Some questions before reinstalling my new T43 by R&R Dis

[chengusky]

Hi,

I am complete new on TP's operation.

I am planning to replace my current OS using a set of R&R discs. I have searched in this forum and found some related threads, but all those "technical" terms beat me. Would somebody help to give a more clear answer?

1. To backup my currrent OS and create a set of R&R discs. I wonder whether I can burn one DVD to replace serveral CDs by simply using an external USB DVD burner.

2. Having a set of R&R discs, I can boot the TP and restore to "factory status" using it, including the HPA, right?

3. Is there a way to partition the newly HD in "fatory status" to two partitions while still keeping the HPA?

Thx for your attention very much

[mysbca]

1. Yes, you can use an external DVD burner. You will need one CD and one DVD. The first disc is a CD for the bootable rescue recovery software and the second disc can be a DVD for all the product recovery stuff.

2. Yes.

3. I think you will need a third party software like PartitionMagic to make additional partitions.

[chengusky]

Wouldn't the third party software like Partition Magic break the HPA? Or MBR?

I have heard that if use PM to repartition, the "Access IBM" button can't be used any more.

[mysbca]

See the discussion in this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21609

Looks like HPA still works after using Partition Magic.

[GomJabbar]

See the discussion in this thread:
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21609

Looks like HPA still works after using Partition Magic.

The T43 does not have an HPA. It has WinPE. It has been documented that working with WinPE is much simpler than working with HPA. Cloning has been successful with WinPE, I am not so sure about HPA. I did read where Puttagee was able to do it. http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=13814

Try the following: Go to Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management. Do you see a IBM_PRELOAD (C: ) NTFS partition and a IBM_SERVICE FAT32 partition? If so, I am pretty sure you have WinPE and not HPA.

See following (2) links for more info regarding HPA and WinPE.

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

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