Problems with System Recovery on new T400

Hello All,

There's another thread similar to this, but I didn't want to hijack it. I've been on support calls with Lenovo 3 times about the issue, and they're admittedly having problems supporting the T400 right now because it's so new and they haven't all been trained.

My major problem is that when I try to book into VIsta, it hangs before the login prompt appears and says "Please Wait....". It says this indefinitely.

So, onto my story about the faulty restore/creation of media...

WHen I got the computer, the first thing I did on was click on the Q:\ drive and create 3 backup disks. One was a startup, and 2 for Product recovery. The DVDs were verified. I was never prompted again for creating more DVDs than this.

Then, after installing a bunch of Windows Updates, and rebooted the computer, I've run into my Vista issue, which I can't fix (I'm open to suggestions). So, I've decided to restore the system to the factory state.

I've tried two ways.

THe first way I try this is by pressing the ThinkVantage button durring boot and go into the Resuce and REcovery 4 software. I select system restore, and eventually it gives me an error: can't find file "C:\preboot\Utils\COnvert.cmd".

This, I believe is a Lenovo error, since the file actually exists on the S:\Drive, along with a bunch of other tools. The partitian hasn't changed since receiving the computer. This completes this method of restoring my harddrive to factory defaults.

Next, the second way I try is with the startup disk that was created when I clicked on the initial Q:\ drive. The DVD boots up and again loads Rescue and Recovery, but this time slightly different. It first asks if I have some Operating System Recovery Discs. I do not, so it skips that step, and then it happily digests both Product Recovery disks, churns for 30 minutes or so. And then reboots into my hanging Vista without luck.

I'm more annoyed now that Lenovo called back saying I needed to call them tomorrow to order some system recovery disks that won't be here until Wednesday. And the rub is, I'm leaving town for a couple of weeks, and I'm going to just have to return the computer if I'm not operational this weekend. (Plus, I'm way less than impressed with the LED screen, which is reminding me of my laptop screen in 1999, it's far from pleasant viewing panel in my dell 700m that's almost 3.5 years old.)

Anyway, I want to give this thing a shot at fixing this weekend, while I have a few spare moments to get it working before I return it on Monday. And since Lenovo tech support wasn't very helpful, I'm hoping the gurus around here can give me some suggestions.

(I've also booted into Vista safe mode with networking just fine, but for some reason, there's no system restore points, otherwise I'd try that. It's important to not that I didn't turn system restore.)

Also, when I first turned the laptop on after pulling it out of it's box. It went through some diagnostics prompts and a couple reboots that were way more technical than turning a computer on and entering user information...so I'm wondering if my computer also didn't leave the factory in the happiest of conditions.

From the get go, I had two issues: 1) with the synaptic driver that kept crashing and 2) another with a sidebar gadget that kept crashing...

Sorry for the long post. I"m open for suggestions. I have an actual Vista install dvd that I was going to start playing with to see if I can restore Vista at all from it. Anyone have any suggestions to help?

 

I believe the PLEASE WAIT message is displayed while loading your user profile.

But, since safe mode loads fine, it is almost certainly a driver issue.

Add in the fact that your LED looks like crap and I am betting the you have a failed video driver that came in through Windows update.

I haven't seen the t400 LED screen, but ones I've seen are beautiful.

I would load safe mode and uninstall the video update.

 

Did you delete the partition? If your partition is there, it should be fine. I've had same problem as you and fixed it early today and brought back to factory state. I recommend keeping recovery partition.

I'm going to do a custom factory install later tonight or tomorrow but what you can do:

1) Press F1 when ThinkPad start up screen shows
2) It goes into your BIOS
3) Change the boot priority (your internal or external CD/DVD drive as first)
4) Press F10 and save
5) The system is going to restart and will take you to ThinkPad screen again
6) Press F12 while ThinkPad screen is in the screen
7) Make sure that your CD/DVD is selected as first and press enter.
8) It should take you back to ThinkPad screen, Windows green bar indicator, then Rescue & Recovery should load.

From this step is where I was stuck I think.

