creating bootable dvd's from the hidden partitions

[yawnmoth]

As ya'll probably know, IBM laptops typically come with hidden partitions from which the original OEM software can be restored.

On my newest IBM laptop, I can burn the contents of the hidden partition to a DVD by going to the Access IBM Program folder and selecting the "Create Recovery Disks" application.

On an older IBM laptop, however, I can't. There is no Access IBM Program folder nor is there any sort of "Create Recovery Disks" application. Going to the BIOS doesn't give me any such options, either.

So how, on the older IBM, can I create recovery disks?

Surely I don't have to use stuff like Norton Ghost??

[dsvochak]

When you say "an older laptop" are you talking about one where you hit F11 to "invoke the IBM Product Recovery program"? If you, I guess I'd like to know the answer to the question too.

[Kyocera]

If there is no way to access the recovery partition are you sure there is one? How would you recover if there were no options for that purpose.

[dsvochak]

I assumed the question is this:

On a T23, for example, invoking F11 allows you to do a full system restore, or create a "diagnostic" or "recovery repair" diskette. There is no option to "create recovery cd's" as apparently is the case in T4x's.

Is there a way to turn the "IBM Service Partition" into a "Product Recovery CD"?

If there is, I'd be interested in how it's done.

[christopher_wolf]

You have a T30, right? I am not sure that the T30 has the HPA Partition

See; http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Hidden_Protected_Area

[yawnmoth]

If there is no way to access the recovery partition are you sure there is one? How would you recover if there were no options for that purpose.

dsvochak is correct.

As for why I think there's a recovery partition on my older laptop... I restored the OS from something a week or two ago. This something could, I suppose, be the BIOS or some invisible DVD that I already have and just don't know about, but for some reason, I think the existance of a recovery partition is far more likely.

edit: didn't see christopher_wolf's post.

[christopher_wolf]

System Restore, as a part of Windows, could have restored the OS. It usually is turned on most of the time and does that automatically. I had it do it several times on other Laptops.

[yawnmoth]

I did the restore by hitting the "Access IBM" equivalent button* at boot time, though - I didn't do it through Windows.

I suppose I could make a video showing how I restored the OS if it'd help...

* I don't have the older computer with me, right now; it doesn't say "Access IBM", but it's in a similar place.

[dsvochak]

From T23 user's manual:

Recovering pre-installed software

If your hard disk drive data is damaged or accidentally erased, you can restore the software that was shipped with your computer. This software includes your pre-installed operating system, applications, and device drivers.

You can restore your pre-installed software using the Product Recovery program.

The Product Recovery program is in a section of your hard disk drive that is not displayed by Windows(R) Explorer.

Note: The recovery process might take up to 2 hours.

Attention: All of the files on the C:\ drive will be lost in the recovery process. Be sure to back up copies of the files you have saved on your C:\ drive before you begin.

Note: You might need to use a diskette drive in the recovery process. Use a drive that is compatible with your ThinkPad computer.
-------------------
To use the Product Recovery program to restore your pre-installed software, do the following:
Save all your files and shut down your desktop.
Turn off your computer.
Turn on your computer. Quickly press F11 when this message is displayed on the screen: "Press F11 to invoke the IBM Product Recovery program." This message is displayed for only a few seconds.

As I previously noted, when you "Press F11 to invoke the IBM Product Recovery program", you have three options: a complete recovery, a diag diskette, or a recovery repair diskette (fixes the F11 not being displayed at boot). An option to create recovery CD's is not available.

The IBM_Service partition on the drive is hidden to everything but Windows Computer Management-->Disk Management. The only action Disk Management allows you to take on the IBM_Service partition is "delete partition".

The IBM Product Recovery program is an earlier, and different, version of product recovery than that referenced in the ThinkWiki HPA article.

Again, the question yawnmoth and I are wondering about is whether there is a method to create product recovery CD's from the existing, hidden IBM_Service partition? And if there is, how?

For me it's not a big issue, it's just an interesting question. If I knew I could do it I probably would, just to have a restore CD without having to buy or beg one.

[Kyocera]

As for why I think there's a recovery partition on my older laptop... I restored the OS from something a week or two ago. This something could, I suppose, be the BIOS or some invisible DVD that I already have and just don't know about, but for some reason, I think the existance of a recovery partition is far more likely.

OK I deserved that, but, I had the same problem with my T30 (which does have the partition) in order to make CD's I have to put in a CD burner and install it, until that time there is no option to create them. I also thought there was a possibility of creating them on my t42 via network drive style, no option there either.

Check this old thread.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... ht=#111300

[yawnmoth]

I burned a copy of that from my newer thinkpad (it's pretty big! ~330mb, iirc), and was unable to even install that due to bad sectors.

So I called IBM up and they're gonna give me a new hard drive and install CDs

[BruisedQuasar]

For Pre-Windows XP Thinkpads, owners could buy recovery disks from IBM. IBM, along with all other PC makers, were forced to stop that when MS did the strangest abandon in the history of PCs! MS stopped selling or supporting all pre-XP versions of Windows this summer. Abandon ware is not new but what is new is taking all older versions off the shelves & ordering manufacturers no longer sell recovery disks or anything that pre-dates a new program.

In November, I had to search the net to find a authentic new copy of Windows 2000 Pro. I intentionally looked for a factory refurbished T23 loaded with Win 2000 PC because I want full control over my PCs. I get a like new T23 just to discover that the recovery disks are not included despite Tigerdirect.com saying they would be. Then, I discover that IBM stopped providing them a few months before I bought!

No matter. I find Win 200o Pro comes in handy for recovering friends PCs, so they can reinstall Win XP on them. Once they installed SP2, XP becomes a newer version of Windows, so their recovery disks refuse to recovery, as they are programed by MS not to install an older version of windows over a newer one. I also use full version 2000 to recover PCs from a Linux install. XP uses an eccentric hard drive formating called NTSF. Linux uses a more normal system. Get ready. the system will change again, under Win Vista, which is built not around Win NT but Windows Server 2003.

Elsewhere on this site is a discussion about making a mirror copy of your O/S. onto CDs or an external hard drive. I saw it in November, '05. There is a download from Lenovo IBM Thinkpad site that supposedly does this. I do not remember its name.

By the way, there are utilities that will let you view anything on your hard drive. I think System Mechanic (iolo company) and Norton have utilities that do this. My external hard drive includes backup software that will copy a exact mirror copy of a hard drive onto the external drive (Western Digital). You have to reformat any external hard drive, though, if you want to have NTFS, or an NTFS partition.