I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts.

Thanks guys.

Step 1: Nuke the hard disk (since I want to test if I can install, backup, destroy, restore).

Step 2: Load XP, don't bother activating, load Lenovo drivers, get net working, mount samba shares.

Step 3: Load Macrium Reflect, make backup onto samba share

(Works a treat!)

Step 4: Create Linux rescue disk.

Doesn't recognise network, USB drives, WIFI, nothing.

Only devices are CDROM and hard drive.

(read forums, no idea ... boot ubuntu live CD, network works, WIFI works, USB works, so it is the "rescue disk").

Step 5: Try to make BartPE CDROM.

Discover instructions written by imbecile.

Discover software written by imbecile.

OK. Follow instructions. Put original media in CDROM bay. Run "create Bart CD", fails miserable because it attempts to write the image to the CDROM, which of course has a mount Windows CD in it.

Can it burn from an ISO? Of course not, it keeps wanting to build and write.

OK, copy i386 directory to hard disk, copy lenovo drivers to hard disk.

create CDROM.

It comes up and can't see net.

Hunt on web, use drvload.exe it says ...

Ahh, but the booted image doesn't have no stinking drvload.exe ...

Fail.

So after 7 hours of fun, I can reliably create drive images on a remote file share, on a scheduled basis and have absolutely no way of restoring them.

Genius!