How does system restore work?

I've never had a Lenovo laptop, let alone a new one. I plan on wiping out the disk right away and starting from a fresh install. But one day I'm going to want to return the laptop back to the way it was shipped to me.

Will they include a System Restore disk that will achieve that, or should I clone the HDD right away when I receive it?

Will booting the first time with the stock hard drive initiate some kind of install process (should I clone *before* the first boot)?

 

Every thinkpad I've received in the past few years includes an installed program that allows you to create the factory disk set image. It's typically under the ThinkVantage area.

It's the very first thing I do when I get a new machine. Create the disk set so I can return it to that state if I decide to sell the machine.

 

I'm currently unaware of any way to rebuild that partition.

 

Ok, so I should boot with the stock drive, login using some default account, and create that disk. Can that disk be used on another drive that may be a difference size (assuming enough space)?

 

You should back up the system disk first.

Your question of another drive is interesting. You didn't specify the relative sizes of the disks. If it the same size disk AND there is only one partition then fine. However if it's a larger disk, you'll need Diskpart (or equivalent) or the Windows Disk Manager to make other partitions.
Renee

 

Yeah, that's what you should do. The recovery disks are a set of 3 disks, 1 CD (put that in first) and 2 DVDs (the program will prompt you).

Yes, as a simple answer, you can use it on any other drive.

 

So I have the new Thinkpad in my hands now, and I can't find an option to create a set of discs that restores the system back to the state it was when it was shipped. I can only find an option to create a backup of the current system state (which is now spoiled since I've logged in, set the time, chose other various options all before arriving at the desktop for the first time).

How exactly do I create these "restore to factory state" discs?

 

To create the discs, click on the blue button to bring up ThinkVantage Tool and look for Rescue & Recovery.

If all you wanted to do is to clear the HDD and get back to the factory default state, then press the blue button when you start up or reboot the system.

 

This is what I've been doing. I have the option to back up or recover from a backup. I don't have the option to create "restore factory image" discs, and the option to backup indicates that it will backup the disk as-is.

I think I figured it out (although I haven't tried it yet).

I found an option in the start menu (that *isn't* in the ThinkVantage app launched from the blue button) called "Create Recovery Media". This is different from the "Rescue and Recovery" applet.

 

Sorry I gave you wrong info. For my X200s, I can create recovery discs from Lenovo Thinkvantage Tools which can be found in the list of programs (Win 7) and then click on Rescue & Recovery.

 

Are you sure these aren't just backup disks?

Do you have an option in the start menu called "Create Recovery Media" and does it lead to the same applet/UI?

I wonder if they've reorganized things...

 

Someone posted this link which explains the process:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-70829

 

To further complicate things, there are both "Create Recovery Media" and "Create Product Recovery Media" entries in the start menu.

"Create Product Recovery Media" is what I was looking for.

 

Being that I am also about to create my "factory state" sets, I am also a bit puzzled to what these two things do:

1. I have a "Create Rescue Media" button in the "Rescue and Recovery" tool from the ThinkVantage toolbox. This starts a program with the name - "Create Rescue Media".

2. If I double click my Q: drive, I get "Lenovo Factory Backup Partition Information" with 2 buttons - one is "Create Recovery Media" which starts a program with the name - "Create Recovery Media".

What is the difference between the two?

As a side question, in the second case I also have a "Recover Drive Space" button. This seems to be pretty self-explanatory but I wonder if this will interfere with the pre-boot menu when I press the blue ThinkVantage button at startup.

Hope these questions are not considered "thread hijacking".

 

It is actually considered hijacking cause it doesn't pertain to the original post.

 

You can also call Lenovo to get the discs if they will give them to you.

 

To fix my wrongdoing this is what i found (it is related to the original post to some)

Per Lenovo's rep - #1 in my prev. post refers to a snapshot of the C: drive in it's current condition, whereas #2 is the complete restore to factory fresh condition.

And just ignore my second question, I may ask in another thread.

 

garga, I think your questions are answered at the link I posted above:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/si...cid=MIGR-70829

 

I ended up using "Create Product Recovery Media" to burn 3 DVDs (a "Start Product Recovery", "Product Recovery Disc 1", and "Product Recovery Disc 2") using an external USB burner.

I was also able to use the thinkvantage button at boot to restore the system to it's factory state without using the discs, but the discs should let me do that on another HDD, or if this HDD is formatted.