Lenovo's 3 Recovery Discs - Can I only install the first 2 discs?

This is probably a dumb question, but here goes anyway.

I am a new T500 owner and I am considering doing a clean install.

I just received the Lenovo 3 DVD Recovery Discs.

Is it possible to only install the first 2 discs and not the 3rd disc?

I may be wrong, but I think if I install all 3 discs I will not be able to prevent all the factory applications/programs from installing.

The DVDs documentation says -

Disc 1) Start Recovery Disc - This is a bootable disc that will start the recovery process.
Disc 2) Operating System Recovery Disc - This disc restores the Windows Vista operating system.
Disc 3) Applications and Drivers Recovery Disc - This disc restores the software that was preinstalled on your computer.


So my thinking was, if I was able to stop/complete the install after disc 2, and download the drivers from the Lenovo website, I would be able to avoid installing all the applications.

Anyone know if this is even possible?
Or is there another way to complete a clean install with the 3 Recovery Discs?

I have read all the threads on clean installs, but I don't see how it is possible since I don't have a standalone Vista CD.

 

I'm not sure if this is the case with T500 installation disc, but based on experience, You will have option to select which software to be installed during installation progress. After that, just follow the prompt to finish the installation. You might need or not need 3rd disc based on your selection.

 

Could be the "Custom" install/recovery option that I read about in the Thinkvantage recovery help file during my 2 attempts at using the computer's preinstalled Recovery method.

But there was never a Custom button or an option to select/unselect applications. Lenovo tech support also thought there was a custom install option. Not knowing what to do, they then sent me the 3 Recovery Discs.

Since the installed Recovery program on my computer didn't have the Custom option I am skeptical the Recovery disks will have it. I am thinking Tech support is wrong and they may be thinking of the Base Software Administrator program that uses a custom manifest.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=TVAN-ADMIN#rnr

 

When I did test installs of the recovery disks on my T400 there was no option for a Custom Install. That apparently was possible with the T61's and earlier but no longer an option on the T400/500's.

I don't think there's a good/clean way to just skip the third disc either.

Really though, I don't think it's worth worrying about -- my T400 really didn't have much cr@pware on it and what was there was pretty easy to uninstall and clean up after. Probably takes less time to uninstall what you don't want/need than to track down a Vista disc and do a custom install.

 

Agree, especially as there are all the Vista system fixes to apply that the preload and recovery disks already include, see the Lenovo clean install instructions for Vista T500. Those instructions also provide a checklist to follow in reverse to uninstall the applications you don't want.

 

Just received my T400 yesterday. But it came with no RECOVERY DISC. Anyone please give me an advice.

 

start - all programs - thinkvantage - Create PRODUCT recovery media -- first one CD last two DVD.