Restore from IBM CDs without create the hidden partition

[Manuel]

Hi, I have a ThinkPad T30 2366-R7G purchased in 2003.

As you know, this product (and I assume more recent ThinkPads also) is not equipped with any recovery CD: factory restore data (Windows XP Pro and drivers) is placed into a hidden hard disk partition.

Some years ago my hard disk failed and IBM sent me a new disk with 3 CDs so I could recreate the hidden partition and, from it, revive my laptop.

In other words, the 3 CDs simply recreate the hidden partition, then the system restores itself from the hidden partition, as usual.

Of course this hidden partition takes out some 4 to 5 GB of precious hard disk space and I wonder if I can instruct the system to perform the factory restore directly from the IBM CDs without create any hidden partition.

Many thanks for your help.

Manuel

[sugo]

There doesn't seem to be such an option for T4x. However, with proper tool such as Partition Magic, it should be relatively easy to delete the hidden partition and merge the space with an existing partition.

edit - fixed typo

[Manuel]

So the only way to regain the lost space is to cancel/merge the hidden partition with a proper tool once installation is complete. Right? But are partition tools able to see the hidden partition?

[sugo]

On my T42, I can unhide the hidden partition in BIOS. It might be the same on T30.

[simonbrew]

I don't know about your PC, but in 2005 I mistakenly reserved space for Restore and recovery (or whatever it was called - the predecessor to current rescue s/w). I found I had lost about 30% of my rather small disk.
Although it's possible just to reclaim the space with Partition Magic, I thought it might lead to problems so I took a dump with ghost, then wiped the disk & re-installed XP without asking for the rescue space. When installation was complete, I restored the dump I had taken earlier, and everything seemed to work OK.

[Manuel]

On my T42, I can unhide the hidden partition in BIOS. It might be the same on T30.

I've just read this useful article: http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/03/1 ... partition/

It suggest, as you say, to enter the BIOS setup menu, go to Security, and then set the IBM PreDesktop Area to Disabled. Unfortunately I can't find this option in my BIOS. In this case the author suggest to download Feature Tool* from Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. The IBM’s (Hitachi’s) Drive Feature Tool can also remove the Hidden Protected Area service partition by changing the capacity of the hard disk.

I wonder whether Feature Tool automatically merges the hidden partition to the main Windows XP partition or more simply unhides the hidden partition and, as a consequence, also requires Partition Magic or other similar tools.

* http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/d ... eatureTool

[GomJabbar]

My understanding of the Feature Tool is that one of it's functions is to remove the hidden partition which cannot be removed in other ways (this is for older ThinkPads with BEER and PARTIES). EDIT: After using the Feature Tool, your hard drive might be erased, I am not sure.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Hidden_Protected_Area

Format HDD with IBM Hidden Partition

EDIT: After rereading the second link I posted above, I see that I used the wrong term in calling the hidden partition a partition. It is just a hidden area of the hard drive, not a separate partition.

[simonbrew]

EDIT: After rereading the second link I posted above, I see that I used the wrong term in calling the hidden partition a partition. It is just a hidden area of the hard drive, not a separate partition.

WRT Gomjabber's quote above, I think the hidden area IS a separate partition of the hard drive, because Ghost & Partition Magic could both see both partitions on my T41 before I got rid of the hidden partition. It's just XP which can't.

(Apologies if I've misunderstood something - I hesitate to offer an opinion which differs in any way from that of a moderator !)

[Manuel]

After rereading the second link I posted above, I see that I used the wrong term in calling the hidden partition a partition. It is just a hidden area of the hard drive, not a separate partition.

Interesting link. So I have not a hidden partition. More simply a slice of the main NTFS partition is hidden. As a consequence setting the hard disk at the max size with Feature Tool will unhide this slice. I will see the folder and the files used for the factory restore and I will delete them to regain the lost space. I will need a partition software only if I want to resize the main partition (after the enlargment) to make room for another partition, let's say for install Ubuntu.

I think that T40 and more recent ThinkPad have a real different partition (HPA) that you can expose from the BIOS. Instead My T30 is "old school".

[GomJabbar]

The type 12 service partition was instituted around the time the T42 series was sold. This is a true FAT32 partition. This is what I have.

Installation on IBM computers with a type 1C IBM_SERVICE partition These IBM computers were announced prior to January 2003 or computers that have an ImageUltra™ Builder disk image.
* Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer.
* Partition link: :Links to the IBM_SERVICE partition to restore the factory contents or the ImageUltra Builder disk image.

Installation on IBM computers with a PARTIES area IBM computers that have a PARTIES area were announced during 2003.
* Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer.
* Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics.

Installation on IBM computers with a PARTIES area and a type 1C service partition IBM computers with this configuration were announced during 2003 and also have an ImageUltra disk image in the IBM_SERVICE partition.
* Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer.
* Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics.

Installation on IBM computers with the Rescue and Recovery application preinstalled in a type 12 partition IBM computers that are announced in the first quarter 2004 and come with the Rescue and Recovery environment preinstalled feature this configuration. See the following figure.
* Location: 100 percent in a type 12 partition.
* Location of factory recovery and system diagnostics: entirely in a type 12 partition.
* Location of backups: NOT in the type 12 partition.
* Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics.
* Advantage of a type 12 partition: When the Rescue and Recovery environment is placed in a virtual partition, several files are placed in the root of the C drive where an end user could possibly delete them. The filter driver does not protect these files because some are common with Windows boot files (for example, NTDETECT.COM). If they are deleted or otherwise become unusable, the end user would be unable to boot to the Rescue and Recovery environment. However, when the Rescue and Recovery environment is placed in a type 12 partition, Windows prevents all users from accessing that partition and the files required to open the Rescue and Recovery environment are highly protected. Note: With the Rescue and Recovery environment secured in the type 12 partition, only a corrupted MBR would prevent access to the Rescue and Recovery. In that case, an external version of the Rescue and Recovery environment must be used. Currently IBM supports CD and USB hard disk drive-based versions of the Rescue and Recovery environment that are created with the Create Rescue Media applet in the Access IBM folder of the Start Menu.