Comments on: Someone shoot me, please : PC rebuild is heading south

By: Jim Forbes

Jim Forbes — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 02:02:06 +0000

All hail the blue button! It’s my lifeline to the God head!
Blur button just saved my ass here at San Diego International as i head for the land of almost no high speed connectivity.
Long live the blue button–Jim Forbes on an X60 tablet that I think is the best subcomppact I”ve ever used or seen

Jim Forbes

HOE TO GET My thinkPad X60 — FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!

By: David F

David F — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:11:06 +0000

As Tim points out: The blue button. Even if windows will not come up, when the splash screen shows, press blue button or F11 which will bring up the Rescue and Recovery from the pre-desktop area. Then you can select “customization” so that you only install features you want and avoid “crapware.”

I use the feature when I buy a new laptop (to get rid of crapware and features I don’t want) and when I sell one (to restore it to its original image). Also, once you have installed your basic system you can use R&R to store an image that you want to restore from so that you don’t have to install apps, Windows updates, new drivers, …..from scratch. Create restore points before installs.

Only time you need recovery disks is in the case of hard drive failure of if you did a clean install from Windows DVD.

Also, when in trouble, call 800-IBM-SERV and you’ll get the elves in Atlanta, GA (Bangalore what?) who can help you out 365/24/7 and at most with only a moments wait.

The R&R pre-desktop area and the 800-IBM-SERV are two of the great Thinkpad selling points.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:31:02 +0000

BTW – I count 6 recovery discs, 1 boot disc, and a “Supplemental CD” – whatever that is

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 05:24:39 +0000

David – you should have called me. I have ORIGINAL (as in not CD-R) X61 Tablet XP recovery discs – ordered them for Kat’s tablet, she was getting fed up with Vista.

Shoot me an e-mail or give me a call and let me know how you want me to get it to you.

P.S. Why were you using the recovery discs? Blue button my friend.

By: Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:37:36 +0000

Ahhh, for want of an install recovery disk from the manufacturer…

Dell charges extra to include the OS CD/DVD and, irrc, it doesn’t come with the correct drivers anyway.

Making recovery disks rarely works. One should be included with the machine.

By: Esteban

Esteban — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:52:13 +0000

If you go ubuntu all the way and never look back I have the perfect excuse to do the same… tempting… Search for me on Skype (it is available for Linux) if you need AT&T and Notes 8 Sametime (on the Fujitsu…) I can guide you.