Thinkpads Forum

Hello all,

Problem: Recent installation of R&R (3.10.xx I think) has taken over my system such that when I boot it, I can only boot into the R&R recovery console. System offers no option to boot into Windows.

Background: Some time ago I setup my X31 w/ a new drive, and at that time used R&R (or maybe Acronis, I forget) to copy just the OS partition w/o the hidden restore partition. In that process i also set myself up to dual boot to Gentoo w/ GRUB as the boot loader.

Recently I decided that I needed to reclaim that linux space for my growing VM file collection... So I used Partition Magic to reformat the partition as NTFS - no issues.

Now in some lack-of-good-judgement moment, I decided to install the current R&R version. In the past doing this has hosed GRUB, but a quick edit of the GRUB ini file was always the easy fix.

This time, I was not so lucky, and ended up in the situation described in "Problem" above. I've removed GRUB as the bootloader, I've done FIXMBR & also used the Lenovo floppy image to fix & even recreate the MBR, all to no avail.

My boot.ini:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Any help or suggestions are welcome. I'd rather not have to reinstall XP if I can avoid it.

-jk

I think you need to use the Microsoft command off of an XP install CD. The command I am thinking of is FIXMBR, which is used from the Windows Recovery Console. Another possibility is that you need to change the active partition. See following link for more information.

"Operating System Not Found" or "Missing operating system" error message when you start your Windows XP-based computer

This is just what I think. You might want to see if anyone else has other ideas.

Gom - Thanks, but FIXMBR didn't do me any good. At this point I think my issue isn't so much a bad MBR, as it is that maybe the R&R software has hijacked the windows boot process. If I could figure out what file(s) it modified to accomplish this, I can edit/remove/replace them.

More info (supporting above belief): When I boot w/ a XP pro install CD and choose the 'R' Repair option, I am asked whether I want to repair the C:\minint or C:\WINDOWS installation. It appears minint is part of the new R&R setup (along w/ a c:\preboot).

I am having a somewhat similar problem. I dual booted the vista beta on my T43p, and now I want to restore everything. I booted from the XP CD and went through the recovery console, running FIXBOOT and FIXMBR. Then I deleted the Vista partition and resized my C: back to the full size of the drive. However, my problem is that I can not seem to enter R&R at all. When I try and do it from windows, it just restarts my machine and it loads up XP. I can not find any way to enter it when I am booting either. The Access IBM button gives me only BIOS, an alternate boot device, or windows. Help?

Thanks

FIX: I just fixed my issue w/ the recovery console "fixboot" command. Not sure how I missed out on this little gem of a command before.

Hi guys, sorry to sound like a noob...

How do you guys install and use the Recovery Console?

I've previously tried to install the Recovery Console on my T42s (Win'XP-Pro) and there was a very annoying bootup selection menu that asked if you want to boot into Win'XP or Recovery Console...
(really slows down the bootup time with this 30 second delay...)

Is there anyway to use the Recovery Console off a bootable CD, so that I can use it when I need it, but bootup process don't get delayed?

Tks in advance!

jcrkelly wrote:FIX: I just fixed my issue w/ the recovery console "fixboot" command. Not sure how I missed out on this little gem of a command before.

Not sure how I missed it either. I was thinking there was another command similar to FIXMBR, but I was not seeing it in my searches. And if I don't use something, I tend to forget the details.

w0qj wrote:Is there anyway to use the Recovery Console off a bootable CD, so that I can use it when I need it, but bootup process don't get delayed?

Yes, of course. When you boot from a Windows install CD and it detects a version of Windows already on the hard drive, it gives you the option to go the the Recovery Console from the menu displayed.

w0qj wrote:Hi guys, sorry to sound like a noob...

How do you guys install and use the Recovery Console?

I've previously tried to install the Recovery Console on my T42s (Win'XP-Pro) and there was a very annoying bootup selection menu that asked if you want to boot into Win'XP or Recovery Console...
(really slows down the bootup time with this 30 second delay...)

Is there anyway to use the Recovery Console off a bootable CD, so that I can use it when I need it, but bootup process don't get delayed?

Tks in advance!

Further info here -- you can reduce that 30 second delay to any number you want. For example on systems I set up to dual-boot I set the delay to 3 seconds.

To accomplish this, Right click on "my computer" and choose Properties. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery. Here it allows you to set what your default OS is, and the time to display the boot menu & the recovery options menu.

