recovery disks/partition & OS disk & Thinkvantage tools

[webwesen]

a T500 virgin here... please be gentle.

I got my T500 and it didn't come with any disks (Vista Home or else) - do I have to request them from Lenovo? or is there a way to create 'recovery OS disks' from HDD? I just want to be able to return the machine to "factory settings" after I try another OS on it.

Also - if I choose to install XP - will I miss all those Thinkvantage add-ons that came with Vista? is there anything useful among those Lenovo add-ons? - I saw power meter, WiFi connection tool and Fn+F7 (alternate monitor). none is really needed IMHO - since default XP tools would do the same (with less visual bang though). I understand that some tools wil be available on lenovo site - not sure if they are of any value.

i did a few searches here - found bits of info, but still have these questions... am a newbie. sorry

[basketb]

Wrt. recovery disks, you can request them from Lenovo, but they may charge you $40 or $50 (not sure what they currently charge). People have also reported getting them for free. Another option would be to open a LF/WTB thread here in the marketplace (or ebay or whatever).
However, you should also be able to burn them from your Thinkpad (if you haven't removed the Thinkvantage Rescue and Recovery application). It should be somewhere in the Thinkvantage folder under start->programs (I'm not familiar with Vista, so I don't know where exactly it would be on your machine).

When you do a clean install of XP, you should download all XP drivers from Lenovo's website first and have them available when you install XP. Go to "Support -> Downloads & drivers" and select your model and preferred OS. The DVD player/burner (and possibly other 3rd party) software may not be available though. In this case, you need to get it from somewhere else (e.g., buy it or whatever). What may also work (but I have not verified this) is to backup your current SWTOOLS directory and see whether those programs install on XP. Alternatively, you could look for Win XP recovery CDs/DVDs specific to your system. These will image your hard drive the same as if it came from the factory with all the correct drivers installed (however, there may be licensing issues if you only have a COA for Vista Home).

[T400plus]

The chinese charged me extra 70-80 $ for downgrading to xp.Gave me a vista serial number and vista is noehere to be found. Their local help desk is not helpful...

[webwesen]

thanks for your replies.

my updates : there was a "Q" drive visible in my explorer marked as "RESTORE" drive. when i clicked on it it prompted whether I wanted to create restore disks. ...and after it did burn 12 CD-R's I have a set of "restore to factory settings disks".

there was another option to click next to "create restore disks" - "remove partition" (Or so) - and i went ahead and reclaimed the space.

it was most likely a logical disk or a logical partition and it is removed now. thanks again.

[crashnburn]

Be nice. Be Diplomatic. Talk about how you and your company have loved Thinkpads and Lenovos for years and your colleague got the same laptop but it came with the Disks.

Tell them you have high esteem for Lenovo and its support people and you know that you wont be disappointed by them.

They should send you the Disks. I got them.