1st day with ThinkPad, it's already dead.

Okay, so here's my story. It's funny (for you more than me).

I get my SL410 in the mail today. I turn it on and it walks me through the Windows 7 Professional installation. After that's done, before long I set out on the internet to look into how to make a Windows 7 installation CD in case anything ever happens, since it didn't come with one for some reason. BAM! I get the Thinkpoint virus on one of the first links I go to.

So it force-restarts my machine and starts doing all kinds of stuff. I turn the machine off and turn it back on, making sure to hit the ThinkVantage button on the right. I get various menus and eventually select an option to restore to the factory state. It's the obvious choice since it was in that state only an hour or two ago!

But ThinkVantage hangs during the process. After a couple hours of being stuck at the same place with no progress, I turn it off and start it up again. Permanent error on the hard disk, pressing the blue ThinkVantage button now does nothing, and of course I have no Windows 7 installation CD. Not only that, I don't even know my Windows 7 product key #!

So. My questions are:

1) How can I fix this for free? I read on the Lenovo site that they charge for a Windows 7 recovery CD. I don't think I should have to pay more money when I just bought a brand new (not refurbished) laptop today. Does anyone know how much Lenovo charges for these? Would it matter that I don't know my product key for Windows 7?

2) There are two serial numbers on a sticker that came with the laptop. The top one is 11 digits, four letters followed by 7 numbers. The bottom one is 7 digits, a dash, and two more digits. Mostly numbers with a couple letters. Is this my Windows 7 product key?

3) Is there any way to force the computer back into the ThinkVantage recovery thing? Pressing the blue button doesn't work anymore, so I'm guessing not.

Thanks everyone: any help you can provide would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

 

If you just want a Windows disc you can download them in the Windows forum, but then you won't have the option of a recovery disc. I would just call support to explain the situation. Tell them you hadn't made the recovery discs and the ThinkVantage button isn't working. They'll probably send you a set. You could try a Linux disc just to rule out a hardware error.

 

I am never had an issue asking for recovery disc (while under warranty), I have just explained that I can not make them, I have a DVD player, not a burner, I have usually explained that I was gonna upgrade my HD and need the recovery disc to install the OS. I normally get them in a about 3 days. In your situation, since it is new, still under warranty, it should not be an issue. Just give them a call and find out. If not, then you should have 30 days to return it for a refund, that should convince them to send you a set of recovery disc.

 

Thanks guys. Would the recovery disc come with a new Windows 7 product key? I've since found out that it should be 25 digits, not 19, so my original one is probably lost to the ages.

Also, I bought the laptop from the Outlet (brand new though), so if I return it there is a 15% restocking fee and I have to pay for shipping. Ouch!

 

I don't know, I have request recovery disc for thinkpads that came with XP, so there was no need for product keys. I am pretty sure that with Lenovo, they are volume keys, so you would not need one, but I could not be for sure. I have not bought a new or refurblish notebook from Lenovo with the new Win 7 OS. My Win 7 copy is OEM, system builder from Newegg, but it does run $180, so I can understand your concern about getting recovery disc.

 

Recovery discs are already activated.

 

Zaz is correct. Recovery discs are ready to go and will install if your ThinkPad is compatible with the installation.

In the future when you buy a brand new ThinkPad make sure to make recovery discs before you do anything with your machine. You make these by burning them yourself via the recovery disc guide.

Another word of advice: Before surfing the web on a brand new machine install an antivirus/malware program first.

 

SL series use a one-touch (similar to some ideapads) recovery system. If your the blue key doesn't work, there is a chance that Lenovo can send you the recovery media for the SL systems at no cost, provided the machine is still within warranty.

SL series don't allow users to create their own recovery discs, unlike you can on the T, R, X, Z, W series, this is another reason why many people don't consider it to be a true Thinkpad, but rather an ideapad in Thinkpad clothing.

The serial no. of your windows OS, should clearly state that it is for windows..

http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/160/598/957/HIyb7jjRSSYCTz1.jpg <--- something like this

 

Lead org, thanks for clarification

So the official and only way to recover to factory state on the SL-series is to use the button and hence you will have to keep the partition? That is indeed like an Ideapad.

 

On my t510 the Windows 7 sticker is under the battery so you have to remove the battery to see it. Kind of dumb but it makes the sticker not come off.

 

Recovery disks are a bit of an old idea because Windows 7 will create an image of the system disk with backup. I've never created recovery disks and I don't see why this would be desirable.
i put my Outlook mail file on an alternate disk or partion of the ssd. Backed up and prepared in this fashion, the system disk becomes more valuable as a backup because other software is already installed.

Renee

 

X2.

I've gotten a Malware virus on my T61 about 6 months ago, and I just simply hit the blue ThinkVantage button on start-up, and picked a date of my last restore, and restored my system to a past date.
Bang, no more virus, and has been working fine since.

 

Mike,
I also have a T61P that all I do and the system is replaced. I have yet to pick up a vrus because of antiviruses.

But I don't understand something. Are you saying that ancillary software is also installed? Because if thats the case, recovery disks are backups. Apparantently you are duplicating funtionality.

Renee

 

did you create recovery discs or recovery media?