How to manage Rescue and Recovery Backups

Hi I've been using disk image backup solutions since the days of powerquests Drive Image. And have had my days with Ghost and Acronis Trueimage. I recently built a clean Vista image on my T400, and I'd like to take advantage of the Lenovo Rescue and Recovery 4.21 tool since it the recovery technology is already part of my system and I have tested it once.
I'm used to the idea that a backup tool will produce an image file, which I can manage myself, moving to various media....hiding under my bed etc. With RnR, I've noticed it prefers to control the directory's where backups are placed (this is a bit annoying to me, but I can live with it, as long as it's isolated to the RRBackup directory - which it appears may not be the case). I do appreciate it's ability to specify various backup media locations (network, CD, 2nd HDD, USB) and recognize that it's a simple approach for basic usage.
Recently I've backed up my image to USB drive, and also to the local disk. I'd like to take that back up and split it up into DVD's and burn it to disk. I know there is a built in RnR feature which lets us copy backups from the local drive (why only local drive ??) to USB/Network/CD, but unfortunately the CD copy feature burns directly to my thinkpad burner...which is a CDR device, not a DVDR device. I'd like to use the DVDR device on my desktop...
Anyway, I'd like to know if there is more resources on how to manage RnR Backups. I found the following guide http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-70344.html (which is hard to get on Lenovo's site...google finds it better), I'm still reading it, but so far it appears more focused on the pre-desktop area than backup management.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Hi Danielle,
Consider this allegory; factory settings will make your thinkpad like a never driven 0 meter car [with reference to software]. Hence it will be far-flung from it's previous state. Apart from what you have already saved on memory stick, all settings and the software you have installed on the notebook will be lost.
I hope this helps.
Maliha (I don't work for lenovo)
ThinkPads:- T400[Win 7], T60[Win 7], IBM 240[Win XP]
IdeaPad: U350
Apple:- Macbook Air [Snow Leopard]
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How to partition HD in order to load the rescue and recovery backup

HI All,
Can anyone tell me how to properly partition the HD in order for the Blue Button(thinkVantage) to work again?
Does it matter in the order how you create the partition...? (I create one partition then separate them via Partition Manager)
I load the image back via Norton Ghost v10... but the Rescue and Recovery section is not responding... I remember the section is created as (EISA system) as it is reported by Disk Manger (not extended or logical type)
Please help here...
thanks

One work-around that I have used successfully when I had an Acronis image but no R&R image is to do a full restore to factory using the factory recovery media (from Lenovo or home made on the TP) and then restoring only the windows partition from the non-Lenovo image. This should leave the service partition, the MBR, and track 0 in the Lenovo mystery mode, and let the think button work, and you get your cloned up-to-date OS.
I should add that in one of my experiments w/multi-booting and fiddling partitions, after using this procedure with Vista on my T400, vista wouldn't boot. It required a bootable vista DVD to run the vista boot repair procedure (twice). After that, "think" and vista booted as expected. I don't know of any way to do that with Lenovo install media. If no MS Vista DVD is available, there are stripped down versions with the repair stuff only floating around the web. The usual precautions re downloads apply. There may be manual ways to repair the vista boot stuff that I haven't found yet.
I can't say with certainty that this will always be necessary. I may have screwed something up during the two step restore process.
The magic "think" button is (potentially) pretty useful, but it and the "new improved" vista boot process are a little too fragile, IMNSHO.
Z.
The large print: please read the Community Participation Rules before posting. Include as much information as possible: model, machine type, operating system, and a descriptive subject line. Do not include personal information: serial number, telephone number, email address, etc. The fine print: I do not work for, nor do I speak for Lenovo. Unsolicited private messages will be ignored. ... GeezBlog
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Rescue and Recovery backup with external hard drive

When I first backed up my computer to my WD 1 tb external hard drive using R&R, boot files were placed on the drive. Recently, some files I had corrupted my external hard drive and I had to fully erase it. Now, after making the drive recognizable again, I went to go back up my computer using rescue and recovery. This time, it asked me whether or not I wanted to make the drive bootable, I said yes, but an error popped up saying I needed 1000 more mb, even though I had 931 gb open. The backup started anyway, but it did not include any boot files. Is there a way to make the drive bootable the next time I backup? What is the difference between nonbootable and bootable? Help? Thanks.

