Windows Partition inactive on HDD - T43 won't boot

[AaronHansome]

I accidentally made the partition that had windows (boot partition) inactive. Now, my T43 won't boot. I've tried to install xp and Vista using installation CD's and changing the boot order in Bios. Nothing is working. I've been working on this for a week now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Neil]

Can't you use whatever tool you were using to change the partition flags to change it back to active?
Do you have anything on the drive you need to save?
As a last resort, I suppose you could use something like DBAN to zero fill the drive (secure erase), and start over from scratch installing whatever OS you choose.

[BillMorrow]

if it were ME in your position i would pull the drive, use an external drive to USB adapter and then use something like acronis drive manager to make the partitions active again..

if you don't have a desktop or other thinkpad OR another hard drive to boot your T43 with the non active drive in the ultrabay or attached with an external drive adapter i'd try to find someone who does..

i THINK you can still d/l an eval copy of acronis and if not acronis then there have to be many other software solution and even win7 has the ability to do what i suggest..