A31 doesn't see service partition, doesn't shut down

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Deb Suran · #1 Post by **Deb Suran** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:56 am

Hi Gang, help me out, please. I'm trying to set up a used A31 and I'm having two problems with it. It came without an O/S so I used Drive Copy to copy the service partition from my current A31 to the new HDD. It's the same as the original: FAT32, hidden, primary, but I don't get the F11 option when I turn on the laptop. Any way to force the laptop to see the partition, or get the recovery to run? I don't want to go through the whole install-all-the-drivers-manually thing.

And, when I shut down the laptop the little green battery indicator stays on. When the laptop is running (with another HDD in it), if it's not plugged in when it's turned on it recognizes that it's on battery power, but once it's running off the AC adapter it then doesn't recognize when it's been unplugged (no beep, no change in the little status icon), and when I shut it down the green battery light stays on, and power drains unless I remove the battery briefly. I have updated the BIOS and that other thing you're supposed to update when you update the BIOS (forgot what it is). Suggestions, please?

Zeitgeist · #2 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Sun May 29, 2005 3:22 am

Deb Suran wrote:Hi Gang, help me out, please. I'm trying to set up a used A31 and I'm having two problems with it. It came without an O/S so I used Drive Copy to copy the service partition from my current A31 to the new HDD. It's the same as the original: FAT32, hidden, primary, but I don't get the F11 option when I turn on the laptop. Any way to force the laptop to see the partition, or get the recovery to run? I don't want to go through the whole install-all-the-drivers-manually thing.

Try this:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54483

Deb Suran · #3 Post by **Deb Suran** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:09 pm

Thanks, Zeitgeist!

Deb Suran · #4 Post by **Deb Suran** » Sun May 29, 2005 2:47 pm

Tried all the options on that repair disk and now I get an "ntldr is missing" message when I try to access the F11 option. I've formatted the other partition on the HDD (as NTFS), so why would it be looking for a Windows boot file? Shouldn't it tell me something like "There's no operating system, how do you expect this laptop to work?!" I'm researching this online now but if anyone already knows the solution I'd like to hear it. Thanks.

Edit: It gets to that message so early in the powerup process that I can't even boot from the CD-ROM drive (was going to try installing Windows)

Zeitgeist · #5 Post by **Zeitgeist** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:18 am

Not a big help: but the easiest way to install the os is using the recovery CDs if you cannot activate F11.

If you don't have the CDs ask IBM, Bill or try Ebay.

friedrich-eugen · #6 Post by **friedrich-eugen** » Sat Jun 04, 2005 4:06 pm

Hello Deb,

I did such a process last year while exchanging xp (uk) for xp (gr)..

You should be successful using acronis software for copying an image of Your service partition on the harddiskdrive of Your other A31P.

The problem with the F11 is known, I remember having had a file (on a floppy?) to restore it. (It comes up, immediately after the bootup-screen)

Take the hdd of the second a31p and put in the second bay of your first a31p. Having acronis true image installed, it should work out. May be You should copy the mbr, too (if prompted to)

Good luck

Deb Suran · #7 Post by **Deb Suran** » Sun Jun 05, 2005 3:49 pm

Thanks, but so far no success, I'm starting to think there's something wrong with the HDD even though Drive Fitness test reports it OK. Even cloning the C drive from another computer doesn't do the trick - the thing won't boot. I still have a few more things to try.

friedrich-eugen · #8 Post by **friedrich-eugen** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:10 am

Deb,
the partition must be "active" !?!!

SeanM · #9 Post by **SeanM** » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:29 pm

Make sure that you are cloning the MBR (Master Boot Record) along with the data on the drive.

Deb Suran · #10 Post by **Deb Suran** » Wed Jun 08, 2005 11:20 am

Thanks, Guys. The partition is set to active, replacing the MBR has done nothing. Next I'll create some WinXP recovery disks and see if that does the trick. Haven't had time to get back to it.

Deb Suran · #11 Post by **Deb Suran** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:58 am

Would someone please remind me how to create WinXP recovery disks? Thanks.