9) You select appropriate language and other options (don't remember exactly), then it will ask you insert a recovery CD.

10) Press cancel
11) It will ask you to insert a CD again (I'm guessing when you cancel it, it automatically takes you to next step)

Lenovo asks for 3 CDs
a) Operating system disc
b) Product recovery disc
c) Supplemental disc

10) Insert Product Recovery Disc 1 (not Startup) then click ok. It should take you to product recovery disc step. Insert Disc 2 when computer asks for it.

11) Once it's done, it's going to ask you to insert Supplemental disc. Press cancel. It will start installing drivers on its own without CD.

 

@strangesweet, Yes, I deleted the Q partitian. Still have the S:. I made the backup disks as intructed when selecting the Q partition.

I've already completed your steps, by pressing cancel when it asks for the Operating system disc. And then it goes through the product recovery disc, and then I cancel on Supplemental Disc. ...the computer reboots...and it still hangs on Vista at the same spot! AHAHAHHA...

So, then I decide to restart Vista in safe mode. I can see my desktop as it appeared from the factory, complete with the Install Mcaffee software and MS Office shortcuts.

Maybe the video driver update is screwing me. I'm going to look at playing with the video driver.

 

I deleted the partition too. Fortunately, I was able to bring it back to factory state with Q: and S: partition.

Once the supplemental disc is done, it should restart and there was little hold with Vista ocean bluish screen.
Then it takes you back to like the first time when you boot.

If you did the factory install, everything, including the drivers should be all there.

 

I think some experienced people could give some new T400 user guide on what to do when you get your new Thinkpad out of the box.....by the way....what did you guys do that deletes that hidden partition?

 

Another interesting note, though. NOw, while booting and holding down the F8 key, I"m given a whole new slew of Vista boot options that weren't there before:

Repair Your Computer
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
ENable BOot Logging
Enable low-resolution video
Last known Good COnfiguration
Directory Services Restore Mode
Debugging Mode
Disable automatic restart on system failure
Disable Driver Signature Enforcement
and
Start Windows Normally

Selecting "Repair your computer" brings up an entirely new set of restore and fixing options that Ill play with.

 

@chen. Upon receiving my new T400, I booted into Vista, and then looked at my harddrives. There was a Q: drive. I was curious what was housed there. Upon clicking on it in Explorer, it brought up a "Create recovery discs" wizard that made 3 DVDs. At the completion of that, it gave me the option to remove the Q: partitian to recover about 10 gigs of hard drive space. I said "Yes" to that, and then it merged the Q partitian into the C.

And the rest is history!

 

When you select 'Repair Your Computer,' does it bring up Windows Restore or Rescue and Recovery?

 

It brings up WIndows Restore, asking me to select a keyboard layout.

 

From Windows Restore, there's an option to select "lenovo Product Recovery". WHen I do this, it copies a bunch of files to the c:\Preboot directory, then says Processing sdrivebackup.swm.

...and then it says processing cdrivebackup.swm

 

I deleted through DiskPart. I've been Vaio user for the past 8 years (1 desktop, 3 laptops) and switching to Lenovo has been very confusing so far.

I don't know why can't they make it go directly into factory restore especially when they don't ship operating system disc. Why have that option as well as supplemental disc option?

 

I think I'm going to try do a custom factory tonight or tomorrow. Let me know if you plan to do a custom factory and how it's done.

 

I'm almost ready to grab all the drivers and use another of my Vista licenses and Fdisk and install from scratch. Not sure I want to go down this route, though, as it might take forever. Plus, use a spare Vista license I have here that could be useful on another machine.

I'm not really sure what the custom recovery stuff is. I'm going to go read some more.

 

(I also have an XP Pro disk sitting right here, too...I'm really tempted, really tempted to go with 32-bit Pro to get back to running on this thing. I really wanted to give Vista another try. We'll have to see how my weekend goes.)

 

I think you were referring to me when you said you didn't want to hijack my thread.

For me, it's been a nightmare. I don't think the people at Lenovo had this T400 completely figured out; especially the Rescue and Recovery and drivers.

