Hi everyone,

I have a lenovo G530 Laptop, and I have no cd. Not eve windows vista basic which i have the key product. I was wondering how can I find the software on my computer?

I used to formated my hardrive on my computer desk that have windows XP, so easy. But with laptop, different.

This morning i press start and by accident i press F1. It brings me to bios, what is that?

Is hard to formate a hardrive with a laptop? The reason i ask is because i don't want to bring it to a specialist technician($$$$), because i am not working right now, cause i injured myself.

Also, is hard to recover all my software for the sound, modem etc......?

Any help will be very appreciated.

Thanks in advance

P.S. The Reason I Ask Is Because My Computer Is Slow!!!!!

When you start your laptop, before Windows Vista loads, do you see a screen offering to restore your hard disk by pressing on an F key (sometimes F12)?

If you do, then you can restore your hard disk to its initial configuration from an image stored in a hidden partition by pressing this F key. Note that this will erase all your files and reload the original Vista image, when you first bought the computer.

i did press F12, but it shows my bios, and doesn't say that i can restore my windows vista.

Try another F key, maybe F8, F10, etc. It is always F8 on Sony laptops. In any case, you should not blindly go ahead and re-install using this hidden partition. I suggest you back up all your personal files first. After that, re-install following the hidden partition. There may be instructions on how to burn a dvd of the hidden partition as a backup, in case the hard drive fails.

Reading your first post again. It seemed as tho you just want to know where your original software is, and the answer is the hidden partition. Trying F keys will reveal it and then make dvd backup.

i try the F key, and the only thing that works for me is F1, F12. But doesn't tell me where is my windows vista.

IBM laptops and ThinkVision desktops use a hidden restore partition that is usually accessable through the boot options in windows. Wait until just after the bios boots and press f8 and you should see the options to either boot into safe mode or to boot into the IBM/Lenovo restore software. If you are booting into Vista Basic just fine though there should be no need to restore. The restore partition is essentially just a compressed install of the system including all the correct drivers. If your laptop is running slow then there is most likely other things going on with software that you added on.

If there is software installed for recovery then there should also be the option of creating a recovery DVD, this was available prior to Lenovo taking over but I do believe the recovery disk writing software for IBM branded Lenovos is available on their website (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-4M7HWZ#partition)

i try it. don't work the F8. Don't know what is wrong with this computer but i'll probably call lenovo on monday to see what can i do to have the cd, because it is annoying.

Since you haven`t posted in a while you might have already figured it out. But if not:

The G530 has a One Key Rescue button. It`s the little button next to the Power button. I`m not sure exactly how it works but if it`s like the ThinkVantage button then you can press it as the computer is booting and it will take you to the hidden partition. Then you can restore the system to factory defaults. You will lose any and all files you`ve made so make sure you back up anything important.