what size is T43 hidden partition?

[bonjonno]

I have tried numerous times to clone the 40GB hd that came with my refurbed T43. I'm using Acronis True Image 9.0, following directions I found in numerous places online and cloning onto a 40GB drive in an external usb enclosure. It seems to work alright, but when I view the data on the copy it breaks down as SYSTEM 37.25GB NTFS and 15MB Unallocated. The original shows 37.25GB NTFS and ~8MB unallocated. Is that small unallocated part the hidden partition or is something amiss?

[Harryc]

No, it is just a small unallocated space which is a normal by-product (at times) during partitioning. The Recovery partition is 4GB to 5GB in size. Your source drive does not have one.

[bonjonno]

Thanks Harryc. Hmmmm. OK. I don't care if it has the hidden partition as long as I have everything on the drive that it came with backed up. All the special Thinkpad stuff seems to work correctly. Is that all contained in the Thinkpad folder in Program Files?

[Harryc]

I don't recall seing a 'Thinkpad' folder under Program Files in any OS I've run. Maybe you're referring to the 'Thinkvantage folder' or 'Access IBM folder' ?. Anyway, neither one would contain the executables needed to reinstall any of the IBM/Lenovo proprietary drivers or programs. Those would be contained in subdirectories of the /DRIVERS root directory.

[bonjonno]

wow. I'm a bit confused. There is a Drivers folder in the root directory and there is also a ThinkPad folder in Program Files. Both seem to have a bunch of files that have to do with PowerManager and nothing else. There is an IBM folder in Program Files that has Access IBM subfolder. Otherwise it's all Windows stuff and Documents and Settings.

[Harryc]

Ok, I see what you are saying. The Thinkpad folder has some shared files for various drivers and programs. I wouldn't worry about backing up that one because if you experience a crash you'll want to reinstall the executables in the /DRIVERS directories. If there is not alot in /DRIVERS, then you don't have many IBM/Lenovo drivers or apps installed. Another good one to back up is /IBMTOOLS.

[bonjonno]

Something seems whack. I cannot find IBMTOOLS anywhere. I am not concerned about having more IBM apps, but I want to be able to have a backup that will boot XP succesfully just in case. And it'd be nice to keep all those Fn keys working. This is a T43 that came refurbed from MetroPC with XP Pro SP3 installed. I've updated a few things at Lenovo. It has 1.29 BIOS.