Trying to disable Rescue & Recovery

[gamikey]

Hi,
I have a T42 that used to be a work machine but as part of my severence package it was given to me. I have the issue that I do not know what the Network Admin set the IBM R&R password when the machine was loaded and he is also long gone. I have admin rights in XP to the machine but I can't start in safe mode b/c when I use F8 I go to the R&R screen. Since I don't know the R&R password I have to hit cancel and windows boots up. I uninstalled R&R in add/remove programs but somehow I still get R&R when I F8 on startup. I tried several starup utilities to keep all IBM from loading into on startup but I still get R&R on startup. The only thing I can figure is the IBM_Service partition on my harddrive contains the R&R software and those items load into memory before programs on my regular C: partition. Can I just blow away the IBM_Paartition and get rid of the IBM preloaded software and just use windows or will this cause serious damage to my T42?

[gamikey]

BTTT

[GomJabbar]

Speaking from speculation. If you have a Supervisor Password set up in the BIOS, and you do not know the password, there is not much you can do. If you have a hard drive password, I've read recently on these forums that there is a way to remove the hard drive password, but all data will be erased from the hard drive. If you do not have either of these passwords set in the BIOS, or if you do have them set and know them, then I see no reason why you can't delete all partitions, create a new partition and reinstall Windows or the OS of your choice. Of course with Windows you need a valid product key to go with the installation CD.

After considering the above, you could try removing Rescue and Recovery using Add or Remove Programs in Windows. I do not know if it will ask for a password to do this, but I consider it likely.

After considering the above, you could try using the Product Recovery Discs to restore the hard drive to original - software wise. You can buy the Product Recovery Discs from IBM/Lenovo for around $45 I believe.

[keku]

depends,

if they enabled Securitychip then you are out of luck. but if that's not the case you should be fine.

Now if you can goto BIOS and make chnages you can just remove all passwords and clean all security data.

Then wipe out HDD delete all partitions and then reinstall Image. toget Image you have 2 options

1. if system is in warrenty call IBM and tell them that you are having problem with Image they might send you New set of CDs free.

2. if not option 1. send me your system type. Image I've for my T43 might be suitable for you. if that is the case I can mail it out to you. I don't care about shipping either coz it's not gonna be more than 2 bucks.

R&R Partition Password is not big thing all you will lose is all recovery things.