My new R51, my zillion questions !!

[skb]

Hi, I have just got a R51 (1830PVU - refurb) looks pretty good though. I have some questions, pls answer as this is the best forum as far I know for all thinkpad queries.

1) My spec says HD as 40GB, on system my only drive C: says ~ 33GB, where has the other 7GB gone ?

2) My display TFT 15" seems to support only 1024x768 resolution, is there no way I can increase this as I want to fit in more on my monitor ?

3a) It is a preloaded m/c, and it has only one dirve C: (~33GB), how can I partition it into C & D, is there some IBM tool already installed for this ?
3b) I have seen in this forum people use PartitionMagic, is it free to use it for partioning ? Any tips on partitioning will be great.

4) I haven't got a Microsoft XP Pro CD, doesn't IBM provide one ? I got some Lotus Suite 9.2 only. What shud I do if I ever need the CD ?

5a) I have heard of these Recovery CDs, can we order them for free ?
5b) Else, is there a way to download them and burn a CD ?
5c) Is this CD specific to R51 ?
5d) Does this Recovery sw have the XP OS also as part of it ?

My advance thanks to all those who can answer my queries. Thank you

[storage_man]

SKB

Some answers;

1) - most of the missing 7gb is from the IBM Recovery partition. It contains an image of what your system looked like at its shipping. You can use this to restore the system to its original state

2) - The size of your resolution is based on what the Video Card supports. I don't know what it is for a R51, but my R31 is 1024x768 just like yours won't go any higher

3a * 3b) - You can repartition your drive via windows Data management. However Partition Magic is a much better tool. Back up your data before you do anything in the area of re-partitioning. Its probably the most dangerous thing (other than dropping your system from a second floor window) that you can do to your system. I would recommend PM because its much more reliable.

4) - Order the CDs in 5a.

5a) - Free while under warranty

5b) - No but the 7 gb in the recovery partition is equivilent.

5c) - YES

5d) - YES

Order the CD now, Out of warranty will cost u over $40 Recovery partition is only good if your harddisk is healthy. Loose your harddisk and you have no recovery.

Hope this helps - Storage_man

[daeojkim]

This is regarding Windows XP CD and recovery CDs.

You can make the recovery CDs via ACESS IBM. It is about 7 CDs or 1 CD and 1 DVD if you have DVD burner. I think this is the reason why IBM started charging people $45 for the CDs because people would rather have IBM send them disk than make them on their own with utilities already provided for them.

There is a sticky in T-series forum on how to make WINDOWS XP CD using the i386 folder on your system. It is very well explained and I made it successfully, which I used it to clean install my system.

[skb]

Hi Storage Man,

Thanks a lot for ur detailed reply, but more questions to follow

10) My R51 specs for Video is like this:
----------------
Graphics Subsystem
Video RAM std/max: 32MB / 32MB
Graphics chipset: ATI Mobility RADEON 7500
Graphics type: XGA
Video RAM type: DDR SDRAM
Max resolution (with max video RAM): 2048x1536 16777216 colors
Max colors (with max video RAM): 16777216
Graphics bus interface: AGP 4X
-------------------
From this it seems it can support more : 2048x1536
But, when I open the 'Settings', it shows max as 1024x768. So, is it possible that I do not have what is mentioned in the specs?

11) How to see this IBM recovery partition in MyComputer ?
12) PartionMagic seems to be having a Free trail, can it be actually used to partition or we need to actually buy it ?
13) Once we partition, can we uninstall PM, or is it always needed to keep the partitions 'alive' ?
14) While using PM, do I need to 'remove' that 7gb rec partition, or can I have it and still partition ? This is the area I am most confused
15) If I get the recovery CDs can I clean that 7GB, if so how ? Pls explain about this a lil bit, its seems daunting to me.
16) Whats the best way to get CDs, is it from this site:
http://www2.clearlake.ibm.com/store/sup ... reccd.html
or call and request ?

Hope you have the patience to answer these Qs.

[JHEM]

2) - The size of your resolution is based on what the Video Card supports.

No, it's based on the resolution of the display that's installed in the unit!

A 1024X768 LCD is composed of that specific number of LEDs times three arranged in a matrix. The reason you can't set an LCD to show a greater resolution is that the LEDs are fixed in their locations and cannot "stretch" to show a larger display.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display

Regards,

James

[JHEM]

From this it seems it can support more : 2048x1536

It can, but only on an external display.

Please update your profile with your location so that we can best answer your questions.

