Thinkpads Forum

OK. I have just become the owner of a T41p (thansk JHEM). It came pre-installed with XP, however, at the start of this year I started using Linus (Ubuntu) on my PC at home.

I have created a set of recovery discs for the R & R & XP install (through the IBM menu bit)

I want to install Ubuntu on my T41p, I DO NOT want to be able to dual boot.

My question is do I need to change anything to the R & R partition to be able to install Ubuntu or will it just hose everything on the HDD and make its self at home? This is, by the way, what I want.

Does anyone have any tips for installation on a T41p (I am guessing there may be some config files to mess with and perhaps the driver for the video card to install).

Cheers all.

M

Hi,

I don't think the R&R partition will magically disappear if you install Ubuntu, at least it's still around on my Z61t, though I'm not sure.

When you install Linux it should give you an option on what to do with the partitions From what I remember one was to repartition the entire drive to one partition, format it and use it to install Ubuntu. However, this is just the way I remember it, I'm not certain that it was exactly that.

I used a guide at: http://aaltonen.us/archive/2005/03/02/u ... nkpad-t42/
to get some of the features running (ie. middle button scrollilng).

No decisive answers, unfortunately, but at least some response

Thanks for your reply. Anyone else have any help?

Do I just stick the disc in and let it do its thing, taking over the whole disc or do I have to "unlock" this R&R partition (through the BIOS?????) first for it to hose that bit to?

My last install on my old laptop had a plain old HDD (it wasn't a thinkpad) and I gave it free rein.

Cheers

Martin.

I did an install and it didn't hose the RnR partition, you have to delete the ntfs partition at the beginning of the disk.

Enter the BIOS and set the "Desktop Recovery Area" to disabled - this changes the partition type to one that allows Ubuntu to see the Rescue and Recovery area (and delete it).

Thanks smugiri, will do this before the install.

This is the first time I have seen anywhere instructions on how to get the R&R blown away when you install a Linux Distro.

If ever I want XP (which is doubtful) I will load up the recovery dics I created and re-install.

I've used the last three versions on my A31p which is the pred of the T41p. 6.06 went on without problems. Everything works except the win modem. It may work, I haven't tried it on this version. I started with dual boot and had to delete the restore partition with Partition Magic to get it to work. I've since upgraded the HD and had no trouble installing on a clean disk. Use the 6.06.1 disk, it installs cleanly. You should be able to clean the disk before installation using the partition utility while booted from the CD.

Hello all and thanks for your replies.

Well, in the end I did the following....

Created a set of recovery discs

Prior to inserting Ubuntu live CD I went into the BIOS and unprotected the R&R partition

Stuck Ubuntu 6.06.1 live cd in and clicked on install once booted

Let it take over the whole disc

Had a coffee and watched some TV (this bit is optional)

Realised I really want a seperate /home partition and so after the first install tried to set it up - I failed

Re-installed Ubuntu and I told it to use the existing partition setup (that I created when I tried to fix my first install).

Had another cofee (it was getting late by now)

Started using my brand new install of Ubuntu.

Since the install I have:-

Upgraded Firefox to 2.0 (I used that script that is floating around on the web that automated the process).

Installed VLC

Tried to upgrade Evolution to the latest version (with horizontal split screen) but when I tried to compile it it kept haveing dependantcey issues and after a few time installing the dependent modules and getting past each error I gave up (yeah - I know, weak aren't I) Gees, are there any precompiled .deb packages floating around for evolution?

I hope this long thread helps prove to people that the recovery partition is NOT a partition and has not been for a long time. So it does not look like a partition, smell like a partition, act like a partition or respond to partitioning tools like it is a partition.

Surprise, surprise

And before anyone asks what it is, check around here - it is the Pre Desktop Area or PARTIES. There is documentation from IBM on it.
... JD Hurst

jdhurst is actually right, they are "quasi-partitions" in that they have partition type numbers that most operating systems cannot understand. The best way to see these and check that out is my using a boot tool like Ranish partition manager.


Here is the doc that covers PARTIES (and believe it or not, BEER)

Hmm - I believe then I have used the wrong terminology. Replace all my usage of "R&R Partion" with HPA!