Non-system or disk error is displaying on screen. I inserted the recovery disk and pressed the F11 key to restore the operating system. After a few minutes the screen displays this message: Non-system or disk error Press any key to continue

Just press F11 key once you power on the laptop. Should automatically take you the factory reset screen.

If not, that factory partition is erased or you didn't press the F11 at power up.

Hello Russell shy,

This new form of recovery allows the user to restore the preloaded operating system and software on the machine back to the original out of factory condition. Prior to performing a software recovery, Lenovorecommends returning your system to it's original factory configuration by removing all hardware that has been added to your system afterwards
When the system first starts, the following message will be displayed on a blank screen:

To Start the Product Recovery program, press F11

This message will stay on the screen for approximately 2 seconds, and it will be there every time the machine is started from a powered off state. If the F11 key is pressed while the message is displayed, then the system will enter the Service partition.

What type of Laptop ? and operating system on it ?

Restoring your laptop to factory settings can take up to an hour to perform, depending upon the type of laptop and operating system on your machine. Prior to performing a system recovery, you should remove any external peripherals, such as ExpressCards, PC Cards, and USB-connected printers and hard drives. Turn on the laptop. Press the "F8" key until the "Advanced Boot Options" screen appears. Select "Repair Your Computer" using the arrow keys. Press the "Enter" key. Choose your "Language," then "Next." Login with an administrator-level username and password. Click "OK. Select "Dell Factory Image Restore," then "Next." Tick the check box next to "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition." Click "Next." Click on "Finish" after the computer has concluded the factory restoration. b> Restore on an HP b> Insert the HP recovery disk. Restart the computer, and press the "F11" key. Press the "F" key to "reinstall factory settings." If your computer's operating system is damaged, you may only see "perform a full system recovery" as an option. In this case, press "R." Insert any disks if prompted by the restoration program. Otherwise, permit the computer to restart as needed. b> Restore Via Disks (Generic) b> Insert the "Recovery Disk" or "System Recovery Disk." If you have more than one disk, make sure you insert "Disk 1" or "Part 1." Press any key to boot from CD if prompted to do so. Choose a "Full System Restore," "Restore Factory Settings," or another option worded similarly. Confirm that you want to perform the restoration. Press "Next," "Yes," or "OK," as needed. Press "Finish" or "Restart" when prompted by the computer. Hope this helps.

A brand name and model with operating system would be nice so someone could be precise. ?

Restoring your laptop to factory settings can take up to an hour to perform, depending upon the type of laptop and operating system on your machine. Prior to performing a system recovery, you should remove any external peripherals, such as ExpressCards, PC Cards, and USB-connected printers and hard drives. Turn on the laptop. Press the "F8" key until the "Advanced Boot Options" screen appears. Select "Repair Your Computer" using the arrow keys. Press the "Enter" key. Choose your "Language," then "Next." Login with an administrator-level username and password. Click "OK. Select "Dell Factory Image Restore," then "Next." Tick the check box next to "Yes, reformat hard drive and restore system software to factory condition." Click "Next." Click on "Finish" after the computer has concluded the factory restoration. b> Restore on an HP b> Insert the HP recovery disk. Restart the computer, and press the "F11" key. Press the "F" key to "reinstall factory settings." If your computer's operating system is damaged, you may only see "perform a full system recovery" as an option. In this case, press "R." Insert any disks if prompted by the restoration program. Otherwise, permit the computer to restart as needed. b> Restore Via Disks (Generic) b> Insert the "Recovery Disk" or "System Recovery Disk." If you have more than one disk, make sure you insert "Disk 1" or "Part 1." Press any key to boot from CD if prompted to do so. Choose a "Full System Restore," "Restore Factory Settings," or another option worded similarly. Confirm that you want to perform the restoration. Press "Next," "Yes," or "OK," as needed. Press "Finish" or "Restart" when prompted by the computer. Hope this helps.

