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Chapter 3. Recovery information
This chapter provides information about the recovery solutions provided by Lenovo.
This chapter contains the following topics:
• “Creating and using recovery media” on page 41
• “Performing backup and recovery operations” on page 42
• “Using the Rescue and Recovery workspace” on page 44
• “Creating and using a rescue medium” on page 45
• “Installing or reinstalling device drivers” on page 46
• “Solving recovery problems” on page 46
Notes:
1. There are a variety of methods to choose from when considering how to recover in the event of a
software- or hardware-related problem. Some methods vary depending on the type of your operating
system.
2. The product on the recovery media may be used only for the following purposes:
• Restore the product preinstalled on your computer
• Reinstall the product
• Modify the product using the Additional Files
Creating and using recovery media
You can use recovery media to restore the hard disk drive to the factory default settings. Recovery media
are useful if you transfer the computer to another area, sell the computer, recycle the computer, or put the
computer in an operational state after all other methods of recovery have failed. As a precautionary measure,
it is important to create recovery media as early as possible.
Note: The recovery operations you can perform using recovery media vary depending on the operating
system from which the recovery media were created. The recovery media might contain a boot medium
and a data medium. Your Microsoft Windows license permits you to create only one data medium, so it is
important that you store the recovery media in a safe place after you have made them.
Creating recovery media
This section provides instructions on how to create recovery media on different operating systems.
Note: On the Windows 7 operating system, you can create recovery media using discs or external USB
storage devices. On the Windows XP operating system, you can create recovery media using discs only.
• To create recovery media on the Windows 7 operating system, click Start ➙ All Programs ➙ Lenovo
ThinkVantage Tools ➙ Factory Recovery Disks. Then, follow the instructions on the screen.
• To create Product Recovery discs on the Windows XP operating system, click Start ➙ All Programs ➙
ThinkVantage ➙ Create Recovery Media. Then, follow the instructions on the screen.
Using recovery media
This section provides instructions on how to use recovery media on different operating systems.
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