I do NOT have a external Hard drive. If you just zeroed the drive, it is blank. Go into control panel,administrative tools, computer management, disk management. See if you can get a PROPERTIES of the external drive and post a Screen shot of that here. This will show what partition(s) are there, Fat32 vs NTFS. My experience is after you zero a drive, You have to boot your system, then use a Vendor (WD) standalone format utility or windows Disk manangement format, Make partition, etc. The screen shot i need is the one that says: DISK 1 (d 298.09 GB NTFS
Healthy(active,primary partition). This is what my 2nd drive, D, says. 1 partion on the drive.
When i added my second hard drive, it was blank. Booted up, BIOS recognized drive, Then i Formatted it with windows disk managment. I then pointed R&R to take backups to that drive. Create rescue media then made a Master boot record, install standalone R&R boots files, then took the backup. This makes my 2nd drive bootable, should i ever care to boot my D drive up and have R&R standalone program in control. Thus i have 2 bootable drives. C boots into windows, D boots into the rescue and recovery standalone program. I can also boot my C drive into R&R by hitting PF 11 at startup (bios) time.
Which version of r&r you have? Which version of windows? Windows 7 changed the way Master boot records are written.
You can go into R&R, advanced menu, create rescue media. Point to your External drive. WARNING. make sure the do not destroy existing data block is checked. IF YOU ARE brave, uncheck the destroy existing data. This will erase everthing on the drive!!! <<Warning. And be sure NOT to point to any drive you really love.
Buts lets 1st get the screen shot requested to make sure the drive is FORMATTED correcly.

