ThinkWiki - User contributions [en]

Backing up the preloaded OS

2006-07-18T12:17:06Z

Frinring: /* Instructions */

On recent ThinkPads even if you don't get the Recovery CDs and want to remove your [[Predesktop Area]], you still have a good chance to get a means of restoring the original state of your ThinkPad later. The only prerequisite is that you still have the preloaded system. (If not, please look at: [[Recovering without Recovery CDs]].)

If you have your PreDesktop Area intact, its a good idea to [[Ordering_Recovery_CDs#Creating_Recovery_CDs_from_the_preinstalled_O.2FS|make a set of Recovery CDs]]
They come in useful for a hard disk upgrade or hard disk crash.

==Coverage of this approach==
The original installation includes all the necessary setup files needed to install the system in its original state. Hence this approach - if done properly - leads to the same result as [[Recovering from Recovery CDs]], just with a bit more hassle. Advantage is the customizability of your selfmade recovery media and the enhanced influence you have on the (manual) recovery process.

==Instructions==
There are [http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_Install/index.htm comprehensive instructions] on where to find these files and how to back them up to CD-R/DVD-R media hosted at 4saad.com. An alternative way is shortly described [http://www.jaymallar.com/ibmr50/Linux_on_IBM_R50.html#Saving_Your_Installation here].

Fabrice Bellet describes an (untested!) way to [http://bellet.info/laptop/t40.html#the_predesktop_area create a bootable DVD-ROM] when your ThinkPad is only running GNU/Linux. This DVD-ROM boots into the "IBM Product Recovery program". That program should allow you to "reformat your hard disk and install Windows XP, device drivers and preinstalled applications".

[[Category:Windows]]

Pre-Installation steps

2006-07-18T12:08:49Z

Frinring: /* Backup/Rescue CD Set */

==Backup/Rescue CD Set==
The preinstalled WinXP on most modern Thinkpads comes with a software to create rescue discs. It can be found in the "Access IBM" section of the Windows menu. I recommend to create a set of rescue discs before you repartition the drive. When you create the rescue discs, use a CD-R for the first volume (it's only 280 Megs) and then DVD-R. Otherwise you will end up with seven CD-Rs.
Alternatively IBM [[Ordering_Recovery_CDs|offers]] shipment of a pack of rescue disks if you call the support hotline. Or try to create the rescue CDs [[Backing_up_the_preloaded_OS|on your own]].

The copy of Windows that came with your machine cannot be legally transferred to any other machine. Leave the license sticker intact for when the machine is sold, or if you just have to dual boot.

==Resizing your Windows Partition==
If you want to keep your WinXP partition and you do not want to shell out lots of money for PartitionMagic, you can use [http://mlf.linux.rulez.org/mlf/ezaz/ntfsresize.html ntfsresize]. I recommend booting {{Kanotix}} or {{Knoppix}}, getting it online and using the latest version to be found at the ntfsresize link because the CD linuxes tend to come with slightly out-dated versions. Be sure not to forget to resize your Windows partition (e.g. with cfdisk) AFTER having resized ntfs and TAKE CARE not to make the partition smaller than you made the ntfs. If you like it safe and smooth you can also take a look at the program "qtparted" which reportedly takes care of ntfsresize and partition table changing in one go and allows you to adjust partition sizes in a GUI. But I have not tested this software personally.

'''Please be carefull before taking the following steps. I suggest that you should create rescue and product recovery CDs (6 CDS will be required) before going for the following so that if anything goes wrong you can go back to the factory setting using those CDs.'''

