Recovery Only One Copy W530

Hi,

I created the recovery Media with the tool Factory Recovery Disks on an external USB HDD.

This one is not booting so I formatted it and I ordered recovery CDs from Lenovo.

But even then, I get the message:

You can have only one copy of Microsoft Windows.

There used to be this work work-around:

Edit the file FactoryRecovery\service_done.ini
Change the string DONE=1 to DONE=0


But it seems like the files changed; thus, having only a recovery.ini file.

Q:\FactoryRecovery\RECOVERY.INI

CONTENT:


[partition1]
size=13999
type=07
label=Lenovo_Recovery
volume=Q
fs=NTFS
active=0
backuptype=COPY
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=
install=
installsplit=
[partition2]
size=1499
type=07
label=SYSTEM_DRV
volume=S
fs=NTFS
active=1
backuptype=WIM
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=Sdrivebackup.wim
install=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup.wim 1 S:\
installsplit=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup.swm 1 S:\ /ref Q:\factoryrecovery\Sdrivebackup*.swm
[partition3]
size=
type=07
label=Windows7_OS
volume=C
fs=NTFS
active=0
backuptype=WIM
state=1
recfromsp=0
imagename=Cdrivebackup.wim
install=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup.wim 1 C:\
installsplit=recimagex.exe /apply /verify Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup.swm 1 C:\ /ref Q:\factoryrecovery\Cdrivebackup*.swm

 

Has anyone found a workaround? There must have been a line in the RECOVERY.INI that was deleted but I don't have the original file no more and it seems like it's the only one whose time stamp has changed.

 

Why not just do a clean install?

 

I did a clone of the HDD on a SSD with True image 2012 and tried the Lenovo System Recovery afterwards and it worked.

The only reason I don't do a clean install is just in case I resell the W530; I want to be able to put the laptop in its original factory state more or less. There is also no cd drive but a 2nd hd so I will avoid the hassles from having to recover from CDs/DVDs.

 

The recovery disk creation tool does not mark the usb partition as active. You need to format the usb drive and then mark the partition active, then create the recovery media on the usb

 

Didn't this solve the problem?

 

yeah i dont understand. if you have the discs from lenovo, then just format the drive (or erase if SSD) and use the factory discs

 

I have the T530 and I haven't the discs from Lenovo!
I keep on staring recovery.ini but can't find the solution!

 

Any news?
I have T430s and same problem.
RECOVERY.INI file don't change content, if you start make recovery disks. So don't look at that.

Hidden mark maybe in system registry. I try to catch the mark with the Process Monitor tool, but no success by now.

Any ideas?

 

Seriously. Just do a clean install, run system update, and enjoy a bloat-free image. It's amazing and the first thing I always do on a new Lenovo. Something just never feels "right" with the restore image.

 

Seriously, but this is not an answer, just another way
We know fix for 2011 models (and older), now we're searching fix for 2012 models.

 

The fix is as follows:

1. Make the DVD disk set when you get the machine
2. Use a tool like WinImage to create .ISO's from each of the four DVDs
3. Store .ISO's for safe keeping
4. Burn DVDs as needed

This of course assumes the DVD set was created successfully to start with.

 

Hi,

I have T430s and I'm also fighting with this. So are you saying that content of Recovery.ini wasnt changed? Do you have backed up copy o recovery.ini before creating DVDs? I mean recovery.ini which is as from factory - untouched by recovery discs creator? I assume that it should be somewhere in recovery.ini because this file has been modified exactly at the time when I made DVDs.

Thanks,

David

 

Hi Guys,

I just bought a T430 laptop lat month, During the process of running the lenovo recovery tool (OEM backup), i accidently stopped the process. when i tried to re-initiate the process it is not working. What should i do to go to the initial state and create the recovery disk.

Please suggest. thanks.

 

Hi,

We don't have solution so far as we don't know where information about creating of medias is stored. I'm trying to find that out longer time but I need someone with new machine T430, T430s, T530 or W530 who didnt created recovery DVDs yet as we need recovery.ini file from such a laptop this could be really helpful.

David

 

Hi All,

I cannot understand how it is working but I have solution. It seems that there is something changed on binary level of the file or something like this I dont know. But solution is following:

1) Download this file - Solution.rar | Solution - middle option is free where you need to retype text from picture
2) Unpack it, Password is S0lution
3) You will get RECOVERY.INI file, it is blank but working
4) Now backup RECOVERY.INI from your drive Q:\factoryrecovery
5) Delete file RECOVERY.INI from Q:\factoryrecovery
6) Copy blank RECOVERY.INI (from me) to Q:\factoryrecovery
7) Open your old backedup RECOVERY.INI file and mark everything (CTRL+A) and then copy (CTRL+C)
8) Open blank RECOVERY.INI file on Q:\factoryrecovery and paste copied text into it (CTRL+V)
9) Save changes in RECOVERY.INI on Q:\factoryrecovery
10) Run Factory recovery discs creator - it is working.

