brand new T43 problems (URGENT)

[hwtf]

Hello forum,

I recommended a friend to get a T43, specifically the 1871-C1U. Because our school's computer store does not sell HD upgrades, and because my friend wanted a bigger HDD, we bought a bigger one from newegg.
Specifially, it is an 80gb 5400rpm MK8026GAX drive from Toshiba.

I began running into problems before I even installed the drive. Because my friend wanted the T43 to be exactly as it was when it came, I decided to do a full system backup onto CDs. I used the IBM program to start this, and after about 10 CDs, it stopped burning correctly. It would ask for a new CD, analyze it, finalize it, and then claim it was done, even though it only burned for no more than a minute. It did this until the 22nd CD, when my friend decided that we were wasting CDs.

I then installed the new HD, and pressed the blue button on startup. I tried to restore from the CDs, but it complained that it needed the last CD in the set. Because we didn't burn until it was finished, even though it was just wasting CDs, this was a dead end.

So I put the original HD back in, and did a full backup onto my external harddrive. I then put the new HD back in, and tried to restore from it. It seems to restore just fine (ext HD activity), but then pauses at 8%. The ext HD then stops activity, and from 8%, it suddenly jumps to 100%. It then restarts, and then goes back to IBM Restore and Recover.

At this point in time, I really don't know what to do. The new HD is detected fine by the BIOS, and my ext HD works fine, I am sure. Since I am the one who recommended her the T43 and upgrade from newegg, I am feeling terrible inside. BTW, there is also an error 2010 on startup, but by searching these forums, that's only a minor problem.

Help?

[Zeitgeist]

1. Why is the "error 2010" a minor problem? It appears that the new hdd is not supported by IBM/Lenovo.

I would do the following:
a) install the old hdd, restore the hdd to the factory settings.
b) Create the recovery CD/DVD: one CD (the first) for the R&R boot CD, one DVD for the image, that should be sufficient.
c) swap the hdds, make sure the new hdd contains NO partitions! If present delete them with fdisk
d) change the boot order in the bios permanently (cd first) (may be this step is not necessary when you have only one image DVD)
d) insert the first R&R boot CD,
e) follow the instructions on the screen

[hwtf]

1. Why is the "error 2010" a minor problem? It appears that the new hdd is not supported by IBM/Lenovo.

I would do the following:
a) install the old hdd, restore the hdd to the factory settings.
b) Create the recovery CD/DVD: one CD (the first) for the R&R boot CD, one DVD for the image, that should be sufficient.
c) swap the hdds, make sure the new hdd contains NO partitions! If present delete them with fdisk
d) change the boot order in the bios permanently (cd first) (may be this step is not necessary when you have only one image DVD)
d) insert the first R&R boot CD,
e) follow the instructions on the screen

I thought the error 2010 only forced users to press esc at the beginning of startup, or didn't support drives over 80GB?

This specific model does not have a DVD burner

Also, are partitions made for botched restore attempts?

Thanks for your quick reply

[Zeitgeist]

I thought the error 2010 only forced users to press esc at the beginning of startup, or didn't support drives over 80GB?

This specific model does not have a DVD burner

Also, are partitions made for botched restore attempts?

Yes, I think you are right about the esc pressing: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11059

You can use external DVD drives, or network drives, of course also CD drives, you should get on R&R boot CD and 6 or 7 image CDs

Sorry, didn't understand the last question.

[hwtf]

Thanks zeitgest,

I will try that. If it doesn't work, we will return the HD and just get an external one. I appreciate your help

[BillMorrow]

IRT making the recovery CD set..
use good branded CD-R's.. not noname CD-R's..
it SHOULD take about 5 or 6 to do it..

IRT the non-thinkpad option HDD..
just press the Esc key..
for external use just get a cheap USB2 external HDD adapter for a 2.5 inch HDD.. they're cheap..

IRT using an external DVD burner..
i have not tried using a DVD for the recovery CD's.. might work, let me know if you do and it does.. work that is..

[Zeitgeist]

IRT using an external DVD burner..
i have not tried using a DVD for the recovery CD's.. might work, let me know if you do and it does.. work that is..

Yes, it works (T43 2668, mulitburner plus)