Restore MBR partition

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ramian · #61 Post by **ramian** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:09 pm

I'm not all that sure if older Thinkpad models have the hidden R&R partition working the same way as the newer ones. That could probably explain the option is greyed out for you. Hopefully, someone else has a better idea...

#62 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:37 pm

AKCollins wrote:I've tried the rnr32_rd.exe from the beginning of this post, stuck it on my floppy. when i go to start this program a small DOS window pops up and asks me for a compatible drive letter with the diskette.
I type in A or A: and it says incompatible....very odd. Any ideas ?

I believe you are using the wrong version of the diskette. If you go to this page.
IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore - F11 does not work after uninstalling IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore environment

Then click on the Affected configuration link, it brings you here.
IBM Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore - List of supported systems

Supported systems
ThinkPad A31, A31p
ThinkPad G40
ThinkPad R30, R31, R32, R40, R40e, R50, R50p
ThinkPad T23, T30, T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p
ThinkPad X22, X23, X24, X30, X31, X40

If you click on the Solution link, it brings you here.
Rescue and Recovery - Recovery repair diskette

File details

Version: 3.1
Release Date: 2006/05/30

File link File size File description

rnr31_rrd.exe 294,404 Recovery repair diskette

ramian · #63 Post by **ramian** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:00 am

So, the disk should be working with her notebook. That still doesn't explain why the option is greyed out for her...

#64 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 5:33 am

ramian wrote:So, the disk should be working with her notebook. That still doesn't explain why the option is greyed out for her...

Notice that the version she is using rnr32_rd.exe is different than the version stated for use with her machine rnr31_rrd.exe. I am not sure which model ThinkPads rnr32_rd.exe is designed for. Right now, I don't have the time to search - have to go to work.

AKCollins · #65 Post by **AKCollins** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:30 am

It is the rnr31_rrd.exe Iwas attempting to run. The window that opens only lasts for a fraction of a second, so it doesn't appear to work. I apologize I just didn't have the filename in front of me when I made the post.

While looking at the screenshots were there not multiple options one being for thinkvantage (not this machine) and one for the recovery and repair of rapid restore ?

My BIOS here is 1.04 dated 2002. I bought this machine used in July 2004. At the time it had a disk name IBM_Preload. And it was truly factory in the sense it had only Windows 2000, Drivers, IBM support files, DVD player, IBM Record Now, PC Doctor, etc. I have never did anything to change partitions.

The fact that it is greyed out but still [Enabled] gives me hope it is still there, but possibly there is a security setting that needs to be changed ? I have never done anything personally as far as setting security passwords- at the sysytem or windows level.

I thank all of you for your help !!

shadowlight · #66 Post by **shadowlight** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 2:57 pm

AKCollins wrote:At the time it had a disk name IBM_Preload. And it was truly factory in the sense it had only Windows 2000, Drivers, IBM support files, DVD player, IBM Record Now, PC Doctor, etc. I have never did anything to change partitions.

This is the standard name of your C-partition - its not the hidden partition. You should be able to see a FAT32X Partition named "IBM_Service" or something like that from within Windows disk manager at the end of your hard drive - this is the partition you're looking for!

AKCollins wrote:The fact that it is greyed out but still [Enabled] gives me hope it is still there,...

I'm sorry - if you can't see the partition the way mentioned above, I think it's gone. That means they sold you a system without a service partition on it! (happened to me with my X31)

#67 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:25 pm

shadowlight wrote:
AKCollins wrote:At the time it had a disk name IBM_Preload. And it was truly factory in the sense it had only Windows 2000, Drivers, IBM support files, DVD player, IBM Record Now, PC Doctor, etc. I have never did anything to change partitions.
This is the standard name of your C-partition - its not the hidden partition. You should be able to see a FAT32X Partition named "IBM_Service" or something like that from within Windows disk manager at the end of your hard drive - this is the partition you're looking for!

AKCollins wrote:The fact that it is greyed out but still [Enabled] gives me hope it is still there,...
I'm sorry - if you can't see the partition the way mentioned above, I think it's gone. That means they sold you a system without a service partition on it! (happened to me with my X31)

Maybe, maybe not. I don't know what year the A31p came out, but it may be old enough to not have the Fat32 Service Partition. One thing to check would be the security setting in the BIOS for the Predesktop Area, HPA or PARTIES - whatever it may be called on the A31p.