==Moving the Recovery partition using a Linux rescue system==
On newer models (i.e. the T43) the preinstalled HDD has two partitions; the first one containing the OS and second one having the rescue files used to boot the machine when {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} button is pressed before Windows XP takes control of the laptop. One can use his Linux distros boot CD (usually the first CD) to boot into rescue mode and shift the rescue partition from the end of the HDD to somewhere in between leaving required space for Windows. This can be done in following steps:

===Creating a temporary rescue partition===
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the 1st partition ({{path|/dev/sda1}}).
* Create a partion {{path|/dev/sda3}} immediately before the rescue partition ({{path|/dev/sda2}}) with exactly the same number of cylinders as the rescue partition.
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk. Reboot.
{{HINT|To be on the safe side, reboot the machine everytime the partition table is modified and saved using fdisk from linux rescue mode.}}
* rawcopy the contents of {{path|/dev/sda2}} to {{path|/dev/sda3}} with
:{{cmdroot|1=dd if=/dev/sda2 of=/dev/sda3}}

===Creating the rescue partition in its final position===
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the rescue partiton {{path|/dev/sda2}} (we just backed it up to {{path|/dev/sda3}}).
* Create a partion {{path|/dev/sda2}} immediately after the space you want to leave for Windows. Note that this new partition again should have exactly the same number of cylinders as the rescue partition (now {{path|/dev/sda3}}).
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk. Reboot.
* rawcopy the contents of {{path|/dev/sda3}} to the newly created {{path|/dev/sda2}}:
:{{cmdroot|1=dd if=/dev/sda3 of=/dev/sda2}}
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the temporary rescue partiton {{path|/dev/sda3}} (we just copied it to {{path|/dev/sda2}})
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk.
* Reboot the machine and press {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} Button to restore the Windows XP from the rescue partition. Windows XP will occupy only the space available before the new rescue partition.

Once Windows XP is recovered follow the standard mechanism for installing Linux in the available free space at the end of the HDD. If you have created Rescue and Product Recovery CDs, then the Rescue Partition also can be deleted at this stage to make more room for your Linux installation.

= Alternative Method: Dual Booting and retaining ThinkVantage Utility =

Note: T60 2913 with 60 GB drive

The key here is to find a bootable CD version of Linux that has the PartEd package on it (preferrably with qtparted also). I used SystemRescueCd (http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page). I've read people say to defrag Windows, but according to the PartEd website, the PartEd resize command (http://www.gnu.org/software/parted/manual/parted.html#resize) will take care of all that. Now boot with the SystemRescueCd and when you get the prompt, press F2. This will list available images. I used fb1024, because I wanted to use qtparted (graphical, fb1024 is framebuffer at 1024x768 vs fb800 is framebuffer at 800x600, etc), not parted (commandline).

What I saw was a 3 partition device sda. Only touch the NTFS partition (sda1 on mine, should be on yours if it is factory settings). You do not want to move the VFAT at the end of the device nor touch that little section (sda-1) at the beginning. I resized sda1 (NTFS) down to 20 GB, what you should see is the the New Size + the Free Space After = Old Size of sda1. Click the commit under the file menu to write the changes. That's it.

I then rebooted with Fedora Core 5 disk 1 and used Anaconda and its utilities to partition the free space to be a 20 GB mount point "/", a 512 MB swap, and a 10 GB vfat, these could have been done using qtparted, or pretty much any distro's install. The swap and vfat were shown inside a logical partition. I set up GRUB in the MBR and clicked the GRUB advanced setup checkbox. This allowed me to add entries, in addition to Linux, for GRUB. I added the NTFS (Windows) partition and the VFAT (ThinkVantage partition, not the 10 GB I created, cuz that would be silly).

The results are: on boot, the post screen tells you to press the ThinkVantage button and....it does nothing, but once GRUB starts, press the key GRUB tells you to which shows the boot list, and there you have Linux, Windows, and ThinkVantage. I tried it and I can boot into all 3. When you first boot into Windows, you may get a chkdisk (I did), but it should be fine.

A word of warning. Be careful, I've heard some people say GRUB in the MBR while dual booting WinXP can result in false positives from virus software, but I didn't have that issue. Also, be very careful about the resize of the NTFS partition with qtparted. Any change in the placement of the start of the pre-existing partitions, and all bets are off. I'm just saying this because I don't know what might happen if Windows isn't where it wants to be. Also I think the placement of the ThinkVantage utility on the disk is very important from my reading. However, since pressing the ThinkVantage at POST doesn't do anything, I may have screwed that up, but with GRUB pointing at that VFAT, I can still get to the ThinkVantage utilities, so I'm happy.