How to install Rescue and Recovery 4.21 on Windows 2003

There should be a good amount of users running Windows 2003 on their thinkpad for various reasons. As much as I tried, I could not get Rescue and Recovery's MSI to install on my X61 running Win2003 R2 SP2, despite attempts to modify the Setup.ini file.
the changes made in setup.ini:
[Win2003Server]
MajorVer=5
MinorVer=2
MinorVerMax=3
BuildNo=3790
PlatformId=2
The returned installer error is "The current operating system is not supported for running Rescue and Recovery. Supported operating systems includes Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or later".
This is such a shame as I'm pretty sure RR would run just fine on win2003 as both WinXP and win2003 are based on the same underlying technologies and code. Please advice if there's any method such as a command switch for MSI installer to suppress OS detection error or any modification that can be made to setup.ini to get it to install on win2003 or any utility that can be used to modify MSI files and database? Thanks!
Message Edited by Xseriesfanboy on 08-31-2008 08:26 PM
Message Edited by Xseriesfanboy on 08-31-2008 08:30 PM
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Alrighty..I've manage to google a hack to this problem of getting Rescue and Recovery to install on Windows 2003. So let this post be a guide to how to get this done:
Getting the tools to modify Rescue and Recovery MSI (Windows Installer)
Download and install Orca MSI editor from http://astebner.sts.winisp.net/Tools/Orca.zip
Review http://ravi1337.blogspot.com/2007/05/orca-msi-editor-make-any-software.html, this guide should give you a good idea what you'll be doing with this tool.
Download Rescue and Recovery™ 4.21 from Lenovo
Download Rescue and Recovery™ 4.21 for Windows XP (32-bit) or Windows 2000 from http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/license.do?filename=thinkvantage_en/z652_setup_rnr42_016c...
Ensure you are downloading full install with all language pack to avoid any missing installation file due to regional settings
Run the installer and see that all files are extracted accordingly.
Modification of Rescue and Recovery Installer
Delete all files in C:\Documents and Settings\(User Account Name)\Local Settings\Temp\ this will prevent confusion on which files are unpacked and created by RR installer
Extract z652_setup_rnr42_016c.exe into a folder named z652_setup_rnr42_016c.
Execute tvtrnr42.exe
The MSI installer is then unpacked to the following default directory: C:\Documents and Settings\(User Account Name)\Local Settings\Temp\. Note that the installer creates two directories for installation of RR, that are {F151F2B3-0C32-44D3-90E2-E639B8024622} and _isXXXX <--- 4 randomly generated digits
The folder _isXXXX contain Rescue and Recovery.msi
On the first run of the installer, the following error will be shown "The current operating system is not supported for running Rescue and Recovery. Supported operating systems includes Microsoft Windows 2000 with Service Pack 3 or Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or later". DO NOT CLICK OK! This is cause the installer to purge all installation files and related directories in the temp directory. Just leave the error window as it is without clicking the OK button!
Copy all TVT files from folder z652_setup_rnr42_016c into both directories
Modify setup.ini entry for Win2003Server with notepad and save changes:
[Win2003Server]
MajorVer=5
MinorVer=2
MinorVerMax=3
BuildNo=3790
PlatformId=2
Right-click on Rescue and Recovery.msi and edit with Orca
Go to LaunchCondition Table
Drop the following rows and save changes:
(((VersionNT=501 AND ServicePackLevel>=1)OR (VersionNT=500 AND ServicePackLevel>=3)) AND WINSERVER=0) OR Installed- The current operating system is not supported for running [ProductName]. Supported operating systems include Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 with Service Pack 3 or later and Windows XP with Service Pack 1 or later.
IEEXISTS=1 OR Installed - [ProductName] requires Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer version 5.5 or higher. You cannot install the Rescue and Recovery program without this version of Internet Explorer.
INCOMPAPPNAME=0 OR Installed - [INCOMPAPPNAME] is installed and is incompatible with this version of [ProductName]. This application cannot be installed. To install [ProductName], uninstall [INCOMPAPPNAME] and then restart this setup.
Not SGEWRONGVERSION OR Installed - [INCOMPAPPNAME] is installed and is incompatible with this version of [ProductName]. This application cannot be installed. To install [ProductName], uninstall [INCOMPAPPNAME] and then restart this setup.
When you're done with these modification, re-run Rescue and Recovery.msi without closing the previous error window. Rescue and Recovery should now install without any glitch! Good Luck!
Message Edited by Xseriesfanboy on 09-01-2008 06:37 AM
Message Edited by Xseriesfanboy on 09-01-2008 06:38 AM

Rescue and Recovery: Backup does not finish.

I very recently updated my Rescue and Recovery, now it runs version 4.21.12.0. When I do a backup, it does it just fine, but: After a message that the backup was done successfully, a message comes with a rotating hourglass, saying: "Finalizing backup, please wait..." This message stays forever and only goes away when I kill "Rescue and Recovery" with Windows' Task Manager. This did not happen with the previous version of Rescue and Recovery.
a) Does killing the Rescue and Recovery program at this point affect the actual backup files in a negative way? Or are they just fine, this being just a "cosmetic" problem"?
b) Is this my problem somehow, or a programming bug of Rescue and Recovery that should disappear with the next release?
Thank you for your help,
Wolfgang

hi there,
I have the same question as well. Just like you, I went to the task Manager, it states 'rescue and recovery running', then I did a right click, and go to its proces, I found out that the corresponding file "MsgBox.exe" have 00 value under CPU; and constant 6,496k under physical mem usage for hours, so I assumed that it will bea message box bug and shouldn't affect the backup dat. But again, I am not 100% sure. Guess i might wait for the answer as well.

How to install Rescue and Recovery CD to my T42

I ordered Rescue and Recovery CD to install my T42, and I got 8 CDs, one is independant, and other 7 CDs are for T42, so I just wonder how do install it, I mean use which CD, or which is used firstly, anyway, could someone tell me step-by-step to rescue my laptop.
Thanks a bunch.

