pm

Yes, it is true that IBM no longer provides the FREE recovery cds in the first 30 days. On the newer machines as stated in previous post, recovery cds can be made through the system itself. It is under START-ALL PROGRAMS-ACCESS IBM-CREATE RECOVERY CDS.

Make note that if your service partition is corrupt or your Hard drive is defective and getting replaced under warranty, IBM will provide recovery cds under your warranty.

For older systems recovery cds are available and cost $45 plus shipping in the US. Windows 98 is no longer available on Recovery cds nor is it supported, it stops at WIN98SE. Keep in mind that Millenium is not available on recovery cd either.

For individuals that have 98 and want to re-image to the factory load, IBM can provide billable depot (out of warranty) and re-image the machine , which just about any system with original 98 will be out of warranty. For warranty customers the service is obviously not billable

Also, there are no recovery images of any sort available for download online. Drivers and software updates are availble though...TPAD-MATRIX in the search box at IBM.COM

Zone

lvlolvlo · #29 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 5:28 pm

ME is/was/will always be crap..just wanted to say that really, but yeah, just make the cd's or tell them you hd broke

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