[[Category:Windows]]

Pre-Installation steps

2006-07-18T12:05:00Z

Frinring: /* Backup/Rescue CD Set */

==Backup/Rescue CD Set==
The preinstalled WinXP on most modern Thinkpads comes with a software to create rescue discs. It can be found in the "Access IBM" section of the Windows menu. I recommend to create a set of rescue discs before you repartition the drive. When you create the rescue discs, use a CD-R for the first volume (it's only 280 Megs) and then DVD-R. Otherwise you will end up with seven CD-Rs.
Alternatively IBM [[Ordering_Recovery_CDs offers]] shipment of a pack of rescue disks if you call the support hotline. Or try to create the rescue CDs [[Backing_up_the_preloaded_OS on your own]].

The copy of Windows that came with your machine cannot be legally transferred to any other machine. Leave the license sticker intact for when the machine is sold, or if you just have to dual boot.

==Resizing your Windows Partition==
If you want to keep your WinXP partition and you do not want to shell out lots of money for PartitionMagic, you can use [http://mlf.linux.rulez.org/mlf/ezaz/ntfsresize.html ntfsresize]. I recommend booting {{Kanotix}} or {{Knoppix}}, getting it online and using the latest version to be found at the ntfsresize link because the CD linuxes tend to come with slightly out-dated versions. Be sure not to forget to resize your Windows partition (e.g. with cfdisk) AFTER having resized ntfs and TAKE CARE not to make the partition smaller than you made the ntfs. If you like it safe and smooth you can also take a look at the program "qtparted" which reportedly takes care of ntfsresize and partition table changing in one go and allows you to adjust partition sizes in a GUI. But I have not tested this software personally.

'''Please be carefull before taking the following steps. I suggest that you should create rescue and product recovery CDs (6 CDS will be required) before going for the following so that if anything goes wrong you can go back to the factory setting using those CDs.'''

==Moving the Recovery partition using a Linux rescue system==
On newer models (i.e. the T43) the preinstalled HDD has two partitions; the first one containing the OS and second one having the rescue files used to boot the machine when {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} button is pressed before Windows XP takes control of the laptop. One can use his Linux distros boot CD (usually the first CD) to boot into rescue mode and shift the rescue partition from the end of the HDD to somewhere in between leaving required space for Windows. This can be done in following steps:

===Creating a temporary rescue partition===
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the 1st partition ({{path|/dev/sda1}}).
* Create a partion {{path|/dev/sda3}} immediately before the rescue partition ({{path|/dev/sda2}}) with exactly the same number of cylinders as the rescue partition.
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk. Reboot.
{{HINT|To be on the safe side, reboot the machine everytime the partition table is modified and saved using fdisk from linux rescue mode.}}
* rawcopy the contents of {{path|/dev/sda2}} to {{path|/dev/sda3}} with
:{{cmdroot|1=dd if=/dev/sda2 of=/dev/sda3}}

===Creating the rescue partition in its final position===
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the rescue partiton {{path|/dev/sda2}} (we just backed it up to {{path|/dev/sda3}}).
* Create a partion {{path|/dev/sda2}} immediately after the space you want to leave for Windows. Note that this new partition again should have exactly the same number of cylinders as the rescue partition (now {{path|/dev/sda3}}).
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk. Reboot.
* rawcopy the contents of {{path|/dev/sda3}} to the newly created {{path|/dev/sda2}}:
:{{cmdroot|1=dd if=/dev/sda3 of=/dev/sda2}}
* Run {{cmdroot|fdisk /dev/sda}}.
* Delete the temporary rescue partiton {{path|/dev/sda3}} (we just copied it to {{path|/dev/sda2}})
* Save the partition table and quit fdisk.
* Reboot the machine and press {{ibmkey|Access IBM|#495988}} Button to restore the Windows XP from the rescue partition. Windows XP will occupy only the space available before the new rescue partition.