Still haven't solved my issue yet - I can't restore my computer... I've used both FIXBOOT and FIXMBR multiple times on the C:\minint installation with no luck. When I go into R&R in windows it recognizes that I have the image on the drive, but attempting to restore just restarts the computer and it never "catches" R&R before it loads windows.

I can still use windows fine, but I'd really like to get this computer restored.

Any ideas?

whitebrow wrote:I dual booted the vista beta on my T43p, and now I want to restore everything. I booted from the XP CD and went through the recovery console, running FIXBOOT and FIXMBR. Then I deleted the Vista partition and resized my C: back to the full size of the drive. However, my problem is that I can not seem to enter R&R at all.

To fix booting into Rescue and Recovery, you need to use the following. Additionally the Predesktop Security setting in the BIOS must be set to Normal or Secure to be able to boot into Rescue and Recovery.

Rescue and Recovery - Recovery repair diskette

I have read a couple of posts where booting into Rescue and Recovery was restored by reinstalling Rescue and Recovery. Not sure about this yet.

If you truly "resized my C: back to the full size of the drive", then it seems you would have deleted the Fat 32 Service Partition, and the possibility of restoring the Rescue and Recovery bootup option. The way to find out for sure is to go to Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disc Management. Do you see (2) partitions listed?

Thanks for the response. Can I get the diskette onto a CD? I don't have a floppy drive I can pop into this laptop.

As far as the partition, there is only one shown in disk management. However, I used a program called foldersizes and it accounts for about 10gb less than the disk properties show, which I assume is the image. It's supposed to be hidden, right? I know I have it set to either secure or normal, though I can't remember which right now.

Here's a screenshot to show the space difference:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/ ... espace.jpg

EDIT: Links Please

I am pretty sure you no longer have the Service Partition. It is possible that you never had it. Some T60 users have found this to be the case. Start reading from redchair's post about 1/2 the way down in the following thread.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24221

It appears that occasionally IBM/Lenovo ships out ThinkPads without the service partition installed. Rescue and recovery ends up being installed on the C: drive. This is not the normal situation. If you have not created the Product Recovery Disc set yet, and you are unable to create them, call Lenovo. Lenovo has been known to send out a free set if you present your case to them properly. Otherwise you can buy a set from Lenovo for about $45, I believe.

Could I re-ask that question. Is there any way that I could get that image onto a CD? With a new T60 (which is my case), I would consider floppy drive availability scarce...

Also, worse problem. whenever I run "Create Recovery Media", it will only let me create the boot disc, but not the backup disc. I now have a couple copies of the boot disc (I was hoping running it a second time would create the actual backup disc). Do you have to create the backup disc from the R&R software?

Thanks alot...

jjesus, call Lenovo and get them to send you a set of recovery CD's, I had the same problem.

Don't know about your other question.

I'm now catching up on my windows updates... I just needed to make the rescue and recovery boot cd. It got me right into R&R, and I'm all set.

Thanks for the help.

I have ordered and received 5 discs from IBM ($50) but have spent more than a month trying to install the R&R system onto my X41 TP.
When booting from a USB IBM-CD drive it will NOT load the USB drivers and will not complete the install. If I load WinXP then there is no room for the R&R files in the MBR as it states that the partition is too small for R&R files.
So I format the C: drive and start all over again with no results. How do I restore my notebook back to OEM status again. (I have a new 40 G HDD installed and lost all previous OS and data).

I'm not positive, but the Rescue & Recovery repair diskette mentioned above may help you. It provides options for writing an MBR that is compatable w/ older & current versions of R&R, as well as a standard XP MBR. You'll need a floppy drive to use it.

jcrkelly wrote:I'm not positive, but the Rescue & Recovery repair diskette mentioned above may help you. It provides options for writing an MBR that is compatable w/ older & current versions of R&R, as well as a standard XP MBR. You'll need a floppy drive to use it.

***************
Thank you - - -
That is the main problem, the X41 has no floppy or optical drives . I have one external USB CD drive but the R&R (disc #1) won't load compatible drivers for it. It does appear to load a virtual RAMdrive but won't boot from the USB even when forced to do so from the BIOS.

I also have a serious problem with the r&r software.

The case is like this:

Last week I got my brand new T60p. It worked as expected. I just pressed the ThinkVantage button to check if the rescue partion also worked. It did.

Then I split my HDD (which is 100gb) in two sections: C: (40gb) and a new D: (55gb). I also had the Recovery partion on it.

