IBM_SERVICE partition question

[thinkweird]

Hello,

I tried to rearrange my partitions but so far I am not brave enough to touch the Service partition.

My questions is:

1. Is it OK for me to have an extended partitions (with logic partitions) before IBM_Service partition?

2. If not, is it safe for me to convert that IBM_Service partition into a logical partition and still get system recovery work?

(what I want do is: copy all the files out of that partition and delete it and then create a logical partition out of it and then copy the files back)


I

[carbon_unit]

Why not just make a set of recovery cd's and then blow the recovery partition away. Partition the drive as you like and when you need to recover get the cd's out.

[EOMtp]

The answer to your Question #1 is "Yes".
Use Partition Magic (or another partitioning program) to construct whatever structures you want. Just make sure the Service Partition remains at the "end" of the structure you create, i.e., following the extended partition.

Do NOT explicitly replace the master boot record with another one that is non-IBM. (If you were not going to do so explicitly, then ignore this comment.)

[thinkweird]

Do NOT explicitly replace the master boot record with another one that is non-IBM. (If you were not going to do so explicitly, then ignore this comment.)

I don't understand this part, could you elaborate on it a little bit?

I tried to create an extended partition before the primary partition which is IBM_SERVICE and then I can't use the recovery anymore.

So I deleted the extended partition and created two primary partitions instead, the recovery came to life again.

I thought the correct the partition layout is always:

primary primary primary extended [logic, logic...] right?

[thinkweird]

Why not just make a set of recovery cd's and then blow the recovery partition away. Partition the drive as you like and when you need to recover get the cd's out.

I don't trust CDs cause they can be easliy disfunctionaly. Besides, I tend not to use the DVD reader too much.

Could you help clarify whether the SERVICE partition will still function being converted to a logical partition?

[EOMtp]

The correct order for the partitions, for this case, is:
Primary; Extended (with all the logical partitions); IBM_Service Partition

Note: The IBM_Service Partition will not function properly if converted to a logical partition.

Re: the comment you did not understand:
The MBR (Master Boot Record) created by the IBM/Lenovo "install" is necessary if you want to run the "Recovery repair diskette" at a future time.
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54483
If you replace the MBR with a "standard" MBR, such as doing a FIXMBR from the Windows Recovery Console, then the repair utility refuses to operate when it discovers that the MBR is not the original IBM/Lenovo MBR.

[christopher_wolf]

The CDs will hold out for awhile, they won't be dysfunctional unless they are defective to begin with, in which case you will catch certain erros when you go to make them. They are always good to have around in case something goes really wrong, even if only for peace of mind. You can change the state of the partition into "Secure" mode, in which case you can't change or access it in any way save for the RnR application and it will remain hidden to re-partitioning tools as well.

The point that EOMtp makes about the MBR is well taken considering that a non-IBM MBR will, in effect, also render the hidden partition near useless for booting into.

[carbon_unit]

I don't trust CDs cause they can be easliy disfunctionaly. Besides, I tend not to use the DVD reader too much.

Could you help clarify whether the SERVICE partition will still function being converted to a logical partition?

Hard drives crash too and when they do I would rather have a set of possibly disfunctional cd's than nothing to install on my next hard drive.

It looks like EOMtp answered the partition and MBR questions.