I didn't even get a chance to (successfully) burn some Recovery Discs but I think the Q partition is still there, though hidden and inaccessible and unable to re-burn some Rescue disks.

I will try to custom factory install, keep the Q partition and burn Disks because it's good to have extra safety nets.

I am also very tempted to simply burn a copy of XP and forget this nightmare (Vista).

 

Yeup, it was your thread. I"m just now starting to read over at the Lenovo forums others having similar fates. It seems Lenovo hadn't really debugged their recovery process very well. Even the tech support guys are totally useless, and admitting to me they havne't been trained on the T400 yet.

I guess this is the price to pay for being an early adoptor.

There's another forum listing around here of someone who posted all the drivers for XP...though I really don't want to go that route, especially since I've actually paid for Vista.

So far, I've gotten to 3 different recovery methods from this Lenovo...nightmare. I'm not sure why they couldn't just keep it a Windows recovery and ship me a windows disk, though I do want to use their tools. My last computers (all Dells) were so much easier, though, they weren't Vista.

 

I wonder what the real purpose of the S volume is; at only 800MB, its not nearly enough to Recover anything...

"This partition is used by Windows to boot your system. Lenovo recommends that you do not make any changes to this partition. Removing or renaming this partition may cause the system to become unusable."

Does this contain like the Thinkvantage software or what?

 

I was assuming that the S partition was the Thinkvantage stuff.

Anyway, I'm going to call it a night trying to fix this stuff. Just for kicks, I put my XP Pro disc in (it' with SP1 from 2002), and I got a sweet blue screen of death (I haven't seen one in years). So, it's not even liking me playing with XP, maybe Ill have to find a new install disk.

 

OK, a final update. When I now boot into Vista Safe mode with networking, and open my Computer. I see the 3 original partition, except instead of Q as the second partition was originally called, the second partition is now called D (and I'm not talking the cd drive). So, it looks like I have a partial restore of the drives with a C:\drive, a second D:\drive that's about 9.76 GB, and then the S drive.

WHen I hang in safe mode long enough, it says ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series Device Driver software installed successfully.

It still hangs trying to boot into Vista normally, though.

Strange times.

 

At least I know the answer to this one:
XP cannot recognize the HDD, or whatever.
Like it says in the Clean XP guide by Arkitekt, you need to boot into F1 (thinkvantage)
Config > Serial ATA (SATA) > Set AHCI to Compatibility*

make sure to reset to AHCI for VISTA

 

Yea letters are messed up too.. http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=295774

 

Well, after getting the hard drive partions back, I was thinking I was geting somewhere. Made a fourth call to support this morning. They said 1) there aren't even any disks available yet to send me (if that were the problem) 2) they could send someone here Tuesday to try and fix of 3) call customer service to get a replacement/return.

This is the end of the line for trying to get this machine up and running.

 

If anyone did custom factory restore, how was your experiences?

I was going to do last night when I came back home, but had my sister's birthday and other stuff to take care of, so I went to sleep afterwards

 

can't figure out how to do this
is there supposed to be an option after pressing the thinkvantage button

 

DONT DO IT!!!!!!

or at least be careful. i tried a custom restore using the blue thinkvantage button after Windows wouldnt start (also BAD restore discs created not sure if its drive or just bad software.) and it would just reboot and say BOOT MGR MISSING CTRL+ALT+DEL TO RESTART. the restore wiped my windows install and corrupted my restore files because it would not even let me use the blue button again. when i did it would say, MISSING OPERATING SYSTEM;

i called tech FIVE TIMES twice in the day and twice in the afternoon and once around 8pm and each time the reps handed me to a different shift saying "this is a new machine and the techs for the t400 are in only in the (morn/aft/eve)" to make things worse, they did not have my two year warrenty when I looked up the system, and initially refused to take my call saying I did not have a vaild serial. I got fed up and set up the RMA thursday evening. Because it was lenovo error, I was told I would get free return shipping. I was initially going to just reorder the system , but heres what made me decide against it.

took SEVEN calls to csr an hour apart on friday to get the labels because they would put me on hold after saying it will be emailed in 2 minutes and hang up.

