Clean reinstall, hidden partition, and RnR questions

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tsservo · #1 Post by **tsservo** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:23 pm

Hi all,

I've got a few questions that I've been doing research on, but can't seem to find a specific answer to.

Here's the situation. I've got an X41 Tablet that I'm about to do a clean install on according to the writeup by k0lo. I've got the option to keep the factory restore partition, or get rid of it. Hence my questions.

I'll be creating a set up backup/restore CD's (or a DVD) from Rescue & Recovery prior to wiping it all out. My understanding is that using the Rescue & Recovery CD's will bring back the system to it's original state. But this will of course delete any data that I have on the system. Is this correct?

Restoring the system from the hidden partition, will this likewise delete all my data? Or have they gotten it to the point that it'll restore everything but be smart about what to delete/restore?

Is there any really good reason why I want to keep the hidden partition? As it's an X41, getting the 5gb this thing takes up will be nice in the long term.

I suppose I'm just a bit fuzzy on the whole way this system recovers itself using the recovery discs or the hidden partition... Perhaps I'm just being a bit daft today but it's not all coming together for me.

Thanks

Tim

makai · #2 Post by **makai** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:17 pm

Hi Tim,
I used to not care about having the hidden partition on my machine, but nowadays, I kind of like it. It makes things so much easier if something happens to mess up my machine and I have to redo it. The HPA will just plug along without you ever having to install this or that driver individually... it's all done for you automatically! A year ago, I wanted to wipe the HPA off my drives... today, I'm glad they're on there!

To answer your question about data... a recovery will certainly wipe everything out. All your data, and all your programs will also become unusable/unaccessible. It is highly recommended that you back up your data before you run a recovery.

As to whether the recovery is "smart enough", the answer is yes and no. You can read my own experience with using the HPA in this thread
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=21609

Good luck!

jonnnny · #3 Post by **jonnnny** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:02 am

I've always deleted the hidden partition the minute I get my laptop and I've never had any problems.

CHoPSTICK89 · #4 Post by **CHoPSTICK89** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:05 pm

Is the backup R/R CD Recovery CD's the exact same as the Hidden Partition?

Meaning you just insert the CD's on boot and it will bring up the menu to restore?

#5 Post by **BillMorrow** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 12:31 am

CHoPSTICK89 wrote:Is the backup R/R CD Recovery CD's the exact same as the Hidden Partition?

Meaning you just insert the CD's on boot and it will bring up the menu to restore?

yes..

the recovery CD set will restore to the same as when you received it from the factory..
thats why its called a factory recovery..

Grey Area · #6 Post by **Grey Area** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 3:13 am

A somewhat related (and not really all that important) question:
The boot screen says something like "to interrupt normal startup, press Access IBM", and doing so will launch IBM's recovery console (or whatever it is called), presumably from the hidden partition. If the hidden partition is deleted, what happens when you press the Access-IBM-key - some error message, or nothing at all (regular boot is not interrupted)?

Björn

K0LO · #7 Post by **K0LO** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:35 am

You get a BIOS menu asking you to press one of three keys:

ESC - Resume Regular Boot
F1 - Enter BIOS Setup
F12 - Choose Boot Device

Grey Area · #8 Post by **Grey Area** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 8:16 am

Thanks, k0lo! That sounds pretty useful. It would have annoyed me a little bit if the key had been rendered non-functional, but I'll give it a try now and remove the partition.

Clean reinstall, hidden partition, and RnR questions

Clean reinstall, hidden partition, and RnR questions

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