Problem removing IBM restore partition.

[kalo93406]

I've tried the following several times, but the partition never comes viewable in explorer...

Any ideas why not?

I also downloaded and installed partition magic 8.0 and it shows the IBM partition along with the c: drive. C: listed as NTFS and *: (IBM_service) listed as FAT...

I've tried doing several things in partition magic to delete and or merge them together with no avail. Seems anything i do in PM it goes through the process then magically things change back to what they were...

Any help appreciated....

On another note IBM tech support is really really bad.. at least so far.. I've called them about 5-6 times and it's just been silly.. from totally dumbfounded people.. to hanging up (disconnected?)... to on hold forever... I've never received an answer i can use.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
disable this partition so the installation CD can see it and hence format it with the rest of the drive. This can be done through the BIOS only.

1- Boot up your TP.
2- When you see the IBM screen, press F1. This will take you to the BIOS.
3- Select Security.
4- Select IBM Predesktop Area and Select Disable.
5- Select Yes when you see a warning about disabling the partition.
6- Click F10 and save the changes.


Your HDD now is divided into two visible partitions, the main partition C and the relatively smaller IBM partition. You need to delete the IBM partition and merge its unallocated space into the main partition so you end up with one big partition on your HDD.

[kalo93406]

I ended up getting this problem resolved. Will add details later..

[kalo93406]

I was wanting to do a Clean install of win XP pro. Hoping to recover much HD space and resolve some little issues I was having.

So I got a long way through this wonderful Clean install plan on the following web site.

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_ ... /index.htm

But I came to when one has to try and remove the IBM partition... I went through the instructions through the end of this page...

http://www.4saad.com/WhatsNew/Fresh_XP_ ... Step10.htm

But I couldn't ever see the ibm partition anywhere. I called IBM and after some struggling they had me go to MY COMPUTER... MANAGE... STORAGE... DISK MANAGEMENT.. there i was able to see the ibm partition, but we couldn't remove it... well at the end the tech said I probably need to take the C: partition from basic to dynamic.. she warned me that it was unofficial... and we ended the call.. well i didn't have anything else so I did it.. and rebooted.. XP wouldn't start up.. nothing.. at first i thought i was dead because i couldn't get the XP install disk to boot from the CD.. well i messed up the boot order and got that straightened out...

Booted the XP pro SP2 install disk that i had made from the instructions on a clean install.

During setup when i got to reformatting I was able to manage to delete the IBM partition, then it said it couldn’t install to the C: partition (maybe cuz I went to dynamic??) well it said i could delete the c: and then reclaim all the space prior to format.. so i did that and it all worked out perfectly

WP is working wonderfully now.. quicker boot and I've got like 36 GB available..

Very happy..

Cheers Roger

[b6a4]

If you have an Access IBM Button (didn't see what model laptop you have in your post), what happens when you press it during boot after removing the Service partition?

I'm curious because I have also deleted my service partition, but the Access IBM button is still active. When pressed during boot, the computer searches for the RR OS. I get an error saying "Missing operating system" (obviously, since it's deleted). I would just like to disable this function.

I'd appreciate any insight you may have.