How to make recovery CDs on a X31

[Stu]

Just purchased an X31 model #2673-XX4 of ebay. The model was a like new refurb that comes with a 1 IBM year warranty.

The first thing I would like to do is re-partition it so I can have it running XP, FreeBSD and Linux and before I do this I though I would create the recovery CDs and use them to restore the XP partition. The problem is I cannot find a way to create them. I had read some posts where on a X40 they downloaded the latest "Access IBM" and then had the selection to create the CDs. I can't find any selection for that in "Access IBM" and the last update on the web site for the X31 is from 2003 and looks like the same version that came on the X31.

Any suggestions? Does the X31 come with a util to create the CDs and I'm just not looking in the right place?

Is there any way to get these from IBM or download them?

Thanks

Stu
Thinkpad 500, 240x, now X31

[Blake]

my x31 came with a recovery partition on the drive when i bought it, i believe they all do unless the drive was formatted...

also check here

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_ ... /index.htm

[Thinker]

Does the X31 come with a util to create the CDs and I'm just not looking in the right place?

Stu,

If there is an application for that, I haven't found it. It is very dissapointing that the X31 (an otherwise excellent machine) doesn't offer the ability to create recovery CDs. I had to restore to factory settings after I kept getting a serious error in Windows XP when inserting DVD in my external optical drive. This caused me to lose the WinDVD software as well as some other applications which I guess weren't installed in the recovery partition. This is very dissapointing.

If you find a way to make recovery CDs from your X31, please let us know.

Ruben

[hkhalil]

Not long ago, you could pick up a set of 3 recovery CDs for this model on ebay.

The blurb said that these no longer get shipped out from IBM as they ask for the machine back if a reload is needed.

Don't know how true it is, but they were going for £21 for a set of 3 discs.

[Stu]

I was able to get IBM to send out a set of recovery CDs. I'll see in a couple days what they send me.

[hkhalil]

That's great,

Did you have to do anything in particular to get them, or is there a link on their website you know of ?

I wouldn't mind getting a copy, as my new X31 just had the recovery partition on board.

Many thanks

[Stu]

I just called the IBM support number and said I needed them because I was going to put Linux on the drive for testing and needed to restore XP after.
The IBM rep asked if I had a CD burner on the X31 and I said no so he put a order in to send me the CDs.
I think he thought that if I have a burner I could burn them myself which does not seem to be the case on the X31.

I should have them Tuesday or Wednesday, we'll see what the actually send.

[Acepro]

You can safely install Linux on your Thinkpad computer with Windows XP and use both of them. You can also restore XP partition after from the restore partition. I do that with my X and T Thinkpads without problem. But better to have the recovery CDs, just in case !