Problem restoring factory settings

[Red Ed]

I've got a T42 which originally had XP on one partition and a 'SERVICEV001' partition. After installing a dual booting Vista and removing it again and deleting its partition I can't boot into XP or restore factory settings.

I want to restore the laptop to the way it was when it left the factory. Pressing the Access IBM button only gives me options:

ESC to resume normal startup
F1 to enter the IBM BIOS Setup Utility
F12 to choose a temporary startup device

If I boot with a DOS boot disk I can see the SERVICEV001 partition. But what can I do with it?

I've tried running the Lenovo applications repairmbr, rnr31_rrd, recovery and repair diskette. 2 days so far on this!

[Red Ed]

I can at least now boot into Windows XP. This was acheived by using an XP boot CD and selecting to repair the windows installation. Then the commands fixmbr and fixboot.

The same 3 option menu appears at pressing 'Access IBM'. I can see the SERVICEV001 partition from within XP. Surely there must be some way to make it restore itself?!

[RealBlackStuff]

In the BIOS you can set it to show F11 to access the restore partition.

You can also try holding down the blue IBM Access/Thinkvantage button while booting, and hope that brings you to the restore menu.
If all else fails, get a set of T42 Factory Restore CDs.

[Red Ed]

In the BIOS you can set it to show F11 to access the restore partition.

In the BIOS I found: Startup - Boot device List F12 Option - Enabled. Can't see anything about F11. Where is that? The F11 does do something as I stated above. It just doesn't give me access to restore.

You can also try holding down the blue IBM Access/Thinkvantage button while booting, and hope that brings you to the restore menu.
If all else fails, get a set of T42 Factory Restore CDs.

No that doesn't either. Actually after running the rescue and recovery disk which is supposed to restore the MBR I do get the F11 recovery option. It appears only on the first boot and when I press to continue then my T42 just goes ahead and loads windows.

I'm just thinking that as I have full access to a complete and unadulterated service partition isn't there some way to invoke a restore - just like the program initiated by a correctly working F11 would do, without a boot disk from Lenovo?

[RealBlackStuff]

See if you have an option somewhere in the Thinkvantige Config program to create a set of restore CDs.
Other than that, I'm out of ideas, sorry.
Some other people?

[killer]

It sounds to me as if the R&R partition has been corrupted. I think you should try RealBlackStuff's suggestion of trying to create a set of factory restore CDs (or DVDs) using the Thinkvantage 'Create Recovery Media' program.

If that doesn't work then you need a set of CDs from Lenovo. (It may be possible to buy a set on a well-known auction site, however I couldn't mention that as an option in case I break the rules of the forum.)

Try phoning Lenovo's hardware support line and see if they will send you the CDs. They have to be the correct ones for your machine type. If your machine type is not on the list printed on the CDs then you are wasting your time.

I hope this makes sense.

[mmthomas]

I have a similar situation. I would like to know what the AccessIBM button actually does.

From my experiences, similar to the original poster, I cannot access the restore partition if the main partition is corrupt and will not boot. I think the Access IBM button is not to get to the restore partition, but to access the saved system configurations. You need to have the system booted up to use the AccessIBM button.

I originally thought that the AccessIBM would somehow know to go to the hidden partition, but now I do not think that is its purpose.

Is there a way to get the hidden partition to restore the factory system when the main partition is corrupt, and no restore/recover CD is available?

If I boot an OS from a CD is there a program or batch file I could execute in the hidden partition to perform the restore?

[RealBlackStuff]

@killer: nobody will chew you out if you use the words eBay or fleabay or feebay or whichever variant you choose.

Recovery sets from Lenovo run about $50.- US.
A better option is to look in our Marketforum. Some people there sell (new) recovery sets for most types.
If you find that too much, post a WTB (want to buy) for the restore set of your choice.
If you're willing to use copies instead of originals (which is legal), they can be quite a bit cheaper.

[killer]

@killer: nobody will chew you out if you use the words eBay or fleabay or feebay or whichever variant you choose.

Thanks, matey. I was just being careful as I didn't want to upset the mods.

[Red Ed]

Well, for what it's worth I downloaded the IBM recovery disks as I couldn't find any other solution after days of trawling the web! And after 3 hours I have a restored PC.

[killer]

Red Ed, That's good news. I am pleased your machine is working again.