Recovery Discs Q Partition

[Tableteer]

Synopsis: Tried making rescue/recovery media from the Lenovo Q partition without success. Up to a cost limit, want to take the easy way and order discs from Lenovo. Have Windows Vista Ultimate installed on an X200 tablet.

I went through specified procedures to make recovery discs. Only, every time I tried making them, I couldn't get past creation of the first disc. Maybe it's because I was using a DVD instead of CD although I don't think that matters. I have the Lenovo Media Base/Dock which has a drive is capable of burning both types. I'm assuming a successful process would result in at least 2 DVDs or CDs because the first one has only a small number of files which seem inadequate for a full recovery. In fact, this post in the HOW TO and FAQ forum indicates there are 4 disks in total.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52133

A rude person person at Lenovo technical support said one could order complete recovery discs from the website instead of creating them on my own but did not and could not specify location at the website, only that it exists. I couldn't find it. Does anyone know the link?

[Harryc]

Last time I made a set of recovery discs from a recovery partition I recall that disc #1 had to be a CD. The rest can be DVDs.

[AMATX]

Last time I made a set of recovery discs from a recovery partition I recall that disc #1 had to be a CD. The rest can be DVDs.

Yup, use a CD for #1

[Tableteer]

Can the other 3 discs be CDs as well or, due to capacity requirements, have to be DVDs? I'm trying to get prepared.

In any case, I think that FAQ ought to be updated with this information (or clearly stated with such if I had missed it) so that others can avoid this gotcha.

[Harryc]

The other discs can be CD's.

[Tableteer]

Oh oh. Something's wrong.

1. I start the recovery process by any of the several allowable ways.
2. The Lenovo Factory Backup Partition Information dialog window appears. There are 2 options, Create Recovery Media and Recover Drive Space.
3. I click Create Recovery Media.
4. Vista asks me if I want to run recovburncd.exe. I allow it.
5. Another dialog window appears. Its title is Create Product Recovery Discs. There are 3 choices, Ok, Cancel and Ajuda (whatever that means). The Ok button is disabled. Cancel of course cancels. Ajuda brings up a help popup.

The Ok button should be enabled. In fact, the first time I tried this (unsuccessfully), it was enabled. With it, I went through several steps getting as far as creating the first disc on a DVD. See my original post. Now when I try the same thing, the Ok button is no longer enabled. Does anyone know what's wrong?

I have a nice screenshot showing all this I would post except there seems to be no way of putting in an inline image into this message.

[Harryc]

Rescue and Recovery only allows the end-user to create one set of recovery discs.

[Tableteer]

Hmm...well I'll have to look for less convenient alternatives shall we euphemistically say.

But I seem to recall reading somewhere about reinstalling an app, perhaps the recovery exe itself or some Thinkpad utility, and then proceeding to make a set of recovery discs or another set of discs.

In any case, they should really warn you to make sure you use a CD and that you have only 1 chance.

[Harryc]

Well, if your recovery partition is working, you can reinstall to the factory image. That will reinstall Rescue and Recovery and once again allow you to create recovery discs. The caveat there is you will lose everything on your drive because a re image erases everything. Make backups first.

[Tableteer]

So if I understand correctly, to paraphrase:
1. Backup your files because total erasure if the price to pay.
2. Launch recovery directly form the notebook by clicking the blue ThinkVantage button during startup and choosing one of the menu items.
3. That will draw all necessary information from the intact Q partition. It will be effectively be a clean install.
4. Furthermore, the Q parition or whatever program controls its use is re-initialized such that one has another chance at making recovery discs.

[AMATX]

I ended up in a similar situation to you, on a W700 I bought recently. Inadvertently tried to burn 'em, messed up(something on my hard drive, I think) and had used up my one freebie. I called lenovo support, explained that my hard drive had crapped out during trying to burn, and since I was under warranty, they sent me a copy of the disks. Therefore, didn't have to blow out my drive by restoring to factory settings.

[Tableteer]

Well, I wish I was aware and did that only a few weeks ago while it was still under warranty

Edit: They sent that to you for free or you had to pay? I just found a page where it says you can purchase recovery discs.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... M7HWZ.html

[AMATX]

Meant to also post that at one time, you could buy a set of recovery disks from Lenovo, so you might try that. Or, poke around on ebay some, as these do pop up from time to time.

[Harryc]

So if I understand correctly, to paraphrase:
1. Backup your files because total erasure if the price to pay.
2. Launch recovery directly form the notebook by clicking the blue ThinkVantage button during startup and choosing one of the menu items.
3. That will draw all necessary information from the intact Q partition. It will be effectively be a clean install.
4. Furthermore, the Q parition or whatever program controls its use is re-initialized such that one has another chance at making recovery discs.

This is all true, or you can purchase recovery discs as mentioned.

[Tableteer]

Yup, that did the trick.

...With great appreciation.