Lenovo Rescue and Recovery Media

Can someone help with the rules of these disks/Media and their use?

I understand only one set can be made (I think I heard that but even that may not be true). Can that set be used multiple times?

If they limit us to one set does it make sense to keep the original HDD (since they are so cheap) as disaster recovery backup. Also since so many of us order the Thinkpad with the smallest HDD and than upgrade ourselves with a larger HDD/SSD.

I am loading my new SSD with programs and have already used the recovery disks to move the OS and preloaded software to the SSD.

Now I am deciding whether to format the as shipped HDD or simply keep it with the preload as insurance. I suppose I could re partition it and use the unused portion as storage and keep the OS/Preload as a non bootable partition.

Perry

 

You can make one set of recovery media (1 CD + 2 DVDs) that you can use with that machine as many times as you need. Personally, I'd say it's fine to create one set of media, keep it in a safe place where you won't lose it, and then wipe the recovery partition--the tool won't let you burn another copy anyway, so the only purpose would be to do a factory restore through the ThinkVantage button. But then, you do have the recovery media disks, so it's rather pointless, I think.

 

I would leave the recovery partition in tact as it is faster than loading through recovery media (Lenovo recovery media recreate the recovery partition).

If you lose your recovery media, you can also order it from IBM.

 

Yes, only one set of Recovery discs is allowed. (If something goes wrong during the creation process, you call Lenovo and tell them the situation, and they will send you a set. In any event, you can order a set for about $40 US.)

Yes, the set that you've created may be used multiple times.

Yes, you may choose to keep the original HDD around. But if you are technical enough to do clean installation of Windows, it's tempting to put that HDD into good use. (You have to keep all those music MP3 and movie MKV files somewhere, you know? )

 

My Z61t had an clean install and I actually did not like it. I ordered discs from IBM and reinstalled all the original content. Running processes went from 33 to 48 and it was just as snappy as the clean install and I had all the Lenovo software installed.

 

Thank you. I suppose that is correct if the recovery partition won't allow another set of media to be created why keep it.

Edit: In fact Lenovo has included a snappy utility to recover the disk space this Recovery (Q Drive) takes up. It asks you to confirm you have created your recovery media and than it simply deletes the partition and the space (near 10GB) reappears in the C partition.

Very cool.

I already have the Caddy III, so will format the HDD and use if for consumption content (movies, photos, etc., and for backup from my main SSD drive.

This new Lenovo is very very snappy. A combination of fast quad core Sandy Bridge processor and the SSD simply rocks.

Perry

 

1., i suppose you can create an image of your recovery partition[with nortonghost or just "dd" it under linux] with all its properties without touching or modifying anything.
2., you can freely create a dvd with the Lenovo supported tools and even erase that partition after, since you have it cloned already.
if anything goes wrong, you can still remap that partition from the cloned image.
3., moreafter you can create as many duplications of that dvd with kinda any cd/dvd burner or image creator applications.

is there something i dont get right of your worries?

 

my recovery disc consists of 1 + 3 media....something not right??

 

Nope, 1 +3 media is what I made also.