System recovery and Fresh XP setup

[sbux4622]

I have just acquired an used T41 (2343-9FH). It doesn't come with Recovery CD. The drive is original; I can do system recovery from HPA.

As software and programs in the factory image are either out-dated or not useful, I decide to do fresh XP SP2 setup with my own favorite applications. The oringial factory image will be preserved so that it can be restored in the future. (I don't have Recovery CD, right!) I will do my own SP2 bootable disc.

In case only current parition C is formatted for XP SP2 fresh XP. Does this step affect the original factory image? My question looks silly. I have this query because the HPA partition is about 600MB only according to Windows Disk and Management. I wonder how can be the factory image stored in the HPA partition.

Secondly, I would like to split the current parition C into two. The new partition C is for system, new partition D is for data. Also does it affect factory restore from IBM predesktop area?

[ryengineer]

snip....I wonder how can be the factory image stored in the HPA partition.....snip

What happens when you press Access IBM or ThinkVantage blue button during boot time?

snip.....Secondly, I would like to split the current parition C into two. The new partition C is for system, new partition D is for data. Also does it affect factory restore from IBM predesktop area?...snip

Don't move the place of recovery partition and create a small empty space before createing a new one next to it. However you can run into problem in a long run when you would restore from hidden partition and update Rescue and Recovery to the latest version as it demands more space, but this is just a possibility and maybe it would never happen.