I like their systems but their service sucks. they have no choice BUT to build a good system or they will lose all customer base. sorry about the long post. long story short..... THINKVANTAGE button might not complete the restore so be careful. and if possible burn your recovery media at 1 or 2x speed to minimize burn errors.

EDIT: forgot to mention none of the techs could find the recovery discs in their system to mail to me either. even when I gave them the part number from the hardware maintenance manual

 

wow so does ANYONE have functional Recovery disks for the t400??

 

Sorry to hear.

I already did factory restore once to recover my deleted partition and it was okay. So you did custom factory restore? I think you need to install Rescue and Recover in order for blue button to run properly(?).

Lenovo sent me an original recovery disc (3 DVDs) for free using UPS 2-3 day. I think Lenovo's quality of service depends on who takes your call. Some are really nice and some are really rude.

 

Really? Shouldn't it already come installed?

How would I install it?

 

First of all, I'm sorry. I'm going back and forth your thread and taude's thread, so I'm getting little confused. My internet at work isn't too fast, so I can't afford to check both threads

Didn't you delete your recovery partition or did clean install?

If so, rescue and recovery shouldn't be in the hard drive anymore, I believe. But even without Rescue and Recovery, you should be able to recover using Startup disk.

 

very true. honestly the service has left a sour taste for me. but hearing that you got the discs makes me want to try one last call since i have not taken the system to ups till monday. did u happen to get an extension for who you spoke with or any information i might be able to use to get the discs?

EDIT: also what time of day did you call? also, what vista version did u have? my issue was they couldnt find vista home premium discs.

 

do the recovery discs reinstall everything

with the ability to setup a blank HDD?

 

I called the technical support line around 10 am Hawaiian Standard Time (1 pm PST, 4 pm EST). First person I spoke to took care of everything for me after taking some questions (ex: model name, my name, address, serial number).

If you have a working recovery discs, it should be able to get you back to factory setting even if you switch to new hard drive with recovery partitions. And if you should have recovery partition intact, it should always stay till your hard drive fails.

 

Mine is home basic. I have a retail Vista Ultimate CD, so I ordered the lowest version.

 

The last tech I talked to, before giving up, told me that recovery disks weren't available for the T400 yet. Though, this was quite different than the first guy who told me they were on the way to me (they weren't). And the second guy, who told me he'd send them to me, only to call back ten minutes later (I thought it nice that he called me back) to tell me that I had to call back at a future date and talk to someone else about it, which led me to the third person and the beginning of my answer. So, that someone received recovery disks for the T400 sounds promising.

I eventually got the hard drive partitions restored, complete with the original icons on the desktop to install Mcaffee and Office 60 day trial, etc...but I could only see this by booting into Vista safe mode.

I Still have a brick and have been talking to customer service about returning without paying the stocking fee. Afterall, I officially have a sour taste in my mouth for Lenovo's customer support -- they are making Dell look like a private concierge company at this point for me.

All this is semi-understandable for me, though. It's a new machine, their tech support hasn't been taught to support it. And their system restore has bugs in it still. That's fine for them, they just shouldn't expect me to beta test it for them for 13 hours. Also, I've read how some people really like Vista, but this has also tainted my taste for that, too. And I'm now worried about having a stable machine.

(I really wish I could just take my existing hard-drive of my XP machine that is so dialed in, and drop it in a newer, faster machine and install the drivers and call it good.)

 

Wait

I'm lost. Did you get the disks or did someone else?

 

I received the original recovery disc from Lenovo because I had same problem with you. I thought my self-burnt discs had problem, but it was not. Fortunately, I figured out a way to restore back to factory setting before I received the discs from Lenovo, so I'm safe. But original recovery disc set really helps. It came with a detail instruction that tells you how to recover/restore step by step. It explains definitions of Lenovo terms as well. Very handy in my opinion.

 

God, I'm with you now.

My system is totally messed up; just like yours. 'Device not found,' and 'No valid operating system.'

