Thinkpads Forum

My laptop was infected with virus, so I had to restore it back to factory setting (b/c I did not have any "restore point" created). Half way through the recovery process, I realized that I had burnt only 6 out of 7 recovery CD's, so I decided to just wipe everything off the hard drive and install a clean copy of XP or 2000.
The problem is that XP and 2000 installation program cannot see the hard drive. (HDD is listed in BIOS and clearly working, b/c I can boot into IBM's Rescue & Recovery program). I suspect that something from IBM is blocking access to the hard drive.
Has anyone installed Windows on his machine? How did you get the setup program to see the hard drive?
Btw, the recovery process would no longer work. I tried to restart the recovery process, but it said "recovery failed at conversion phase".

yiplong wrote:The problem is that XP and 2000 installation program cannot see the hard drive.

Change the SATA hard drive setting in the BIOS from "AHCI" to "Compatibility" mode.

yiplong wrote:The problem is that XP and 2000 installation program cannot see the hard drive.

You need to wipe the drive completely. This is what I did for a new hard drive I bought (mind you that it took me a while to find the right sequence):

1. In the BIOS disable the secure area, i.e., let it be visible.

2. Erase everything in the hard drive, including the boot table sector. If you have a Hitachi drive, you can do this with the test drive tool. If you don't, you need to create a bootable CD with a couple of hard drive tools.

Look for a tool that fills the drive with 0s. I recommend the Ultimate Boot CD or Hiren's boot CD. Google it, but don't buy it--there are sites that sell it. You can download the ISO image and burn the CD yourself.

3. If your drive is SATA, in the BIOS, set it up to compatible mode.

4. In the BIOS, after 1, 2, and 3 are completed, enable the secure area.

5. Boot from the recovery CD, and you should be able to install the OS, given that your CD-ROMs are not corrupted.

I burnt my own recovery CDs and a couple were corrupted so I could never use them. At one point I thought I had a broken drive, but I called Lenovo and they sent me a new set. That fixed the problem.

Of course, your CDs maybe fine...So good luck.

I managed to install windows xp, (not from recovery CD, but from a spare WinXP disc that I have sitting around).

The product key that was in the back of my machine did not work, b/c this copy of XP requires "volume license". How do I get a copy of WinXP so that I can use the genuine product key that I have in the back of the laptop?

yiplong wrote:I managed to install windows xp, (not from recovery CD, but from a spare WinXP disc that I have sitting around).

The product key that was in the back of my machine did not work, b/c this copy of XP requires "volume license". How do I get a copy of WinXP so that I can use the genuine product key that I have in the back of the laptop?

You have 2 options:

1. Use the recovery CDs--that's what they are for.

2. Buy a license from MS or buy a box from the local software shop: it will have a valid key.

I'd go with #1, as you already paid for the XP license.

yiplong wrote: How do I get a copy of WinXP so that I can use the genuine product key that I have in the back of the laptop?

For that you would have to use one of the IBM recovery discs with windows XP

how much does a set of recovery disc cost from IBM?

yiplong wrote:how much does a set of recovery disc cost from IBM?

If you are still under warranty, probably nothing.

You can also create a set of recovery CDs from your original installation. Did you try that?

atlacatl wrote:

yiplong wrote:how much does a set of recovery disc cost from IBM?

If you are still under warranty, probably nothing.

You can also create a set of recovery CDs from your original installation. Did you try that?

Yeah, but the process kept failing when I get to the 6th or so disc. I guess it is safer to get a set of recovery disc from IBM, if I need it.

Since my warranty has expired, I don't think I will pay for a set of disc. I wiped the hard drive clean and put another copy of WinXP on it, now the machine seems to run a lot smoother than in "IBM Factory Setting".

After installing most drivers, there are still "SM Bus Controller" and "USB Controller" (USB ports are working) that need driver. What is SM Bus Controller?

Thanks for all the advices, I have successfully installed a clean copy of XP.

Now the only issue pending is how to get those "Fn keys" working again. The blue ThinkVantage button, and the "Fn + F7" combination, for example, isn't working anymore. What software do I need for that?

yiplong wrote:snip...Now the only issue pending is how to get those "Fn keys" working again. The blue ThinkVantage button, and the "Fn + F7" combination, for example, isn't working anymore. What software do I need for that?

Install Hotkey utility drivers and Access Help online User's Guide for ThinkVantage Blue button.

For the rest you would need hotkey drivers (you don't have to reinstall twice), ACPI Power Management drivers, display drivers and Presentation Director.

ryengineer wrote:

yiplong wrote:snip...Now the only issue pending is how to get those "Fn keys" working again. The blue ThinkVantage button, and the "Fn + F7" combination, for example, isn't working anymore. What software do I need for that?

Install Hotkey utility drivers and Access Help online User's Guide for ThinkVantage Blue button.

For the rest you would need hotkey drivers (you don't have to reinstall twice), ACPI Power Management drivers, display drivers and Presentation Director.

Great, thanks. What about Fn + F5, do I need Access Connection for that?

yiplong wrote:snip....The product key that was in the back of my machine did not work, b/c this copy of XP requires "volume license". How do I get a copy of WinXP so that I can use the genuine product key that I have in the back of the laptop?

AFAIK, it will work with oem installation media only or some folks here mention "Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder" (I'm absolutely unaware about it's practical implications in terms of legality).

yiplong wrote:snip...What about Fn + F5, do I need Access Connection for that?

No.

atlacatl wrote:You need to wipe the drive completely. This is what I did for a new hard drive I bought (mind you that it took me a while to find the right sequence):

1. In the BIOS disable the secure area, i.e., let it be visible.

2. Erase everything in the hard drive, including the boot table sector. If you have a Hitachi drive, you can do this with the test drive tool. If you don't, you need to create a bootable CD with a couple of hard drive tools.

Look for a tool that fills the drive with 0s. I recommend the Ultimate Boot CD or Hiren's boot CD. Google it, but don't buy it--there are sites that sell it. You can download the ISO image and burn the CD yourself.

3. If your drive is SATA, in the BIOS, set it up to compatible mode.

4. In the BIOS, after 1, 2, and 3 are completed, enable the secure area.

Is step 2 necessary? I assume you suggested step 4 so the OP can protect a re-created HPA?

For my clean install, I disabled the HPA and installed Windows in a boot partition that included the space formerly used by the HPA. No need for steps 2 and 4, AFAIK.