Once Windows XP is recovered follow the standard mechanism for installing Linux in the available free space at the end of the HDD. If you have created Rescue and Product Recovery CDs, then the Rescue Partition also can be deleted at this stage to make more room for your Linux installation.

= Alternative Method: Dual Booting and retaining ThinkVantage Utility =

Note: T60 2913 with 60 GB drive

The key here is to find a bootable CD version of Linux that has the PartEd package on it (preferrably with qtparted also). I used SystemRescueCd (http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page). I've read people say to defrag Windows, but according to the PartEd website, the PartEd resize command (http://www.gnu.org/software/parted/manual/parted.html#resize) will take care of all that. Now boot with the SystemRescueCd and when you get the prompt, press F2. This will list available images. I used fb1024, because I wanted to use qtparted (graphical, fb1024 is framebuffer at 1024x768 vs fb800 is framebuffer at 800x600, etc), not parted (commandline).

What I saw was a 3 partition device sda. Only touch the NTFS partition (sda1 on mine, should be on yours if it is factory settings). You do not want to move the VFAT at the end of the device nor touch that little section (sda-1) at the beginning. I resized sda1 (NTFS) down to 20 GB, what you should see is the the New Size + the Free Space After = Old Size of sda1. Click the commit under the file menu to write the changes. That's it.

I then rebooted with Fedora Core 5 disk 1 and used Anaconda and its utilities to partition the free space to be a 20 GB mount point "/", a 512 MB swap, and a 10 GB vfat, these could have been done using qtparted, or pretty much any distro's install. The swap and vfat were shown inside a logical partition. I set up GRUB in the MBR and clicked the GRUB advanced setup checkbox. This allowed me to add entries, in addition to Linux, for GRUB. I added the NTFS (Windows) partition and the VFAT (ThinkVantage partition, not the 10 GB I created, cuz that would be silly).

The results are: on boot, the post screen tells you to press the ThinkVantage button and....it does nothing, but once GRUB starts, press the key GRUB tells you to which shows the boot list, and there you have Linux, Windows, and ThinkVantage. I tried it and I can boot into all 3. When you first boot into Windows, you may get a chkdisk (I did), but it should be fine.

A word of warning. Be careful, I've heard some people say GRUB in the MBR while dual booting WinXP can result in false positives from virus software, but I didn't have that issue. Also, be very careful about the resize of the NTFS partition with qtparted. Any change in the placement of the start of the pre-existing partitions, and all bets are off. I'm just saying this because I don't know what might happen if Windows isn't where it wants to be. Also I think the placement of the ThinkVantage utility on the disk is very important from my reading. However, since pressing the ThinkVantage at POST doesn't do anything, I may have screwed that up, but with GRUB pointing at that VFAT, I can still get to the ThinkVantage utilities, so I'm happy.

[[Category:Windows]]

Ordering Recovery CDs

2006-07-18T11:53:06Z

Frinring: /* Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S */

Information on getting Recovery CDs from IBM.

The information on this page is unofficial. It is gathered from personal experiences. It is here to raise your chances of success when you give it a try yourself.

==About Recovery CDs==
Recovery CDs enable you to reproduce the original software state on your ThinkPad. Until the beginning of 2001 IBM delivered recovery CDs with the ThinkPads, but starting with the A30/T23/X22 models ThinkPads have a [[Predesktop Area]], which's purpose is to make Recovery CDs obsolete. However, this is flawed logic, since you will lose both the installed OS AND the [[Predesktop Area]] upon failure of the hard drive. Also, if you buy a drive upgrade the [[Predesktop Area]] will not be on the new drive. Furthermore, spyware and viruses are lately being designed to infiltrate recovery partitions, so if you restore the system from such, you will restore the invading malware along with it. For the time being, Recovery CDs are available on request.

