rescue and recovery help

I have been told I can use this program in order to elminate most of the bloatware without doing a clean install. I was just curious how do I actually go about doing this? I just got my T61 so I assume R&R is the most up to date one. The closest I can seem to find is a factory default but that wont get rid of anything. Thanks.

 

You're referring to a custom install, which is the same as a factory install except instead of installing everything, you get to pick and choose what you want.

All you have to do is hit the blue button at the bootup splash screen to initiate the process.

 

Ya I hit the thinkvantage button which then opens R&R4. When am I supposed to have the option for a custom install though? Since once I get in there my only options are restoring from backups, or restoring to factory settings. Then I can choose if there are any files I want to save, and then it wants to just go straight into factory defaults.

 

I don't think I remember the exact steps but I seem to recall a tab that indicated custom install, I may be completely wrong though.

I think you first choose factory restore and then it'll break it down for you.

 

hmm cause I went through all of that, and then stopped when it was about to start the restore since i never got a custom option. Just to make sure what version do I need to be able to do this? Since after I picked factory restore I only got to choose files to save and that was it.

 

After selecting restore factory defaults, there should be an option for a selective custom recovery. That's the spot to pick what you want installed.

 

hmm still not showing up. Anyway to check my version/what version would I need to have custom?

 

I've seen reference to it working with 4.2

From the following thread and a post by morphy:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=224046


Here're the steps for R&R reinstall from hidden partition (not a clean install):

1. Hit that blue "Thinkvantage" button while booting.
That would bring up the "Rescue and Recovery" utility.
2. Choose Restore your system.
3. Choose Restore my hard drive to the original factory state.
4. Choose I don't want to save any files. I haven't tried the other option but I figure if you want files saved this is the place to do it.
5. Choose Custom factory recovery.
6. You'll get to the screen where you can choose what bloatware to keep (if any) during the reinstall process.

Upon completion of the reinstall (a couple of hours) your system would be mostly bloatware free depending on what you did on #6.

 

Ya problem with mine is after I do step 4 it skips straight to wanting to start the reformat. How would I go about checking my version of RR?

 

The only Thinkpad I currently have access to doesn't have it installed, but I would suggest looking either at the start-up screen of the utility or looking at what's installed in the Windows Add/Remove Programs in the control panel as that often has the version listed there (I assume Vista still has a CP and add/remove feature)