It sounds like there's a problem with Windows (assume that's the operating system it used to have). I think you'll need to get a Windows install disk. Installing Windows is actually not that hard, and it sounds like you've got nothing to lose.

If you don't have access to a copy of Windows, why not try out Windows 8 - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-8/release-preview

I assume it'll only be free for a few more days as Windows 8 will be released in under a week now.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Derek.

Insert the recovery disk. Restart the computer, and press the "F11" key.
Press the "F" key to "reinstall factory settings." If your computer's operating system is damaged, you may only see "perform a full system recovery" as an option. In this case, press "R."
Insert any disks if prompted by the restoration program. Otherwise, permit the computer to restart as needed.

When the system first starts, the following message will be shown on a blank screen:
To start the recovery program, press F11
This message will stay on the screen for about 2 seconds, this will be there every time you start it when it's powered off. If the F11 key is pressed while the message is displayed, then the system should enter the service partition.

Keep trying it because sometimes when the computer comes on you have to do it at the correct time until it catches. I've had that problem and I kept doing it over and over again. It also could mean that your recovery partition is not there. Have you had your system reinstalled before by not using the recovery or the disk? If so your whole hard drive could have been formatted so there won't be a partition to go to when pressing f11.

If that fails then a repalcement hard drive and a cd with the image on it can be obtained by going here
LENOVO SUPPORT

Method 1: Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to run System Restore
======================================================
1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.
3. Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next
6. At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on System Restore.
7. Follow the System Restore Wizard instruction as usual and choose the appropriate restore point.
8. Click Finish to restore the system.

Method 2: Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
======================================================
1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.
3. Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next.
6. At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on Repair your computer.
7. (Click the operating system that you want to repair), and then click Next.
8. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair.

Use the following steps to replace the missing files when Windows cannot start.

1. Turn the computer on and place the first recovery disc into the top drive.
2. After inserting the disc, turn the computer off, wait about ten seconds, and turn the computer on again.
3. If an HP Recovery screen displays "Press any key to continue...", press the spacebar.
4. To continue, read the warning screen and click OK.
5. Click Advanced Options at the top of the screen.
6. Click Selective Recovery.
7. Read the Select Files to Restore window that appears.
8. Type the name of the file. For example, if the error message is MNYUTIL.DLL is linked to missing export MFC42.DLL, type MFC*.DLL.
9. Click OK. If there is more than one recovery disc, it may be necessary to insert another disc when prompted.
10. When therecovery process has finished copying files, remove the disc andrestart the computer. If problems, persist it may be necessary toperform a system restore or a non-destructive recovery.

(Note: Click here for information on ordering the recovery CD/DVD sets)

thx.

If system does not start on your A21 you may need to reinstall the system. To perform a recovery or repair, do the following:

Make backup copies of your data files, if possible. Any files on drive C that are not backed up will be lost.
Do one of the following (for best results, use the F11 method):

If you are using the Product Recovery program for recovery purposes, turn off your computer for at least 5 seconds. Press and hold the F11 key while you restart the computer. When the Product Recovery program starts, release the F11 key.

Note: If pressing the F11 key does not start the Product Recovery program, then your recovery partition is corrupted, in this case you will need to use a Recovery Repair diskette.

If you are using the Product Recovery CD for recovery purposes, place the CD in the drive (if you have more than one Product Recovery CD, use Product Recovery CD 1). Then, restart the computer. The Product Recovery program starts.

Do one of the following:

If a menu is displayed giving you an opportunity to select an operating system, use the arrow keys to move to the appropriate operating system, press Enter, and then continue with the next step.

If an operating system menu is not displayed, continue with the next step.

From the Product Recovery program Main menu, make the appropriate selection (IBM Rapid Restore PC, Factory Contents, or System Utilities), and then press Enter.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

If your recovery partition is gone this company is offering a download of A21 restore disks for $19. You will need to download from them on a computer with cdrw, and then burn your recovery cd yourself.