Recovery CDs are localized, meaning that there are specific versions for each language. The language you will get depends on the language of the OS that was shipped with your ThinkPad. There's usually no way to get CDs in a different language from IBM.

==How to get them==

===Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S===
In some ThinkPads IBM supplies a utility to create the recovery CDs. You'll find a utility called "Create Recovery Discs" in the "ACCESS IBM" folder of the Start Menu. To create the Recovery discs, you'll need a CD/DVD writer and blank media. The Product Recovery discs set consist of one Rescue and Recovery disc (size of 1 CD-R) and one or more Product recovery discs (size of 1 DVD-R).

Others might want to read the appendix "Creating an image of the hard drive" in this [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/access_ibm_en/hpa_aibm.pdf document] from IBM for instructions. It is also usefull when replacing the hard disk. If your Thinkpad does not have a floppy drive, you could try to create a FAT partition on the harddisk and copy the files "fwbackup.exe" and "fwrestor.exe" there.

===From IBM===
Should you fail to create a set of recovery discs before your harddrive fails, you may try to contact IBM service and request for a set.
This can be done by eMail or phone.
[http://www.ibm.com/support/ Support phone numbers] are available online.
They are officially called ''Recovery CD service parts.''
If you actually get them, or not, seems to be more a personal decision of the service person dealing with you than following fixed rules. Also it seems to depend on your country (see below).

They will usually expect you to tell them a good reason for your request (see below).
As with every service request, you'll also have to provide your model and serial number to verify the warranty state.
The warranty for your ThinkPad is usually quite long though (3 years in my case), and you can
[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/ check online] if your warranty is still in force.
The model number is also used to determine which CDs you will get.

Orders placed during the first month after purchase have proven to be the most successful. Note some people needed to pay a $45.00 fee, plus shipping and tax, for the CDs, regardless of when ordering them. Again, this seems to depend on the mood of the service rep that handles your case.

Note that Recovery CDs are only available for Windows XP Professional for the X24, as per the Customer Service Center in Atlanta, GA. All other operating systems (Windows 2000, 98SE, OS/2, etc...) are no longer available. XP Home was apparently never available for the X24.

====Good reasons to tell====
*You replaced (or will be replacing) your hard drive.
*You installed Linux or some other OS and accidentally removed/destroyed the [[Predesktop Area]].
*You bought a machine in one country (e.g Germany) and need to convert the OS to use a different language (e.g. English).

====What happens then====
Once it's decided that you get the CDs, they usually get shipped very fast. Times from 16h to 3 days have been reported, 3 days being the time to expect. The shipping can even happen without prior confirmation of your request, so don't be worried if you hear nothing within this time.

A Dutch IBM customer reported next-day delivery of recovery CDs, on three different occasions. A customer in Belgium had to wait 8 days, so sometimes delivery is not that fast.

Apparently recovery CDs to the UK are now shipped from Hungary, with an estimated delivery of 8-9 days. Experience shows they tend to come a little sooner. It seems likely that this is now the source for all of Europe.

====Country overview====
Please put an entry for your country into this table if it's missing and you made a try to get the Recovery CDs.
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
|-
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#cfefcf;" | CDs received in
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffcfbc;" | CDs were denied in
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#e9f9e9;" |
*Argentina
*Austria
*Australia (depends on the service rep & reason)
*Brazil
*Belgium
*Canada
*Denmark
*Finland
*France
*Germany (cost: 39,90 Euro (+VAT) if device is out of warranty), otherwise is free
*Italy
*The Netherlands
*New Zealand
*Norway
*Poland (60 PLN +VAT (on warranty) via IBM Poland business partner)
*Philippines
*Spain
*Sweden
*Switzerland
*UK
*USA
*Turkey
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#fff0e0;" |
*Israel but received after calling IBM Europe
*Australia, payment was requested
*India, just a plain "not possible"
*Russia, service reps claim that these CDs are not for end-users
|}

