How to transfer predesktop area to another drive

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Paul S · #1 Post by **Paul S** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:00 pm

I would like to copy the contents of the original 80 Gig harddisk from my T40 Thinkpad to a 60 Gig (7200 RPM) harddisk. I have partition magic 7 and drive image 5 on my system.

Both software packages only see unallocated space at the end of the harddisk when the predesktop area security is disabled in BIOS. Therefore, I cannot copy the predesktop area to the other harddisk.

How can the predesktop area be copied to the other harddisk?

snife · #2 Post by **snife** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:55 am

Everything you need to know is here:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/ac ... a_aibm.pdf

its a fair read but there is a step by step imaging guide

Zeitgeist · #3 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:29 am

Install Rapid Restore 4.0, activate the HPA in the bios, backup your system to CDs/DVDs or network drive, swap the HDD, boot with the boot CD/DVD you created with RR 4.0 and restore the system from the location you saved the backups.

I never did it, but is should work, the easiest way is to order the recovery CDs.

Paul S · #4 Post by **Paul S** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 5:34 pm

I would like confirmation that the Rapid Restore program can actually read and backup the HPA since other disk utilities and Windows XP cannot read the HPA.

MrStaticVoid · #5 Post by **MrStaticVoid** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:28 pm

How about this:

When I received my T41p, the factory restore program in the predesktop area was corrupt. I called IBM and they sent me the factory restore CDs at no charge. They work fine, but the program in the predesktop area still doesn't work. Is there a way to restore the predesktop area to its factory state?

snife · #6 Post by **snife** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:28 am

Paul - you really should read that pdf as it tells you what you need to do - rapid restore can read from the partition but does not back it up (the new version of the predesktop is using a type 12 partition to resolve all these problems) - with your machine though you will need to use the fwbackup and fwrestore tools provided

Zeitgeist · #7 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:55 am

"Is there a way to restore the predesktop area to its factory state?"

You must DELETE any partition of the HDD (with e.g. fdisk) and then run the recovery CDs (don't forget to change the boot order in the bios).

If there is a partition present on the HDD the system will be recovered but without the hidden service partition.

You can run fdisk by interrupting the revocery process from the first CD by pressing ctrl + c after few seconds and typing the appropriate commands.

snife · #8 Post by **snife** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:32 am

If you are using fdisk to delete partitions instead of performing a low-level format with the DFT make sure the predesktop is set to disabled in the BIOS before you do this (set it back to normal once done) and you may also need to run FWDELETE /ALL from a dos prompt after booting with the Recovery CD (F3 to exit to DOS)

MrStaticVoid · #9 Post by **MrStaticVoid** » Wed Jun 09, 2004 9:23 pm

Ok, I did what you said to do Zeitgeist and snife, but now when I press the Access IBM button at startup, I get the recovery program, not the predesktop area. I am assuming that FWDELETE /ALL deleted my predesktop area. Is there a way that I can get my predesktop area back?

snife · #10 Post by **snife** » Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:48 am

If you have the option set to normal in the BIOS, when you run the recovery CDs they should give you an option to restore the predesktop when recovery is chosen. The only time ive seen them not do this is when it cannot detect the partitioning (such as when partition magic has been used etc) but its odd that it is creating a service area so I might see about getting a new set of recovery CDs.

Hawkeye · #11 Post by **Hawkeye** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 10:50 am

Hmm, I also only get to the recovery program. No option to restore the predesktop area.

Fortunately I ordered the recovery cds when I received my T41p (2373GHG). But I'd really like to be able to reinstall without the cds from the HPA.

Also can someone tell me the difference between Rapid Restore and Rapid Restore Ultra? And where do I get Version 4 of Rapid Restore Ultra? I've searched IBM.com for '"Rapid Restore Ultra 4.0" download' but I only find 3.x versions. Can someone lighten me up? Thanks

Hawkeye · #12 Post by **Hawkeye** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:13 am

Ok, I tried with another harddisk that was completely empty. There I got that choice. I didn't touch the hidden partition on my original disk, so I think everythings intact there, only the "link" between the "Access IBM" button and the Predesktop Area has to be re-established. Anyone knows how to do that (without the need to reinstall the whole system)?

Thanks in advance

Holger

Hawkeye · #13 Post by **Hawkeye** » Fri Jun 18, 2004 5:22 pm

And again:

I jumped the cliff and cleared the whole partition on the real drive. Now I'm back on track...

agarza · #14 Post by **agarza** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:11 pm

I've changed HDD for my T42P.

I didn't set the Predesktop Area to disable in the BIOS, then installed all the 8 CD's in total, then I enter IBM R&R, then when I click on Restore Factory Settings, an error pops up saying IBM R&R have not been able to restore your system"

Why that error?

----------------------------------
Disabled the Predesktop Area from BIOS,

then

I ran Bootkil from a CD, it said that It deleted all the info, using the /PSA parameter.

Now I'm recovering with the 7 CD's, but when is the time to revert the setting of the Predesktop Area to Normal??

ballestplaya · #15 Post by **ballestplaya** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:39 pm

I would just clone the drive using casper xp 3.0.

My 2cents

agarza · #16 Post by **agarza** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 11:09 pm

I wiped the original HDD, so that's not possible.

Why are my recovery CD's failling?

#17 Post by **GomJabbar** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:50 pm

benottomex wrote:I wiped the original HDD, so that's not possible.

Why are my recovery CD's failling?

Good question. When I did it awhile back, I left the Predesktop Security set to normal. Make sure there are no partitions on your hard drive when you start. Borrow a Windows install CD to remove any existing partitions. Below is how I remember my experience (from a previous thread). BTW, this was on a T42.

GomJabbar wrote:IIRC, when I recently used the Recovery CD's, I began by booting up from the first CD and I entered the Rescue and Recovery workspace. I told it to restore factory contents. After the CD's have copied their information to the hard drive, I was prompted to remove the CD and reboot. I was then booted back up into the Rescue and Recovery workspace from which I told it to restore factory contents again. Another reboot and the Windows files are copied to the C: partition. Reboot again and Windows installs. I don't remember exactly how many times the computer reboots during the whole process, but it is ~5 times I believe.

agarza · #18 Post by **agarza** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:32 pm

IS there a suppose problem with HPA's.
I heard that you need to wipe all the hard disk sectors using a IBM software called bootkil. I've deleted all partitions on the hard drive, but when the IBM Rescue & Recovery starts after copying the 7 CD's, a message pops up:
"IBM Product Recovery failed to restore your system"

#19 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:09 am

I understood that you have a T42P that you are doing this on. AFAIK, the T42P has the HPA and not PARTIES. PARTIES is treated a little differently. You might try the following, maybe it will make a difference. This is a link I bookmarked sometime back.

Format HDD with IBM Hidden Partition

How to transfer predesktop area to another drive

How to transfer predesktop area to another drive

Does IBM Rapid Restore 4 Backup HPA

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