no predesktop area after restore

[lancerus]

I have a T41 which I picked up from ebay. I first set bios to default, and then proceeded to install from original IBM restore CDs. The IBM OEM version of Windows XP installed just fine, no issues - however if I try pressing the AccessIBM button to get to the predesktop area while booting, the predesktop area does not seem to exist. I instead just get a menu of something like "enter bios, choose boot device, enter continue".

What did I miss ?

[richk]

In the BIOS, under security, see if the predesktop area is set to "disabled". If it is, first wipe the disk, then set the BIOS/predesktop area to "normal" then start again.

[lancerus]

The predesktop area was set to "normal" before I reset bios to defaults - and obviously at defaults its still set to "normal".

Is a complete wipe of the drive and start over the correct approach - or is this something the Rescue and Recovery repair diskette might help with ?

Thanks!

[richk]

Is this a new drive? brand?

[lancerus]

No - I'm guessing this is the original drive for this laptop. Its a Hitachi model HTS541060G9AT00. It has Levono P/N 39T2514, FRU 39T2523, and was mfg in 2005.

[richk]

Are the recovery CDs original for that model? The reason I'm asking is that T40/T41 use a different technology than other models to store recovery info.

[lancerus]

Yes the recovery CDs are original for this model and type. I'm using this:

T41/p Win XPP SP2 5cds 24R8116

The T41 I have is a 2373-S12.

I used the same set of CDs on another T41 I have with no issues, although to be fair that laptop had a functioning (?) predesktop area before I used the CDs. The predesktop area seems to be working 100% now after the restoration with the CDs.

This laptop (that I started the thread about) did not have a functioning predesktop area before I used the CDs - as if someone cleaned the drive first somehow. I suspect this was originally a corp or leased laptop.

[richk]

I would do 2 things. I would first run Hitachi Feature Tool. You need to be able do download the software (free) and burn a bootable CD from the ISO image. If that makes sense and you can do that, run the program and under "utilities" select "capacity" or something like that. Make sure the capacity is set to the max for the drive. (Creating the T4x pre-desktop area mucks with the capacity.) After that, I would run Hitachi Drive Fitness Test (another free download) and erase the drive. If that didn't work, I would probably try another drive.

[tselling]

You need to delete all the partitions, then use the restore CDs to create the recovery partition. If there is a pre-existing partion the restore CDs will not create the recovery partition.

[richk]

I think the problem is he doesn't have a recovery partition. He has an HPA. His new (SP2) recovery CDs woll use a later R&R and want to put on as recovery partition. He needs the feature tool to reclaim the HPA space.

[lancerus]

Makes sense - I just downloaded and will give it a try. Thanks!
I also confirmed that although this is a lenovo hd, it probably did not originate in this laptop. Looking up a -s12, it supposedly came with a 40gb hd, not a 60gb drive.

[lancerus]

This worked - thanks!
Specifically what I did:
Set bios to predesktop area disabled.
Verified with Hitachi Feature Tool that the drive size was the complete drive (it was).
Completely wiped the drive using Hitachi Drive Fitness Test.
Set bios to predesktop area Normal
Used the IBM CDs to re-install again. However I noticed this time the install pattern was completely different - where the IBM CDs rebuilt the predesktop area and then the laptop installed itself from that predesktop area.