X300 Vista Business 32 Sonic RecordNow Bug

[Sable_X31]

Has anybody that received an X300 with Vista installed actually tried running the burning software (Sonic RecordNow AKA Multimedia Center for Think Offerings)?

Usually in the past when I worked on a Thinkpad, the software had been installed. This time, the link on the start menu was to a batch file set up to install the software. The first thing the batch file does is delete that link from the start menu, then it tries to run the installer...
and gets nowhere. Installation never finishes.

First I tried reinstalling the preload using the included DVDs (actually I was trying to get a custom installation, but that's no go without the backup partition). Same thing happened. Then I tried bypassing the batch file and running the various executables in the relevant installer folder, with similar results. I tried using some of my old copies of the installer software, but they were all for XP, and didn't work (in fact, I think that's what was shipped as part of the preload). One of the installers even hid itself in my user profile, and kept relaunching itself at each startup (without ever succeeding at installing, no matter how long I left it to try). I couldn't even find where it was launching from, I had to delete the profile to prevent it.

Usually when you go to the Lenovo downloads section, you can enter in your model number, and it will show the relevant installers for this software. Not with my X300 (model 6477-1ZU). I tried running a search, and found an installer version for Vista, but it dates from November (before X300 debuted). X300 isn't on the list of supported laptops. I tried downloading and running it anyway, but it gave me the dreaded 'Model 64771ZU is not supported' message. I contacted my Lenovo technical rep, and that was the only installer he could find right away.

I'm trying to find a good solution, fast. I'm setting this laptop up for a very important client, and need to get it done by Friday (preferably Thursday). I may just buckle under and throw in a license for Nero, but since Sonic was what was on the quote sheet, I was trying to stay true to it.

Has nobody else run into this yet?

[Sable_X31]

Got our rep to overnight me another model, did some experimentation. Apparently the installer doesn't play well with SP1, or some hotfix that was rolled into SP1. I haven't nailed down which one, and can't spend the time to do so. For now, I recommend runnning the batch file/installer before installing any updates from Microsoft. I don't know if the installed software will then perform okay after running updates.