Need advice regarding Hidden Partition (RnR;F11)

[tric]

Hi guys,

I installed Windows Vista RC1, after checking it out, I'm thinking of going back to WinXP. Now the thing is, the HPA (EISA) is still intact, and I'm quite sure of it. But since I understand that the original Lenovo MBR isn't there already coz of Window Vista RC1 I couldnt do the startup F11 already that is to restore my factory hard drive content. Now I haven't tried the floppy boot RnR for I dont have a floppy drive on my T43 (2686-M4U), likewise the ISO RnR boot didnt work. It just made Vista stop booting, but I have able to repair and still stuck in Vista. Now, I have thought of a solution, dunno if it would work. Please need your inputs. Thanks.

My Solution:
1. Format and Install Windows XP which I would borrow from a friend. (Use my serial below;Legal hehehe
2. Restore/Repair my MBR using the create RnR ISO boot disk, to bring back my so called Lenovo MBR
3. Power-off
4. Power-On, then F11 (RnR)

You may ask why not use the XP i installed and just download those software and stuff rather that still restore my orig drive. It's the same banana. Well, its my way also of making sure that my hidden partition restore works, and likewise i want the Windows XP with the IBM logo on it when I go to About my System.

My Question:
1. Will this work? I mean would I be able to access F11 now?
2. Is there a shorter way to do this?

Thanks guys.

[GomJabbar]

You have already made a set of Product Recovery discs, as well as a Rescue Media CD soon after you received your ThinkPad - right?

I believe if you have a Rescue Media CD, you can boot from it, then go to Restore Factory Contents. It should restore from the service partition if I understand the procedure correctly.

If the above doesn't work, and you have made the Product Recovery Disc set, then boot from the first one and choose Restore Factory Contents.

It's been reported that the first disc of the Product Recovery Disc set is the same as the Rescue Media CD.

As far as your 4-step procedure, I am not sure exactly what you mean in step 2 by "RnR iso boot disk".

[tric]

I haven't created any Recovery CD, Backup or anything since I got my T43 (I feel so stupid, that I didn't do it. Hehehe) Anyway, I'm just betting on the RnR in the hidden partition. As for made an ISO RnR boot disk. I came across it in Lenovo website. It's I think for people who doesnt have a Floppy drive. I made the CD and booted from it. But it just gives me 1. Repair MBR something like that, still no way to access the hidden partition. But before I did move to Vista, I saw that RnR in the hidden partition. I did try to boot from it via the Blue button on startup.

I guess the only way for me to access it again (RnR/F11) is to bring back that Lenovo MBR.

Thank you for your reply.

Rgrds