Well, you should wipe the entire drive before using the recovery disks, including the original recovery partition if it's corrupted.
The disks will create a new recovery partition.
Cheers,
George
In daily use: R60F, R500F, T61, T410
Collecting dust: T60
Enjoying retirement: A31p, T42p,
Non-ThinkPads: Panasonic CF-31 & CF-52, HP 8760W
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How to install "Rescue and recovery" on a new harddisk (T60)

My T60 has a 60gb harddisk and I want to upgrade to a 160gb.
I need to know how to install this rescue and recovery on the new disk.
Can some one help me out here
I can imagine for example to create this (hidden) partition with Partition Magic, but how to continue ?

Hello,
Have you considered either cloning your old 60GB hard disk drive to the new 160GB model, or using your recovery discs to install a fresh copy of the operating system plus ThinkVantage utilities to the new hard disk drive?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
I am a volunteer and neither a Lenovo nor a Microsoft employee. • Dexter is a good dog • Dexter je dobrý pes
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How to undo Rescue and Recovery

Hi, I have a Lenovo X61 notebook. My harddisk was divided into two partitions: OS and data. Recently, i found that my Windows was no longer able to start. I managed to reinstall Windows 7 in the OS partition. All my files in the second partition was preserved. My laptop was working fine then. I realised subsequently however that the Lenovo drivers were no longer there (for eg: fingerprint recognition, which was not necessary, but good to have). So upon digging the box where my notebook was packed, I found the "Rescure and Recovery" CDs. So I plugged it in and restarted, thinking that it will just install the necessary drivers back. But then not only did it delete the Windows 7 that i just reinstalled, but it destroyed the partitions and deleted all my data in the second partition. Is there any way I can restore the partition configuration and all the data I had? Thanks in advance.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi guys,
my probem is almost the same, with a small difference,
i have a T410S, two partions, one lenovo recovery, 2nd crypted by drivecrypt.
Accidently i was pressing the blue thinkvantage button, lenovo recovery started for about 20seconds, after it i removed the battery. If i reboot, it always restart recovery now.
The final question:
Does anybody know what rescue and recovery is doing for the first 20-30seconds during startup ?
Is it useing the format, quickformat ect.. ? Iam sure he didnt start to copy any files first, because before he do
he have to format or something like this,
thanks for your help guys !
tim

How to create rescue and recovery partition for my thinkpad edge 11

Hi,
I'm using thinkpad edge 11 with win 7 home Premium 32 bit.
Before, i tried to restore to factory setting, there is a drive partition of rescue and recovery in my thinkpad.
But, when I was trying to restore to factory setting, I missed the steps and made the drive partition of rescue and recovery formatted.
So, now, I don't have it again in my thinkpad.
Then, after that, appeared another drive partition in my thinkpad with name S: Sytem, beside C: WIndow7 and D: Data.
So, I need the solution from you all as knowing more about thinkpad edge in this forum.
1. How I remove the unkwon drive, S: System from my thinkpad?
2. How I can create again the rescue and recovery partition on my thinkpad(wih Win 7 Home premium 32bit installer inside plus all the drivers)?
Thanks...

Hello mate,
To restore the Q: partition you have to use the Lenovo Recovery Discs. Hope you burn them before erasing the partition, otherwise you have to order them from Lenovo.
Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information on it.
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How to use Rescue and Recovery on a T43

Hello All-
Ok, this is probably a lame question, so please bear with me...
I have become infected with a nasty virus that has left me unable to load Windows. I am able to access Rescue and Recovery.
If I "rescue all the files that have been created or changed from my last backup", will that include the virus?
All I really need is "My Documents", but it sure would be convenient to have everything else, too.
I am embarrased to say that I have never fully backed up my system.
What's the best way to recover my system?
Thanks so much!
Danielle

Hi Danielle,
Consider this allegory; factory settings will make your thinkpad like a never driven 0 meter car [with reference to software]. Hence it will be far-flung from it's previous state. Apart from what you have already saved on memory stick, all settings and the software you have installed on the notebook will be lost.
I hope this helps.
Maliha (I don't work for lenovo)
ThinkPads:- T400[Win 7], T60[Win 7], IBM 240[Win XP]
IdeaPad: U350
Apple:- Macbook Air [Snow Leopard]
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How to start Rescue and Recovery?

