Removing the recovery partition

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rubs26 · #1 Post by **rubs26** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:26 pm

Hello all, i just want to know how to remove the recovery partition, i have a t60 2007-b47
its because i need the harddisk space
thank you very much
Ruben

syedj · #2 Post by **syedj** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:32 pm

Ruben,

You can use QtParted (qtparted.sourceforge.net) bootable CD without harming the Windows XP (NTFS) partition but please make sure you made your set of recovery CDs if you ever want to bring your hard drive to the factory settings.

I hope thats helpful.

rubs26 · #3 Post by **rubs26** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:43 am

syedj wrote:Ruben,

You can use QtParted (qtparted.sourceforge.net) bootable CD without harming the Windows XP (NTFS) partition but please make sure you made your set of recovery CDs if you ever want to bring your hard drive to the factory settings.

I hope thats helpful.

i tried to make my set of recovery cds but i was able just to create 1 recovery cd, i dont know if it have all the information needed because its just one, how do i do to create the whole set?

thank you again
Ruben

NS · #4 Post by NS » Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:30 am

It should consist 1 start-up disk followed by 6 disks (CD-R) or 1 start-up and 1 DVD.

Just go to start- program- access IBM- create recovery disks

*I am typing this message on a desktop PC not on my thinkpad*

rubs26 · #5 Post by **rubs26** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:22 am

NS wrote:It should consist 1 start-up disk followed by 6 disks (CD-R) or 1 start-up and 1 DVD.

Just go to start- program- access IBM- create recovery disks

*I am typing this message on a desktop PC not on my thinkpad*

thank you for your answer, but i dont understand why i cant do it, the option that i have is from thinkvintage -> create rescue media, and it just create a 1 start-up disk and dont create the dvd nor the other 6 disks,

syedj · #6 Post by **syedj** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:35 am

Hi Ruben,

Please follow Start->Thinkvantage->Create Recovery Media

Then select "Recovery Discs" (the lower dialog box in the "Create Rescue and Recovery Media" window). This should prompt you to put in the media one by one. The "Rescue Media" option I believe is what gives you only the startup disk and assumes that your recovery partition is intact but just not accessible.

If you have a DVD burner in the same machine (or can borrow one from someone) your life will be much easier with creating one startup CD-R and one data DVD-R instead of a set of up to 7 CD-Rs.

I hope this helps.

noworrries · #7 Post by **noworrries** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:13 pm

Hi Ruben,

you are not alone with the situation, on my laptop it is the same. Using the above described way it only creates a boot up cd, but does not burn the recovery media themselves.

It might be caused by having bought the laptop through a University and having additional software with it.

But there is more amiss with my r&r partition and its content. When booting up and pressing the Thinkvantage key, I get into the emergency program, there is an option to start a hardware check from there, but all it does is after a reboot show an old version of recovery to factory defaults...
Having booted from a linux live distro, I examined the partition. There are 13 GB in CD images, but I have no clue how to get them onto a CD, so the recovery would work. As well those are encrypted with a password...

I finally ordered recovery CDs without much trouble, but only got the normal, non-EDU versions with WinXP Home instead of Professional...

Good luck!

noworrries

newbie1983 · #8 Post by **newbie1983** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:02 pm

sorry to make you feel bad, "noworrries"

If you can't burn the recovery disc, you can call Lenovo and complain and they will ship a set to you for free with XP Pro!

Ruben, are you from Harvard?

noworrries · #9 Post by **noworrries** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:59 am

@newbie1983: Why make me feel bad?
BTW, Harvard may be a common factor...

noworrries

rubs26 · #10 Post by **rubs26** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:50 pm

Thank you for answering me, that is exactly the problem i have, i called last week to lenovo, and they told me that they dont send the cds for free, they charge like 45$ for it, and i tried again and couldn't do it...

im not from hardvar, my brother is, he buy the computer for me...

i think maybe hardvar is a common problem, but maybe not just those computes but many more from others schools.

thanks again
regards
Rubens

noworrries · #11 Post by **noworrries** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 3:48 am

Hi Rubens,

I had seen different laptops at Harvard, one bought in June 2006 could create the images, one bought in September couldn't. I had a long talk with some Lenovo people, but that was in Europe. They could not arrange for the Harvard images, so I agreed that the normal recovery CDs would be fine.

I was not charged anything. You should try to contact them again and tell them, that there is someone else with the same problem and that the computer is not creating the images. I believe the CDs must be for free, since it is their fault. Try telling them that you have an image/recovery partition specifically made for Harvard
(On the recovery partition in the file /recovery/nmsc1us.cri there is the line
"Description=IBM ITC Windows XP Professional Edition - Harvard University - Project: 33881.1")

If you have access to a linux live CD you can check if the project number is the same on your PC.

BTW, when I go into the preboot environment by pressing the blue thinkvantage button, there is an option for Systemdiagnostics on the left (I forgot the exact name), but it does not start any diagnostic program as it was supposed, but only a outdated, DOS based version of the recovery software... Could you check if that is the case with yours as well, pls.

Good luck!

noworrries

rubs26 · #12 Post by **rubs26** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:42 am

hi noworries

sorry for the lateness of my response, i got stuck in a proyect and couldnt do anything, i buy my thinkpad also in june 2006 at hardvard,

i havent resolved anything, im gona call them right now, i tried what you said to press the thinkvantage button when loading, and then go to the diagnostic program, and as you said i just get to an outdated DOS version of the recovery software...

i dont have a linux cd so i cant check the project number, if there is a way to check that from windows xp telll me and i do it...

thank you very much, i will tell you later how things were.

Rubens

noworrries · #13 Post by **noworrries** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:20 pm

Hi Rubens,

How I got access to the recovery partition from windows was, when I started creating the recovery CD. I do not remember if it worked always or not, but what I remember was, once the CD burning had started, a drive z appeared and 2 folders in the C drive, if I remember correctly.

At one of those places I found a folder "recovery" with some gigabyte, where the mentioned file was in.

It might be that one has to first add oneself in the security settings of the folders to have access to them. I simply do not remember and at the moment I lack both time and empty CDs to test it.

If you manage to ge a new set of recovery CDs... let me know!

Hugs and good luck

Flo

noworrries · #14 Post by **noworrries** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:01 pm

Just another info:

see http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... a10#255860
for what jjesusfreak01 wrote...

ducky2802 · #15 Post by **ducky2802** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:23 am

What I found works really well.

#1, make a full set of recovery cd/dvd. In fact, make two while youre at it.

#2, In the thinkvantage/access ibm, select the option to do a full system backup to an external USB hard drive (or cd/dvd if you want), make sure it is bootable!

#3, download the boot and nuke program from the internet, burn the bootable iso...or use that lenovo secure program

#4, wipe that hard drive clean

#5, plug in your backup usb/cd/dvd, and copy the files back to your hard drive

#6 done

Paul Pavlik · #16 Post by **Paul Pavlik** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:13 am

Rubens: Did you receive the files (.iso & .pdf) that I Emailed you? they worked perfectly for me.

PointZero · #17 Post by **PointZero** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:53 pm

I managed to get the hidden recovery partition to show, but when I used PartitionMagic to wipe it, Windows refused to boot. I booted back up ad kept getting a screen that told me there was no operating system installed on my notebook. Anyone know what the problem is? Help?

Removing the recovery partition

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