Oh ****! What have I done?!? Need some help/advice *PICS*

[esquire]

It seems that I royally ****ed up my thinkpad. I place part of the blame on virus and/or trojan, but in my haste to try and fix it I seemed to have totally killed the registry!

Heh...ok so deleting parts of the registry with regedit was a bad idea...I admit that! I'm crying for my thinkpad right now, I feel its pain!

When I start up it says there are missing .dlls and the system won't even start up in safe mode! It can’t find the .dlls YIKES!

To make matters worse the Blue access thinkpad button does nothing now!!! I have no idea what happened there, but for some reason the system doesn't recognize that partisan anymore either! Hmmm it could have happened when I tried to install a new version of xp over the old one in a vain attempt at a band aid solution.

I spent all day scouring the net for help tips. I managed to install a second copy of windows xp in a new folder on the same partition (yes I know this was a bad idea but I was desperate). My gambit seems to have paid off for the moment, as I now have access to my files.

If I log onto this second version of win xp in the new folder in SAFE MODE only I have access to my files on the original partition. (YES!!) I had to first rework the file privileges on the folder but so far so good. I have a 512meg memory key which I am using to transfer my files over to a back up desktop computer. I have about 4gigs of files I need to save, so it will take a while! (since I am in safe mode I have no network access for an ethernet connection to my second computer)

My main concern of course was my docs and photos. I have been rather negligent in backing up files!

Now for the advice part. Is there some magic way I can access the hidden thinkpad patrician to do a fresh install of the system? Once I clear off the files I want to keep I have no qualms about wiping the drive and starting fresh. Like I said though, I don’t seem to have access to the “Access thinkpad” back up and restore functions anymore. It’s a mystery.


OPTION B (which is probably what I will try tomorrow) – hunt down a new copy of windows xp sp2 and use that for a fresh install. Will this work??? Is it possible to download all the ibm thinkpad specific files from their website? If so, does someone have a list of files that I need? Or is there a complete package?

I am in Kenya. I called the authorized dealer in the city and they said they don’t have any restore disks for my t42 on hand and they would have to order a set which could take up to 2 weeks! So I would rather sort this out myself asap. I’m sure I can find a legit copy of winxp somewhere without much difficulty.

At the moment I have a pirated version that doesn’t even have sp1! Not an ideal solution, but it was an emergency.

I appreciate any/all feedback I can get!

<--- still smiling for the moment

[jdhurst]

Most recent ThinkPads can be re-imaged to out-of-the-box new condition by pressing F11 on startup (before Windows tries to start). This should work on a T42 and recover the machine as you want. ... JDH

[esquire]

Just to add a few things:

This all started when I tried to go back to a previous restore point. I chose a day from last week, selected it and that is when the computer refused to restart.

I also tried the magic "r" for repair - no go.

Also tried last good configuration. - useless

---

So at this point, after I clear off my files I just want to wipe the drive and start over. Like I said above I can't seem to access the ibm partisan with the backup files. So I think if I could solve that, great! Is it possible?

[esquire]

Thanks for the quick reply.

It will take me an hour or two to clear off my files and then I'll try out any/all suggestions.

[Kyocera]

Shut down completely, reboot, IF you see an option to press F11 do that to restore your machine to factory contents. Within this area you may see a selection to save certain files within the current C: drive. Since you have installed an OS on another partition this may not be an opiton for you you may need to repair your MBR so you can use the F11 option again.

[Ken Fox]

It seems that I royally ****ed up my thinkpad.

There are different versions of T42s when it comes to the "service partition," which is what *might* bail you out in this situation.

If you are lucky and your machine has an intact service partition capable of restoring your thinkpad to its factory state, then the problem would be that your "master boot record" is corrupted. This is the pre-Windows code that the laptop encounters before it boots into Windows and which in the case of a thinkpad allows the blue button or F11 to work.

I believe that there are several versions of this MBR repair utility; here is a link to one on the Lenovo website and some more searching might find one that would work with a CD drive if you don't have access to a USB floppy drive:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62978

Once you have repaired the MBR, either with this or another Lenovo utility, you should be able to boot into the service partition with the blue button. Depending upon the type of service partition, and they did vary with the T42 series, you may well then have an option to restore your hard disk to factory contents.

Before restoring the disk, be sure to back up any files you do not want to lose as you will end up with a hard disk as it came out of the factory, assuming this works.

Regardless of the resolution of your problem this time, you need to adopt some safe computing practices including backing up your hard drive and data, so that this problem does not happen again. You should also, assuming this all works, have the option to create a set of recovery disks after the hard drive is restored. Take advantage of this and then you will be able to restore your system later should you experience a hard drive failure and need to replace the drive, itself.