How do you start Rescue and Recovery? I used to just press the Lenovo Care button and it came up. But now... there is a Startup Interrupt Menu. When the computer already booted, it won't allow me to start the thing up. All it says is that changing it could be bad and you shouldn't change it.

probably you have changed drive D of the system that is the hidden partition on the hard disk and is dependant to the lenovo onekey cause this is a part of D partition,and some patitioning and formatting may affect on this hidden partition and it causes to deformes lenovo rescue system.

Deleting Rescue and Recovery backups

I using WinXP+SP3 and Rescue and Recovery 4. I launch Rescue and Recovery via Start-Programs-ThinkVantage-Rescue and Recovery. In the Window that opens I click 'Change schedule, name a backup, delete backups'. Another Windown opens and I can see my backups listed at the bottom of this Window. When I select a backup to delete, a small Window opens that asks if I'm sure I want to delete the backup. I say 'yes'. Another Windown opens that says 'Please wait while the backups are deleted'.
My issue is Rescue and Recovery seems to hang and never finishes the backup deletion. I see the access light on my external drive blink at first so Rescue and Recovery seems to be doing something at first but the 'Please wait while the backups are deleted' never closes. I let the delete run all night and when I got up, the Window was still there. I tried to delete another backup and got the same result.
What is causing the problem? I can see the contents of my external drive in Windows Explorer so I know my PC can access it.

rmbowma, welcome to the forum,
delete the last backup on it's own first, you should then be able to delete other backups.
Please remember that they are incremental backups, you can't delete for instance backups 2-5 leaving 1 & 6 as 6 is dependent on 2-5.
Hope this helps
Andy ______________________________________
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How to download Rescue and Recovery

I've a K330B with Win7, 64bit. Since the stock Rescue and Recovery does not allow to back-up the 25GB of the service partition, I tried using the Rescue and Recovery for an Ideapad instead. It messed things up for me. So I went back to the system restore point, prior to installing the version for the ideapad.
Now my Rescue and Recovery won't work. It crashes each time I try to run it. I need to re-install it. I can not find the Rescue and Recovery software for a K330B Desktop with Win7 Home Premium, 64bit, anywhere on the Lenovo support site.
Please help.

Hi, divasthapa
When you press Enter at the Lenovo screen, what are the options that appear on the menu? There should be one for BIOS, one to resume normal setup, etc. But there should also be something about recovering your system or something along those lines.
Thanks in advance,
Adam
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Remove rescue and recovery backups, without r&r?

I have i little problem, i have a 90gb r&r-backup on my external harddrive.
I've just reinstalled the computer(thinkpad r61), without any thinkvantage-programs!
when i try to delete the "rrbackups" it says it has write protection and i cant get rid of the write protection...
i tried it in safe mode too...

RNR was not supported on win8. I would assume it is not supported on Win 10.Is your extenal backup location a USB-HDD or a Second hard drive?Refer to the following post to get security access to the RNR backup folder \RRbackups. After you get security access, you will be able to delete the folder. https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkVantage-Technologies/How-can-I-see-my-Rescue-Recovery-backup-files-on-a-USB-drive/m-p/986305/highlight/true#M21936 Additional folders on the USB-Hdd/Second HDD used by standalone (bootable) rnr:\boot\efi\preboot\tvtosfile bootmgrfile bootmgr.efi To be on the safe side, just delete \rrbackups and leave standalone RNR intact.

How to create Rescue and Recovery disc for Windows Vista Home Basic with G530 Lenovo Laptop?

Hi All,
I have purchased G530 Lenovo laptop 2 weeks back.
I coudn't find installation/recovery discs in my laptop box.
I went across the forums and came to know that it is not available now-a-days as it was coming previously.
So, anybody can help me, how to create a recovery disc?
This is needed when I format my laptop.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Umesh.

Click on what used to be the "Start" button and search for "create" or "recovery". It took me a while to find it but it is there.
Use a cd for the first disc and 2 DVD's for the other discs.
T60 2623-D7U, 3 GB Ram. Dual boot XP and Linux Mint.
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FYI: I am not employed by Lenovo

How to manage Rescue and Recovery Backups

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