[[Category:Windows]] [[Category:A30]] [[Category:A30p]] [[Category:A31]] [[Category:A31p]] [[Category:G40]] [[Category:G41]] [[Category:R30]] [[Category:R31]] [[Category:R32]][[Category:R40]] [[Category:R40e]] [[Category:R50]] [[Category:R50e]] [[Category:R50p]] [[Category:R51]] [[Category:R52]] [[Category:T23]] [[Category:T30]] [[Category:T40]] [[Category:T40p]] [[Category:T41]] [[Category:T41p]] [[Category:T42]] [[Category:T42p]] [[Category:T43]] [[Category:T43p]] [[Category:X22]] [[Category:X23]] [[Category:X24]] [[Category:X30]] [[Category:X31]] [[Category:X32]] [[Category:X40]] [[Category:X41]]

Ordering Recovery CDs

2006-07-17T21:56:56Z

Frinring: /* Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S */

Information on getting Recovery CDs from IBM.

The information on this page is unofficial. It is gathered from personal experiences. It is here to raise your chances of success when you give it a try yourself.

==About Recovery CDs==
Recovery CDs enable you to reproduce the original software state on your ThinkPad. Until the beginning of 2001 IBM delivered recovery CDs with the ThinkPads, but starting with the A30/T23/X22 models ThinkPads have a [[Predesktop Area]], which's purpose is to make Recovery CDs obsolete. However, this is flawed logic, since you will lose both the installed OS AND the [[Predesktop Area]] upon failure of the hard drive. Also, if you buy a drive upgrade the [[Predesktop Area]] will not be on the new drive. Furthermore, spyware and viruses are lately being designed to infiltrate recovery partitions, so if you restore the system from such, you will restore the invading malware along with it. For the time being, Recovery CDs are available on request.

Recovery CDs are localized, meaning that there are specific versions for each language. The language you will get depends on the language of the OS that was shipped with your ThinkPad. There's usually no way to get CDs in a different language from IBM.

==How to get them==

===Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S===
In some ThinkPads IBM supplies a utility to create the recovery CDs. You'll find a utility called "Create Recovery Discs" in the "ACCESS IBM" folder of the Start Menu. To create the Recovery discs, you'll need a CD/DVD writer and blank media. The Product Recovery discs set consist of one Rescue and Recovery disc (size of 1 CD-R) and one or more Product recovery discs (size of 1 DVD-R).

Others might want to read the appendix "Creating an image of the hard drive" in this [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/access_ibm_en/hpa_aibm.pdf document] from IBM for instructions. It is also usefull when replacing the hard disk.

===From IBM===
Should you fail to create a set of recovery discs before your harddrive fails, you may try to contact IBM service and request for a set.
This can be done by eMail or phone.
[http://www.ibm.com/support/ Support phone numbers] are available online.
They are officially called ''Recovery CD service parts.''
If you actually get them, or not, seems to be more a personal decision of the service person dealing with you than following fixed rules. Also it seems to depend on your country (see below).

They will usually expect you to tell them a good reason for your request (see below).
As with every service request, you'll also have to provide your model and serial number to verify the warranty state.
The warranty for your ThinkPad is usually quite long though (3 years in my case), and you can
[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/ check online] if your warranty is still in force.
The model number is also used to determine which CDs you will get.

Orders placed during the first month after purchase have proven to be the most successful. Note some people needed to pay a $45.00 fee, plus shipping and tax, for the CDs, regardless of when ordering them. Again, this seems to depend on the mood of the service rep that handles your case.

Note that Recovery CDs are only available for Windows XP Professional for the X24, as per the Customer Service Center in Atlanta, GA. All other operating systems (Windows 2000, 98SE, OS/2, etc...) are no longer available. XP Home was apparently never available for the X24.

====Good reasons to tell====
*You replaced (or will be replacing) your hard drive.
*You installed Linux or some other OS and accidentally removed/destroyed the [[Predesktop Area]].
*You bought a machine in one country (e.g Germany) and need to convert the OS to use a different language (e.g. English).