Good luck.

[Kyocera]

Click on the HD CLone link in my sig for a detailed expalantion and some links to the MBR repair diskette, which works because I have used it for my t42 and t30, you (and others argue you can use a bootable CD, good luck with that pain. this so save it) may need to get yourself a usb floppy drive, that's what I used thats what worked for me.

[Ken Fox]

Click on the HD CLone link in my sig for a detailed expalantion and some links to the MBR repair diskette, which works because I have used it for my t42 and t30, you (and others argue you can use a bootable CD, good luck with that pain. this so save it) may need to get yourself a usb floppy drive, that's what I used thats what worked for me.

I don't know if you can use a CD; if I'm remembering correctly, there was a version of the MBR repair utility on the Lenovo or IBM site that made a bootable CD, but it was not on the page that I referenced and I could not find it. I have personally used the floppy version, but never a CD version.

I wouldn't be without a USB floppy drive; they are simply too useful for those occasions when using anything else would be a PITA.

The OP, however, does not sound like the sort of person who has a USB floppy drive lying around, and given where he is located (Kenya), one may be hard to source there. I'd assume that someone who is good at making bootable CDs from floppy contents could get a CD to work even if there isn't an official Lenovo/IBM CD version. My own experience with this sort of thing has been mixed and it is much easier to just use a floppy drive if you have one, or to buy one if you don't.

[esquire]

Hi Guys,

I love these tips.

You know what?.... I have a USB drive! I kept it from my old thinkpad, but it looks like it may come in useful.

I'm still backing up files, will update when I have some progress on restoring the system.

[Ken Fox]

Hi Guys,

I love these tips.

You know what?.... I have a USB drive! I kept it from my old thinkpad, but it looks like it may come in useful.

I'm still backing up files, will update when I have some progress on restoring the system.

IF your service partition contains the files necessary to restore your system, odds are you can fix it this way. There are apparently 3 versions of the T42 service partition; the one in my former T42 was only about 600mb in size and did not contain the necessary files. Later versions of the T42 service partition reportedly had 4-5gb worth of material and these are the ones that would work. Hopefully you have what is necessary.

Based upon your first post, it is unlikely that anything has happened to the service partition as it should survive that kind of damage. The MBR is another story, and of course, if the service partition never did have the files necessary, than you are back to square one.

[Kyocera]

If you look is disk managment what size is the fat32 partition? Should be around 5Gigs like Ken Fox mentioned, if so follow the MBR fix in the HD clone thread, that should restore your ability to go to F11 after booting up and restore the machine to factory, if you can make yourself some CD's once you get everything squared away.

[Stargate199]

The only option you can do to restore full functionality is completely reinstall Windows. Repair installs will not work since they leave the registry intact, which is what you messed up. You can either use a Windows CD (make sure to read the licensing sticky!), or use the rescue and recovery function if you can get that to work.

It does not look like you completely messed up the hard drive, so I would suggest you do a full reinstall, but do not reformat the drive. This will leave all of your files intact (or whats left of them is something got corrupted), but it will take some navigation of your hard drive to find them again. I do recommend a backup. If you have access to another computer that had high speed internet and a CD burner, download and burn a live linux CD (I recommend Knoppix, Ubuntu, or Kubuntu). Boot to Linux and use your usb drive to pull off your files. It may take some learning and tweaking to get file transfers to work.

[esquire]

The plot thickens

Edit: I have a t42 dxu and the backup partition is over 4gigs.
When using the emergency disk, I tried all options and the last one to do a full reinstall worked. It gave me the choice to pick either the newer or older version of rescue and recovery...I picked the new one - hopefully that didn't make matters worse.

However, I can now access rescue and recovery, but my password won't register! I type it in and press ok, but nothing happens. It doesn't reject it, I just can't get it to register that I typed it in. I type in the pass and press ok, nothing happens. The ok button depresses, but just nothing happens. I press cancel or close the window and the system restarts

I'm sure I had a password before.... As I recall accessing rescue and restore on another occasion, but I have never used it.

Here is a picture:





Now that I have backup my entire 15gigs of crucial docs, I am quite ok with doing a fresh install of everything, including wiping the disk.

Is it FUBAR? Or do I have some options to try?

[esquire]

Since I am posting pictures,

Here is what I get when I try to start up my regular windows partition:




As I said, the password field on rescue and recover does not seem to be working --- is it possible that it can't remember it? or that it is damaged?

Moderator request: Please add PICS to initial post's subject line if you add pictures later. Also, please try to keep image size to around 50KB each.

[esquire]

sorry about the pics, will try to fix the size

[Ken Fox]

Go back to square one. Boot into the recovery space. Tell it to restore the system to the original configuration, which presumably is with the older version of rescue and recovery (probably was called "rapid restore ultra" or somesuch in that time period).