Did they charge you 15% restocking fee? I'm thinking of returning mine. I've had it for about a week, but I used less than 2 hours at most because of partition issues then now this.

Do you call technical support?

Do you mind sharing your case number via PM so I can tell them another Lenovo user had same problem if you don't mind?

 

Yep. Burnt "Product Recovery Media" disks at the beginning then used them to "recover" onto a new hard drive. As I've mentioned elsewhere, you need to actually read the recovery process screen instructions or they can seem like they're not working.

 

Yes -- this is what I did. Ordered my T400 with the 250GB 5400rpm drive and bought a 250GB 7200rpm drive from Newegg. Burnt the Product Recovery media, changed out hard disks, booted from the Recovery Media and it set up the full factory image on the fresh hard drive.

 

Strangesweet what happened?!!?
Did you try to Custom Factory Install and it backfireD??
I was gaining some confidence since you had functional recovery disks.

If I format the HDD entirely and just install XP without Q: and S: it should work right?

 

Fortunately, I got it back.

You can check out X200 - Have any shipped yours.. thread for more information, but I noticed that Lenovo sent me a copy of Windows Vista ULTIMATE SP1 recovery disc.

I didn't need to go through all this if it were to be like that because I have a retail version of ULTIMATE.. so I ordered Home Basic and that's what's been messing my laptop up.

I think I'm just going to use it like this (just by uninstalling some bloatwares) for now since school is getting pretty intense.

Anyway, do not do recovery using partition. That's all I can tell you. I tried twice with DVD, it worked, I tried once with HD, it deleted everything.

 

To whomever was asking about RMA and all that...It's not all a done deal yet, far from it, as I've been swapping phone calls with customer service. In fact, go read my new thread on the crappy service they just finished giving me. I still don't have an RMA, for the record.

At this point, I could spend the extra $100 bucks on my own copy of Windows Vista, wipe the drive and install everything myself (sounds like a gigantic hastle with several more hours of work on my part). (Also, I already have a license, but it was slated to be used on another machine.) But Lenovo's angered me enough, that I'd rather lose the money in the return, and then fight it out with the financing company.

 

Hey, one last thing...this should probably be a new post, maybe it will be:

Since I can boot into safe mode, is there a way for me to extract my Vista key for doing another installation with another Vista disk? THis way, I could format the hardrive and start from scratch? To me, this seems possible, but I've heard many nightmares about certain VISTA keys only working with very specific installation media...

 

I think there's a utility to save your activation referenced in one of the clean install guides. Maybe check there? Don't have a link, sorry.

 

@Lew, yeah I read about that utility a little too late. I just used the key, but now it says that I need to contact microsoft.

I ended up biting the bullet, wiping everything off the drive, and installing
fresh Vista with media I acquired elsewhere, and went through the guide someone posted to get the clean install. The O.S. is up and running, and I built my own backups with Acronis, so I'm at least done dealing with the Lenovo software. Hopefully early next week I'll have time to start installing my software one it and putting it to use before the 21 day return policy is up.

Very funny thing last night was that the Lenovo tech was trying to convince me it wasn't booting because of an over heating issue...instead of admitting that the restore DVDs were bunk.

Oh well, I'm up and running now.

 

yea; i clean intalled too

forget about lenovo Recovery

 

That utility is bunk. There is no way to back up an activation scheme and then add it back after a reinstall. I cannot believe people are still running around claiming this works.

It doesn't, it cannot.

If you want to backup an activated windows installation, make a disk image like the other poster. Backing up a couple of files from a previous activation cannot work because an installation includes not only variables like hardware, but things like time, date and a randomly generated hash.

Help kill this internet rumor.

 

The T400 DOES NOT HAVE any option to do a CUSTOM factory restore. It only has a factory restore. No way to selct which peices of junkware will be installed.

"Base Softeware Administrator" doesn't work with the T400 either.

Has anyone figured out how to select which junkware is installed?

 

To Strangesweet
I have deleted all partition on my THINKPAD T400.Can I bring it back to factory state with Q: and S: partition?I have no supplemental disc!