Thinkpads Forum

hi everyone,

this is my first time posting here so please pardon me if i missed any repeat posting (i tried searching as extensively as i could).

1) does anyone else have the ibm_service drive rack up as much as 12.74GB like i do?

2) what exactly is the ibm_service drive for? just for rescue and recovery? it only recovers to original factory settings, correct? there's no way to update ibm_service to recover to set times of the past?

3) if i choose not to want ibm_service, wouldnt have a copy of the recovery cds (and a copy of Software Installer for Windows 2000/XP - Notebooks and a copy of XP) be enough to recover back to original factory settings, and hence render ibm_service's purpose?

4) when requesting for the recovery cds from lenovo, can we also request for a copy of xp? after all, we are legally allowed to own a copy of xp.

5) if i just want to be rid of ibm_service, i can technically use an xp bootloader and delete the partition from the bluescreen dos menu (instead of having to reinstall EVERYTHING)? then, if i were to use the add/remove programs menu in control panel, would there be unnecessary residual files/drivers from programs that i do not intend of keeping around?

basically, i have survived with previous desktops and notebooks with just a single xp cd installer and the notebook oem's websites (to get specific driver and software downloads). i really dont feel the need of having ibm_service if what im mostly concerned about backing up are my documents etc (which ibm_service, to my understanding, will not be able to backup in any case).

the 12.74GB is much more useful for me for other purposes. can anyone give me a strong reason/arguement as to why i should keep ibm_service alive? im looking for you guys to play devil's advocate.

thanks!

First off, Welcome to the Thinkpad Forums

Here are some answers;

1.) It is possible as it can make periodic backups of your install.

2.) It is for R&R and other general, low level tasks related to re-imaging the Thinkpad back to a previous state or recovering to a backup you made. In general, I have found it to restore to a backup just as fast, if not faster, than a re-image of the HDD as a seperate onsite/offsite backup. It will also perform tests, via PC-Doctor in a self-contained, protected mode OS, on system hardware to make sure everything is running correctly.


3.) If you toast the the service partion and you do not have the R&R disk set, then there is no way (save for trying to recover the partition after deleting it via various tools, but that is a whole different matter) to restore it to a "true" IBM factory preload that originally came with your system.

4.) Not quite as this is something that IBM/Lenovo and Microsoft have already discussed (IBM/Lenovo can't hand out recovery disks for older OSes like Windows 98 either). You, to my knowledge, can only get the R&R set. That includes the OEM version of XP and *that* is what you are licensed to own and use, not a default off-the-shelf copy of XP, per however many systems the license specifies, usually just preloaded on your Thinkpad.

5.) You can re-partition your HDD and reclaim the space in many ways, simply choose it and over-write or reclaim it. The important step, however, is to mark it as *Disabled* to start with. Otherwise, you cannot overwrite or get rid of it cleanly.

The partition will be able to backup your documents and, in most cases, will do a better job than the Windows restore when it comes to such things as boot-sector viruses, low-level malware, or a simple yet crucial problem with a driver. I have done it to test several times and it has always restored all my documents, settings, and OS states exactly the way they were when I made the backup. It is also more thorough than the XP restore system in that it reloads anything and everything back to the image indicated in the backup(s) regardless of instructions from Windows, including system files.

It is usually around 7GB and, if you are away from your R&R disk set and disaster should strike, it is really good to have an on-drive backup solution.