If there is no prior password associated with your rescue and recovery setup, leave the space blank. Reinstall to original factory contents and go from there.

[esquire]

Go back to square one. Boot into the recovery space. Tell it to restore the system to the original configuration, which presumably is with the older version of rescue and recovery (probably was called "rapid restore ultra" or somesuch in that time period).

If there is no prior password associated with your rescue and recovery setup, leave the space blank. Reinstall to original factory contents and go from there.

Hi Ken,

Can you give me a step-by-step on how to boot into the recovery space? Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

As soon as the laptop starts, press the F11 key repeatedly, that should get you in the Restore partition, provided it is still there.
If that does not work go into your BIOS (press F1 at startup) and activate the 'Show F11 restore' or whatever it is called.

[esquire]

As soon as the laptop starts, press the F11 key repeatedly, that should get you in the Restore partition, provided it is still there.
If that does not work go into your BIOS (press F1 at startup) and activate the 'Show F11 restore' or whatever it is called.

Well yes, this works just fine, however it asks for a password. When I type in my password it does nothing. I press "ok" but nothing happens, its like the box is frozen. So is there a way to reset or bypass this password?

Oddly, I have a bios password on startup that works just fine.

[Ken Fox]

As soon as the laptop starts, press the F11 key repeatedly, that should get you in the Restore partition, provided it is still there.
If that does not work go into your BIOS (press F1 at startup) and activate the 'Show F11 restore' or whatever it is called.

Well yes, this works just fine, however it asks for a password. When I type in my password it does nothing. I press "ok" but nothing happens, its like the box is frozen. So is there a way to reset or bypass this password?

Oddly, I have a bios password on startup that works just fine.

Have you tried leaving the password space blank? If you never put in a password before on Rescue and Recovery, then it should not have one in there and blank would be the right response.

Your windows xp password is not the password for R&R; unless you have previously put a password into R&R, the right response is "nothing," e.g. leave the space blank.

If on the other hand, at some point in the past, you DID input a password to R&R, then you need to try to remember what it is. Most people have 2 or 3 or 4 passwords they use for different things, so if you did input a password before, try all of them before you give up.

[esquire]

Well the thing is, that password box is non-responsive. I tired the passwords I use, I tried leaving it blank, but it doesn't do anything. So I don't know what the problem is.

I did have computer serviced recently and they replaced the system board...hmmm could this have reset the passwords? Anyway I'm getting close to giving up.

If I just went out tommorow and bought a new copy of windows XP, could I install that and just download the IBM specific drivers I need of their website?

I'm running out of ideas. Is there no other way to replace the missing .dll files? A way to rebuild them?

[Ken Fox]

Well the thing is, that password box is non-responsive. I tired the passwords I use, I tried leaving it blank, but it doesn't do anything. So I don't know what the problem is.

I did have computer serviced recently and they replaced the system board...hmmm could this have reset the passwords? Anyway I'm getting close to giving up.

If I just went out tommorow and bought a new copy of windows XP, could I install that and just download the IBM specific drivers I need of their website?

I'm running out of ideas. Is there no other way to replace the missing .dll files? A way to rebuild them?

I'm assuming you already tried this, but it wouldn't hurt to click on the "show password hint" thing in the dialog box you displayed above . . . . ..

[esquire]

I'm assuming you already tried this, but it wouldn't hurt to click on the "show password hint" thing in the dialog box you displayed above . . . . ..

Yes tried that, did nothing.

I think there is something wrong with file ownership. I created a new install of windows on the same partition which worked. This allowed me to back up all my files in safe mode. I could see the original C drive, but when I tried clicking on it, I got 'access denied' -- something about how I didn't have permission to view the files. Very odd. All my files and apps are still there alright, I just can't access them. Added to this, I can't seem to access ibm recover and restore app.

Is it possible to download the IBM specific drivers off their website? If I buy a fresh copy of windows xp tommorow and do a clean install, I will still need the thinkpad apps and drivers. Are there that many?

Thanks

[esquire]

I DID IT! (I think! ... must not jinx it....)

I took my crummy pirated XP disk and in an act of pure desperation did a clean install over my C: partition. It allowed me to create a new admin password. That took about 5 minutes and it restarted automatically to finish the install. Then I hit F11...

Recover and restore comes up and the new password I just created WORKED! (I guess reformatting the drive cleared out the demons )

I can't really explain it. Something seriously must have been wrong and erasing everything was worth a shot as a last resort (since I already backed up my files)....whew!




Lesson learned? I need buy an external drive and back up my files!

Thanks for all the help from all of you. I never gave up!