Enjoy,

David

 

not working for me.

 

Not working for me, either. T430s

 

This is file from my working T430s:

REC.zip | Ulo

David

 

Hi All,

I just realized that once file is packed and then unpacked it is not working, also once uploaded unpacked and downloaded back it is not working. I could send it to you by email if you will drop me email address by email.

David

 

I don't know, it doesn't make so much sense to me...

 

Still no solutions yet?

 

He sent to me - being on lunch... trying it right now - will report back

 

Test:
Downloaded Recovery.ini (David's)
Opened Q:/FactoryRecovery
Cut Recovery.ini to new folder
Pasted David's recover.ini to Q:/Factoryrecovery (i know that his values are different for drive size ect, but... wanted a true test)
No go - did not allow me to create new disks

2nd test:
Copied the contents of my recovery.ini to his file
No go.

David, are you able to make additional copies? Can you outline in detail what you did?
....

 

i have the same problem on my e130
i moved the recovery.ini file and it didnt work

undo move and now when i double click the lenovo_recovery drive.. the auto start doesnt work even too. it just opens the folder.

ive already got a copy of the recovery disk on my 32gb usb.30 drive (more than 20gb space left!)
now i want to create a copy of the recovery disk on my 16gb usb3.0 disk so i can use my 32gb stick.. :'-(

anyone found a solution yet?

 

Hi Everybody,

So here is my story. I have bought T430s, made recovery medias, then tried to create new ones but it wasnt possible. I have tried solution from older recovery software (service_done) but it wasnt working. Then realized that file change date on recovery.ini is exact when I done first medias so this pointed me that this file is telling to recovery software that medias were created or not. Then I obtained original recovery medias for my laptop from Lenovo - not one burned but original one which Lenovo could send you. Replaced drive in my notebook and tried restore from Lenovo's medias on the test drive, after that recovery software allowed me to create medias. So I copied file recovery.ini from testing drive to original drive to Q:\facotryrecovery\ and realized that after that it is working also on my original drive. Then I tried to edit file (even put whole text from the old one not working one to this new one) and it was working either. This means that something must be here on binary level probably what changes once you create new medias. I didnt find the magic, but seems that packing and unpacking or sending file by email will remove this "magic" from working file.

David

 

My story:
I have a T430 and made recovery media on a 32GB USB drive. Somehow, this USB drive failed to boot T430. And I was denied when I tried to make a new recovery media. But on this USB drive, I found the recovery.ini, which dated before I received the laptop. So I copied this older version of recovery .ini back to T430, then I was allowed to make recovery media again. My guess is that their program checks the date of this ini file. If it matches the dates of other files under \facotryrecovery\, you can make a new recovery media.

 

I don't understand the original OP's issue. If he ordered a set of recovery discs from Lenovo and simply wants them to return the laptop to factory state. All you have to do is format the HDD and then run the DVD discs given to you by Lenovo, easy.

For the people having issues creating another set of recovery media, worse case, order a recovery disc set from Lenovo and make a iso copy of each disc for future safe keeping.

 

Here's a hint (perform in a commandline window):

Code:

more < Q:\FactoryRecovery\RECOVERY.INI:Done

Alternate Data Streams.

 

um. If your unit is under warranty, call Lenovo. They will gladly send you DVD backups of win7 or win8 (whatever your pc shipped with). They sent me two copies of Windows 8 recovery which works with a bunch of *30 Models.
*=TWX, etc.

 

You know what I'd do. I'd use Windows Backup of the system and other disks if needed. It's very clean and simple to use and does a good job.

Renee

 

Just call Lenovo and tell them your recovery creation program failed. It's a very common issue that's affected me several times. The discs will arrive free at your doorstep 24 hours later.

Or just email them here:

Lenovo Support - Submit a Service Request (US)

Say the recovery process failed and to send discs. I did this last week and they were shipped and delivered in 48 hrs without question.

 

This is an old thread, but It pop on Google when searching for this issue. so here's the answer. Thanks to throaway1 for the hint.

You just need to issue this command in a CMD window:

Code:

ECHO 0 > Q:\FactoryRecovery\RECOVERY.INI:Done

After that, his command:

Code:

more < Q:\FactoryRecovery\RECOVERY.INI:Done

Will return 0 and you'll be able to create the recovery media set again.