Regards,

James

[storage_man]

SKB

11) How to see this IBM recovery partition in MyComputer ?
Its a hidden partition - Windows won't see it. I have only been able to see it with 3rd party software.

12) PartionMagic seems to be having a Free trail, can it be actually used to partition or we need to actually buy it ?

Most trials let you get a feel of how the product works. I assume thats all PM will do

13) Once we partition, can we uninstall PM, or is it always needed to keep the partitions 'alive' ?

You can run PM under window or in a DOS standalone mode (It will let you create a bootable disk) Its not needed to keep the partitions alive.

14) While using PM, do I need to 'remove' that 7gb rec partition, or can I have it and still partition ? This is the area I am most confused

No - With PM you can resize the existing and add partitions leaving the IBM recovery partition alone.

15) If I get the recovery CDs can I clean that 7GB, if so how ? Pls explain about this a lil bit, its seems daunting to me.

The answer is YES - But you don't have too. The CD's and the Recovery patition provide you a means to restore your system as it was when it was shipped from IBM. For example, if by mistake you delete the windows directory, you could restore the system from the recovery partition. The down side on the recovery partition is that if your harddrive dies(for what ever reason) you have also lose the recovery partition. Thats why the CD's are a better option. Using a product like PM allows you to delete the recovery partition. You can then either resize existing partition to reclaim the space used by the recovery partition, or you could create a new addtional partition to reclaim that space.

16) Whats the best way to get CDs, is it from this site:

PLease see a previous post on this thread. It seems IBM will let you build your own recovery CD's. When I got my ThinkPad, the only way was to purchase them.

Storage_man

[skb]

JHEM, thanks I updated my location, but why would that be necessary ? Thanks for the link, if it is a hw limitation then I have to live with a big screen with low resolution 1024x768...feels paltry. What was the 'external' display u were mentioning ?

STORAGE_MAN, thanks for all your answers. I am planning to use PM for partitioning and I have searched this forum thouroughly still some doubts persist. I intend to follow this process, pls correct if I am wrong anywhere:
- I enable hidden partition (HP) from BIOS
- From PM I should see C: and HP at the end
- Between C & HP only I will create a new partition

It looks simple theoretically, but there are enough posts about missing MBR link to the HP or something like that and using a 'floppy' to reclaim it, do I need ro follow this procedure or there is some trick to follow so that I can simply partition using above 3 steps and live in peace about the functioning of the 'Access IBM' ? I hope u understand my question.

- Also one more question, slightly different, will the system be more efficient if i create a new drive (~2*RAM) for the swap file, read somewhere but was not conclusive about it, incase have an idea pls throw some light ? Thanx

[storage_man]

SKB

Some more answers

- I enable hidden partition (HP) from BIOS - Correct

- From PM I should see C: and HP at the end - Correct

- Between C & HP only I will create a new partition

You will delete HP and then one of two options
1) Resize C to reclaim the space that HP was using OR
2) Create a new partition ie D to reclaim the space that HP was using.

There are a lot of options that PM can do. Read the manual before you
attempt the above.

I don't understand your "MISSING MBR LINK" question.

Lastly, there should be no performance improvement in relocating
your SWAP file to a separate partition.

Storage_man

[skb]

I actually want to keep the HP intact. About the 'MBR' issue I came across in this thread
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=10250
The solution being proposed was to create a bootdisk, for that we need a floopy drive, which I don't have. BTW will this issue affect R series ?

My requirement is, I have 40GB HDD having a C: with 33GB(usr space)+7GB(HP). Finally, I want 10GB for C: & 23GB for D: and keep the HP intact and let it do whatever it wants as before, I do not want to delete it or reclaim it. Can this be done using PM ? Thanks.

[storage_man]

SKB

After looking at those threads, It looks like if you change any of the partitions on your disk, the recovery function ( Blue Button or F11) will cease to work. Its really not a corrupted MBR, but a problem in the way IBM implemented the Recovery function in BIOS. Yet another reason why its would be better to purchase or build your set of recovery CD's. And yes the same will probably happen to your R system.

You could also purchase a USB diskette drive. I think they are less than $25 and then this would allow you to download and build the fix that was mention in Post 10250. Or if you know somebody that has a PC with a diskette drive and a CDRW device, you could burn a CD from that diskette and it would then become bootable.

Lots of solutions.

Your suggestion of having a C: with 33GB(usr space)+7GB(HP). Finally, I want 10GB for C: & 23GB for D: and keep the HP intact
will work. The only question is right now you did not say how much active data exists on C today ? If more than 10gb exist, then PM will not let you resize the partition. If its less than 10gb, no problem.

Storage_man