====What happens then====
Once it's decided that you get the CDs, they usually get shipped very fast. Times from 16h to 3 days have been reported, 3 days being the time to expect. The shipping can even happen without prior confirmation of your request, so don't be worried if you hear nothing within this time.

A Dutch IBM customer reported next-day delivery of recovery CDs, on three different occasions. A customer in Belgium had to wait 8 days, so sometimes delivery is not that fast.

Apparently recovery CDs to the UK are now shipped from Hungary, with an estimated delivery of 8-9 days. Experience shows they tend to come a little sooner. It seems likely that this is now the source for all of Europe.

====Country overview====
Please put an entry for your country into this table if it's missing and you made a try to get the Recovery CDs.
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
|-
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#cfefcf;" | CDs received in
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffcfbc;" | CDs were denied in
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#e9f9e9;" |
*Argentina
*Austria
*Australia (depends on the service rep & reason)
*Brazil
*Belgium
*Canada
*Denmark
*Finland
*France
*Germany (cost: 39,90 Euro (+VAT) if device is out of warranty), otherwise is free
*Italy
*The Netherlands
*New Zealand
*Norway
*Poland (60 PLN +VAT (on warranty) via IBM Poland business partner)
*Philippines
*Spain
*Sweden
*Switzerland
*UK
*USA
*Turkey
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#fff0e0;" |
*Israel but received after calling IBM Europe
*Australia, payment was requested
*India, just a plain "not possible"
*Russia, service reps claim that these CDs are not for end-users
|}

[[Category:Windows]] [[Category:A30]] [[Category:A30p]] [[Category:A31]] [[Category:A31p]] [[Category:G40]] [[Category:G41]] [[Category:R30]] [[Category:R31]] [[Category:R32]][[Category:R40]] [[Category:R40e]] [[Category:R50]] [[Category:R50e]] [[Category:R50p]] [[Category:R51]] [[Category:R52]] [[Category:T23]] [[Category:T30]] [[Category:T40]] [[Category:T40p]] [[Category:T41]] [[Category:T41p]] [[Category:T42]] [[Category:T42p]] [[Category:T43]] [[Category:T43p]] [[Category:X22]] [[Category:X23]] [[Category:X24]] [[Category:X30]] [[Category:X31]] [[Category:X32]] [[Category:X40]] [[Category:X41]]

Ordering Recovery CDs

2006-07-17T21:55:20Z

Frinring: /* Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S */

Information on getting Recovery CDs from IBM.

The information on this page is unofficial. It is gathered from personal experiences. It is here to raise your chances of success when you give it a try yourself.

==About Recovery CDs==
Recovery CDs enable you to reproduce the original software state on your ThinkPad. Until the beginning of 2001 IBM delivered recovery CDs with the ThinkPads, but starting with the A30/T23/X22 models ThinkPads have a [[Predesktop Area]], which's purpose is to make Recovery CDs obsolete. However, this is flawed logic, since you will lose both the installed OS AND the [[Predesktop Area]] upon failure of the hard drive. Also, if you buy a drive upgrade the [[Predesktop Area]] will not be on the new drive. Furthermore, spyware and viruses are lately being designed to infiltrate recovery partitions, so if you restore the system from such, you will restore the invading malware along with it. For the time being, Recovery CDs are available on request.

Recovery CDs are localized, meaning that there are specific versions for each language. The language you will get depends on the language of the OS that was shipped with your ThinkPad. There's usually no way to get CDs in a different language from IBM.

==How to get them==

===Creating Recovery CDs from the preinstalled O/S===
In some ThinkPads IBM supplies a utility to create the recovery CDs. You'll find a utility called "Create Recovery Discs" in the "ACCESS IBM" folder of the Start Menu. To create the Recovery discs, you'll need a CD/DVD writer and blank media. The Product Recovery discs set consist of one Rescue and Recovery disc (size of 1 CD-R) and one or more Product recovery discs (size of 1 DVD-R).

