IBM Recovery Partition: is it needed?

[jspsh]

I was wondering, does any of the Access IBM software require the use of the recovery parititon other than the recovery disc creator?

[Zeitgeist]

Sorry, I don´t understand the question. Could you try again?

[daeojkim]

I think he is referring to the hidden partition, also known as recovery partition to restore the TP to factory settings.

I am not sure if ACCESS IBM needs it for other than to create recovery CDs.

I don't have it anymore because I clean installed my system and deleted the hidden partition to make more room on my HD. I have had not the need for it yet.

[pipspeak]

I think it's only needed to recover a lost system to its factory default. If you have the recovery disks from IBM (they have the OS and all the IBM apps/drivers) or don't need them becasue you installed another OS from scratch then I don't think it's necessary.

[sonoma]

pipspeak is right. If you have created the factory default image using "IBM Access -> Create Recovery Discs" then all drivers plus IBM specific applications such as Access Connections Manager will also be included.

[Sirnice]

If you do a recovery operation using the recovery disks. It'll create the hidden partition with default software that originally loaded on the TP and restore drive C: to it's original state.

[izinc]

So if i created the recovery disc ( 7 cds), i can just unhide the hidden partition and re-arrange the partition. at the end of everything if i want to restore to default factory image, i just use the recovery cds to do that ? and it will looked as if i just bought it ?

[kevinh]

Yes. The recovery CDs will restore the harddrive to the condition it was in when it left the factory.

Kevin

[nirvana0001]

quick question, how to delete the hidden parition?

[izinc]

use pqmagic ?

[izinc]

Yes. The recovery CDs will restore the harddrive to the condition it was in when it left the factory.

Kevin

it will even restore the hidden partition ?

[GomJabbar]

Yes. The recovery CDs will restore the harddrive to the condition it was in when it left the factory.

Kevin

it will even restore the hidden partition ?

YES.

[thisrob]

Hi;

I got my T42 yesterday and quickly decided to do a fresh install.

Creating rescue and recovery disks
Luckily before doing so i created "Rescue and Recovery" disks.
Those are the famous 7 discs;
disc 1. contains the "Rescue and Recovery" software itself
disc 2..7 = disc 1 through 6 of backup info

My own fresh install attempt
After creating the recovery disks I created my own bootable sp2 integrated cd based on the windows xp pro corporate cd image I had always used on other computers. I changed the product key in the \i386\winnt.sif file to the key found on the back of my brand new t42.

During the windows setup it popped up a screen asking for my product key, obviously my key on the back of my notebook did not work (with this corporate cd)

Bumped into the fresh install guide
After this experience I browsed these forums and read the "4saad" guide on fresh xp install.
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=3827
This is when i realized i needed to get my xp key back from the factory install ... i needed to use my recovery disks ...

My findings on how rescue and recovery works
If you ever want to restore your factory setup, on a harddisk you wiped totally clean (leaving no any hidden partions), its totally doable --but:

- my bios settings regarding predesktop area when doing my factory recovery: NORMAL
1- Boot up your TP.
2- When you see the IBM screen, press F1. This will take you to the BIOS.
3- Select Security.
4- Select IBM Predesktop Area and Select Normal.

- Remember the factory setup recovery is a two phase recovery (on a blank hd):

phase 1: your blank hd is prepared and "Rescue and Recovery" is installed on it; also the hidden service partition is completely prepared
you will use the 7 cds mentioned earlier to get through this phase

phase 2: your notebook will boot from harddisk instead of cd, but you will see the EXACT SAME screen as before ("Rescue and Recovery")
this is OK!
now you will have to select RECOVER FACTORY SETTINGS (or similar, but including FACTORY word in the option) again, but now you won't be asked for the cd's!

Rescue and Recovery will recover your factory setup from images stored on the hidden partition! Be patient and just let it roll (even through some automated reboots), it will eventually popup the "Welcome to windows" screen you saw when you first booted the notebook.

About the serial
the clue is, the tutorial tells you how to install a fresh xp using your valid serial (product key) from the c:\i386\unattend.txt; unfortunately i was too much in a hurry of doing a fresh xp install myself, thinking i could use the serial provided on the back of the notebook; i was wrong

i think the serial on the back of my notebook did not work because i used a:

- windows xp pro corporate with sp2 integrated cd, instead of the:
- i386 installation files (to create a cd image as described in the 4saad tutorial), which come with your notebook preinstalled from the fabric (can be found at c:\i386)

Automated windows install
if you want an automated install if windows, you can use a winnt.sif file.
this is the one i use http://www.lijktmeduidelijk.nl/grab/?winnt.sif
edit it using notepad for example (the productkey for example ), and place it in \i386 on your bootable cd image

MAKE SURE IT IS CALLED: WINNT.SIF, not WINNT.SIF.TXT (as windows might save it as a .txt)

also C:WINDOWS\system32\$winnt$.inf as i found on my system after factory setup recovery you can find here:
http://www.lijktmeduidelijk.nl/grab/?$winnt$.inf

the serial i used and works, is the one i retrieved from the factory preinstall (i recovered using recovery disks) using magic jelly bean keyfinder, the one mentioned in the fresh xp tutorial
link: http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml

anywhoo!
good luck