T60 New HDD+Recovery

[Anniemoose98]

Hi All-

I have a T60 (2007-GAU), which I absolutely love and have loved since it was new. A little while ago, the HDD failed and I installed a new, bigger one. I have been using Linux since, but I would like to go back to Windows XP (Issues with graphics on the T60 with Ubuntu, plus I don't particularly like the new UI.) The COA is still very legible on the bottom of the chassis, but I do not have any restore disks/media for this or even XP Pro Disks. (I do have Home, but I would like Pro.) IF I do find an ISO of XP Pro Install, and I install of the Lenovo programs, would I be able to create a fresh set of recovery disks so I would be able to have a Recovery Partition again? (I liked this feature before the crash.) OR would someone be willing to upload known working ISOs of the Media? I would like the factory fresh experience, not a totally fresh experience. (Again, I enjoyed all of the features that it provided) I do not want to purchase the media, because that would be $25 or greater towards a new laptop.

Thanks in Advance!

AM98

[Neil]

If you install from Recovery disks, it will create the hidden recovery partition and give you the option to burn a set of disks. Installing from an OEM XP Pro disk, suing the COA key will work, but will not create the recovery partition or allow creating recovery media.

[Anniemoose98]

Ok, Thanks. Where could I find a copy of the recovery disks? As I said in the original post, I do not want to have to buy from Lenovo as that would be $25 towards a new laptop. Does anyone have some on here that would be willing to upload the .iso and PM it to me?

Thanks,

AM98

[Neil]

Check your PM inbox.

[Anniemoose98]

I found a copy of the disks, and the R&R Bootable boots into the R&R environment. I then go through the Restore steps (Restore, return to factory state, don't save files, etc.) It then copies the files to the HDD and reboots. It begins to load back to the R&R Environment from the HDD. It gets just past the part where it says "Press F6 if you need to load drivers." Then it crashes with the error "File /minint/system32/ntoskrnl.exe could not be loaded. The error code is 51254." I then attempted to DBAN the HDD to get rid of Linux remnants on the suggestion of a forum member. It always ends with the error "DBAN ended with a non-fatal error." Any suggestions?

Thanks,
AM98

[EOMtp]

I don't recall if using the R&R disks requires SATA "Compatibility" mode. Regardless, if the BIOS SATA setting is "AHCI", then change it to "Compatibility" mode, and then retry.

[Anniemoose98]

It is currently in Compatibility mode. I know that windows usually gets confused when GRUB is on the drive, so I attempted to DBAN the drive, but it always "Ends with a non-fatal error." I am honestly at a loss of what to do. Could it be the HDD going again? The HDD test in BIOS fails, also. If so, what drive should I get?

Thanks.

AM98

[Anniemoose98]

Well, I ran WD's diagnostic test and the drive failed. The ONE WD drive I buy fails on NON-DAILY use. What HDD do you guys suggest? Also, do you think that a new drive will fix my R&R Errors?


Thanks,

Anniemoose98

[Neil]

If that drive still has warranty, get it replaced ASAP. Western Digital are generally quality hard drives, but anyone can produce defective units.

And yes, I figure if the HDD has bad sectors or some other defect, that's what preventing your restore process from working.

[Anniemoose98]

I opened a claim on the WD website because I still have warranty left. They say that they have Sunday hours, so hopefully I can get this over and have the new HDD soon. I will post back with any more info later.

Thanks,
AM98

[Anniemoose98]

Just wanted to update you guys--WD sent me a new HDD (1TB vs my old 320GB,) Which was DOA with the Click of Death. They are over-nighting a new one, but I will honestly say that 4 for 4 dead HDDs compared to my Seagate 1 for 10 is a bad number. No more WD for me.

AM98

[cadillacmike68]

I like Hitachi drives, especially since they were made in IBM's former Global Storage Division facilities. But now they have been bought by WDC!?!?! I have hitachi's from the 90s that still work. My wife FUBAR'd 2 older ones, but both of these had been in continuous use for 5-6 years before they failed. That's 2 out of more than 50 Hitachi HDDs.

To be fair, I have had great success with WDC 250GB & 320GB PATA and 500GB SATA drives. No experience with their 320GB SATA though.

Haven't used my tower box in 10 years. I probably can't give it away now