After the split, my Rescue and Recovery option didn't worked anymore. It only sad "Missing Operating System". However, my Windows XP did still boot up. No problems so far. So I checked the Create Recovery Media. Just to be sure. I used both options (the one which requeres 1CD and the other one requires 1CD and 1DVD).

So I thought, maybe I should fix my MBR, because I cannot boot into the Rescue and Recovery program anymore. So I did, with a WinXP SP2 cd I did the fixmbr thing. It wrote a brand new MBR.

Only after that point my Windows didn't want to boot AT ALL.... not so good. And the ThinkVantage button didn't worked either. I wasn't happy with the situation, but, no panic, I still had the recovery DVD. I actually checked how much of the DVD was written, and it is completely full. So I did the bootup with the 1CD & DVD option. I did the recovery my system back to factory settings. But when it is ready and it reboots, it asks for ANOTHER cd. The Product Recovery Supplemental Disk (CD/DVD) --> I thought it must be the DVD, because it is full (apperantly) with data. However, ALL the CD's and DVD's I made with the "create rescue and recovery media" option DON'T work!!!

So, right now I'm stuck in some sort of ThinkVantage Recovery mode. Everytime I boot my Thinkpad it just asks for the "Product Supplemental CD" (or something like that). If I hit "yes" and insert ANY of the media I burned it simply states "Wrong Disk". If I hit "No" it says it wants "Product Recovery Disk 1" which also doesn't appear to be with all the rescue media I made. I'm wondering if I am stupid or what? Which disks are they referring to and where should I burned them from? The create rescue media is the correct place to be for these types of disks right?

So I really can't do ANYTHING at the moment with my Thinkpad. I'm totally confused. I burned ALL the rescue media (I also have the CD which you can use to unlock the password from your HDD, option #3). but NONE of the media seem to be working??? Why is that? What did I do wrong?

The media I got from option #1 boots into R&R and leaves me there. I can start the recovery for factory defaults, but it simply won't work, it will ask for a "Product Supplemental CD/DVD" and/or a "Product Recovery Disk 1". I appearantly have neither of these disks. With the CD and the DVD set which was created with option #2 I have the same (!!) problem. This doesn't work either.

Does ANYONE have got ANY idea? I'm really out of all my options here.

The media I got from option #1 boots into R&R and leaves me there. I can start the recovery for factory defaults, but it simply won't work, it will ask for a "Product Supplemental CD/DVD" and/or a "Product Recovery Disk 1". I appearantly have neither of these disks. With the CD and the DVD set which was created with option #2 I have the same (!!) problem. This doesn't work either.

You should be able to skip the "Supplemental" part, you dont need this. Instead go ahead and use the recovery dvd that you created.

I already fixed it! It works fine now!

The problem was with the DVD - for some reason my own DVD player couldn't read it correctly. I took an image of it and reburned that on a new DVD. After that I restarted my Thinkpad - Hit "No" when i crossed the supplemental disk, entered the "newly burned" DVD and after that it just installed flawlessly.

Very strange that the first DVD wasn't of good enough quility thought.

I was informed by a "computer expert" that the reason the R&R discs cannot be installed is because the NEW Win XP pro with SP2 cannot be used unless it is the "Tablet" version of Windows PRO. That is why the R&RR has never been able to load on a new formatted 40G HDD.
Is this true, any-one? Can you confirm. thanks

syben wrote:I was informed by a "computer expert" that the reason the R&R discs cannot be installed is because the NEW Win XP pro with SP2 cannot be used unless it is the "Tablet" version of Windows PRO. That is why the R&RR has never been able to load on a new formatted 40G HDD.
Is this true, any-one? Can you confirm. thanks

If you are talking about using the Product Recovery Discs, then I believe you just need to use them on the correct model ThinkPad, and you should have the hard drive set up without any partitions or formatting when you start.

If you are talking about using the Rescue and Recovery, then I believe you have to:

1. Boot up from a Rescue Media CD to use Rescue and Recovery, OR

2. Use the Product Recovery Discs on a new hard drive before you use Rescue and Recovery.

I also believe the following is true: If you have upgraded Rescue and Recovery from the version that came with your ThinkPad, then you need to use the same upgraded version of the Rescue Media CD, or you will need to upgrade Rescue and Recovery to the same version as your backup after using the Product Recovery Discs, to be able to restore your backup.