Thinkpads Forum

1. Didn't make the recovery cd's/ dvd's
2. Tried to install OS X by unallocating space and making a partition, and then booted with the OSX disk hoping that while in there I could reformat the new partition and install on it. It didn't work. It shew mismatched numbers and in the mix I somehow I think I erased with the OS X utility the service partition. I am not really sure.
3. Never made it to boot again on anything. When making up a partition from boot disk utilities (Hiren's Boot CD), the disk won't boot, the Windows XP won't reinstall as it does not find any hard drives installed.
4. I hope that if I can reinstall windows on another partition that I made, I could recover with R-Studio both the previous windows partition and the service one.

What do you thinK?
Am I condemned to ask for the recovery disk from IBM? Or have I got any chances?

csioucs wrote:[snip...]

What do you thinK?
Am I condemned to ask for the recovery disk from IBM? Or have I got any chances?

You should ask for recovery discs from IBM, but in the meanwhile.

I don't know what a "hiren's boot disc" is, but I suggest using a "real" boot disc instead.

1. Fetch an install disc for a GNU/Linux distribution from this page (I suggest knoppix or grml (in that order)) .
2. Burn it to a CD.
3. Boot from said CD.
4. One of the first few steps in the install is disc partitioning. Partition things the way you like (meaning make an NTFS partition of the required size), and quit the install process after formatting the discs, but before really setting anything up.
5. Boot the windows install disc and install windows again on the newly created space for it.

csioucs wrote: 3. Never made it to boot again on anything. When making up a partition from boot disk utilities (Hiren's Boot CD), the disk won't boot, the Windows XP won't reinstall as it does not find any hard drives installed.

Shot in the dark - I don't know what "Hiren's Boot CD" is, but perhaps it does not have the SATA driver, hence you cannot see the hard drive? Maybe go to the BIOS and see if the following makes any difference:

Select Config -> Serial ATA (SATA) -> Compatibility

If not, a fresh re-install from Recovery Disks from IBM sounds like a plan.

Thanks for the kind answer.
While receiving the answer did that on compatibilty mode and it worked. I mean I reinstalled Windows with that option in bios. Fortunately all files from the previous great installation were intact. So my documents are safe now. I even managed to see the files from the deleted service partition with r-studio, but the root folders were no longer by their name..so even if I have all the files, the recovery cd's from IBM are the way to go.

At least the most dreaded issue is over.

Signed.
From OSX and back. (I know it's because of my..., should have, should have, but...it's the way we learn)

The Ultimate Boot CD shoudl solve your problem.

Donwload it here:

http://www.mrbass.org/ubcd/

I just called IBM and told them i created my Recovery CD's and that they didnt work. Since they didnt work , they are sending me the 40. dollar CD's for free.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Wonderfull community here.

Well, for the time being I will recover and burn to a disk the Drivers folder and then reinstall windows from scratch, but I'll have to find out how to get the SATA driver installed before strating windows from a USB stick or disk, as I would like the HDD to be SATA as it is, not just compatible and lose the benefits of its original technology. If some of you could advice me in this, I am grateful.

I am in Romania, and IBM here has this strange policy of not sending or selling ANY recovery disk. The only thing the tech guys from IBM and from a dealer I know said was possible, was to wait till their own recovery disks arrive for my model, come to them and THEY rewrite the service partition - officially. Unofficially they said, I could come to an understanding with the techie and receive copies of those disks (why, oh why, does it have to be like this here... ).

Well, I'll write later as how the new installation runs, when I do it.

Well, they offered me the copies, for some cash.

The cd's did reinstall the service partition, but it didn't do it's job. I am tired of trying...At least 5 times I've tried it, To no avail. The latest tryout described in this thread

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=39891

this doesn't answer your question, but i'm curious - why did you try to install OSX in the first place? is there some authority out there that this can be done on non-macs?

laundromatt wrote:is there some authority out there that this can be done on non-macs?

Just peek out into the hallway and look down a few doors on the left...

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=32

cool, thanks. my bookmark takes me straight to the T60 forum.