Others might want to read the appendix "Creating an image of the hard drive" in this [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/access_ibm_en/hpa_aibm.pdf document] from IBM for instructions.

===From IBM===
Should you fail to create a set of recovery discs before your harddrive fails, you may try to contact IBM service and request for a set.
This can be done by eMail or phone.
[http://www.ibm.com/support/ Support phone numbers] are available online.
They are officially called ''Recovery CD service parts.''
If you actually get them, or not, seems to be more a personal decision of the service person dealing with you than following fixed rules. Also it seems to depend on your country (see below).

They will usually expect you to tell them a good reason for your request (see below).
As with every service request, you'll also have to provide your model and serial number to verify the warranty state.
The warranty for your ThinkPad is usually quite long though (3 years in my case), and you can
[http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/ check online] if your warranty is still in force.
The model number is also used to determine which CDs you will get.

Orders placed during the first month after purchase have proven to be the most successful. Note some people needed to pay a $45.00 fee, plus shipping and tax, for the CDs, regardless of when ordering them. Again, this seems to depend on the mood of the service rep that handles your case.

Note that Recovery CDs are only available for Windows XP Professional for the X24, as per the Customer Service Center in Atlanta, GA. All other operating systems (Windows 2000, 98SE, OS/2, etc...) are no longer available. XP Home was apparently never available for the X24.

====Good reasons to tell====
*You replaced (or will be replacing) your hard drive.
*You installed Linux or some other OS and accidentally removed/destroyed the [[Predesktop Area]].
*You bought a machine in one country (e.g Germany) and need to convert the OS to use a different language (e.g. English).

====What happens then====
Once it's decided that you get the CDs, they usually get shipped very fast. Times from 16h to 3 days have been reported, 3 days being the time to expect. The shipping can even happen without prior confirmation of your request, so don't be worried if you hear nothing within this time.

A Dutch IBM customer reported next-day delivery of recovery CDs, on three different occasions. A customer in Belgium had to wait 8 days, so sometimes delivery is not that fast.

Apparently recovery CDs to the UK are now shipped from Hungary, with an estimated delivery of 8-9 days. Experience shows they tend to come a little sooner. It seems likely that this is now the source for all of Europe.

====Country overview====
Please put an entry for your country into this table if it's missing and you made a try to get the Recovery CDs.
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"
|-
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#cfefcf;" | CDs received in
! style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#ffcfbc;" | CDs were denied in
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#e9f9e9;" |
*Argentina
*Austria
*Australia (depends on the service rep & reason)
*Brazil
*Belgium
*Canada
*Denmark
*Finland
*France
*Germany (cost: 39,90 Euro (+VAT) if device is out of warranty), otherwise is free
*Italy
*The Netherlands
*New Zealand
*Norway
*Poland (60 PLN +VAT (on warranty) via IBM Poland business partner)
*Philippines
*Spain
*Sweden
*Switzerland
*UK
*USA
*Turkey
| style="vertical-align:top;background-color:#fff0e0;" |
*Israel but received after calling IBM Europe
*Australia, payment was requested
*India, just a plain "not possible"
*Russia, service reps claim that these CDs are not for end-users
|}

[[Category:Windows]] [[Category:A30]] [[Category:A30p]] [[Category:A31]] [[Category:A31p]] [[Category:G40]] [[Category:G41]] [[Category:R30]] [[Category:R31]] [[Category:R32]][[Category:R40]] [[Category:R40e]] [[Category:R50]] [[Category:R50e]] [[Category:R50p]] [[Category:R51]] [[Category:R52]] [[Category:T23]] [[Category:T30]] [[Category:T40]] [[Category:T40p]] [[Category:T41]] [[Category:T41p]] [[Category:T42]] [[Category:T42p]] [[Category:T43]] [[Category:T43p]] [[Category:X22]] [[Category:X23]] [[Category:X24]] [[Category:X30]] [[Category:X31]] [[Category:X32]] [[Category:X40]] [[Category:X41]]