IBM Rescue and Recovery Deployment GuideVersion 2.0 wrote:These IBM computers were announced prior to January 2003 or computers that have an ImageUltra™ Builder disk image. v Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer. v Partition link: :Links to the IBM_SERVICE partition to restore the factory contents or the ImageUltra Builder disk image.
----------------------------------
IBM computers that have a PARTIES area were announced during 2003. v Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer. v Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics.
----------------------------------
IBM computers with this configuration were announced during 2003 and also have an ImageUltra disk image in the IBM_SERVICE partition. v Location: A virtual partition that must be installed on the C drive (primary partition of the master hard disk drive) of the computer. v Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics.
----------------------------------
IBM computers that are announced in the first quarter 2004 and come with the Rescue and Recovery environment preinstalled feature this configuration. See the following figure. v Location: 100 percent in a type 12 partition. v Location of factory recovery and system diagnostics: entirely in a type 12 partition. v Location of backups: NOT in the type 12 partition. v Partition link: Links to the PARTIES partition to initiate a restore of factory contents or diagnostics. v Advantage of a type 12 partition: When the Rescue and Recovery environment is placed in a virtual partition, several files are placed in the root of the C drive where an end user could possibly delete them. The filter driver does not protect these files because some are common with Windows boot files (for example, NTDETECT.COM). If they are deleted or otherwise become unusable, the end user would be unable to boot to the Rescue and Recovery environment. However, when the Rescue and Recovery environment is placed in a type 12 partition, Windows prevents all users from accessing that partition and the files required to open the Rescue and Recovery environment are highly protected. Note: With the Rescue and Recovery environment secured in the type 12 partition, only a corrupted MBR would prevent access to the Rescue and Recovery. In that case, an external version of the Rescue and Recovery environment must be used. Currently IBM supports CD and USB hard disk drive-based versions of the Rescue and Recovery environment that are created with the Create Rescue Media applet in the Access IBM folder of the Start Menu.

christopher_wolf · #68 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 4:33 pm

If I recall correctly, the A31 and the A31p were released sometime in March 2002; they don't have the R&R partition set.

The first Thinkpads to have the R&R partitions were the T40 and the R40.

#69 Post by **GomJabbar** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:10 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:If I recall correctly, the A31 and the A31p were released sometime in March 2002; they don't have the R&R partition set.

The first Thinkpads to have the R&R partitions were the T40 and the R40.

Then do you have an explaination for the following page and it's links (posted previously above)? I am not trying to contadict you, I am just trying to understand why the following is posted on IBM/Lenovo's site. I don't know much about the A series other than one of my coworkers used to have one (in other words, I know what one looks like).
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54947

w0qj · #70 Post by **w0qj** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:57 am

If you have Acronis_TrueImage or Norton_Ghost, would it be simpler to:

1. Use your disk imaging software to image your current partition.

2. Use your Product Recovery CD's to format HDD & rebuild the hidden partition (and reinstall Windows).

3. Use your disk imaging software to clone the HDD image on (1) back into (3) here, but slightly less HDD space is availble (due to hidden paritition).

christopher_wolf · #71 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:36 am

GomJabbar wrote:
christopher_wolf wrote:If I recall correctly, the A31 and the A31p were released sometime in March 2002; they don't have the R&R partition set.

The first Thinkpads to have the R&R partitions were the T40 and the R40.
Then do you have an explaination for the following page and it's links (posted previously above)? I am not trying to contadict you, I am just trying to understand why the following is posted on IBM/Lenovo's site. I don't know much about the A series other than one of my coworkers used to have one (in other words, I know what one looks like).
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54947

I believe they are referring to the R&R download by IBM/Lenovo; you don't necessarily have to have the partition to get it to work.

I do, however, find that highly unusual as I cannot recall working on something older than a T40 or R40 that had the R&R partition, as something you could boot into and manage stuff with and no just a partition where you could save backups to boot from, on it. Perhaps and older form of it? I could very well be wrong.

I think that, if the system as the Access IBM button on it, it should have the R&R partition as well.

shadowlight · #72 Post by **shadowlight** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:55 am

GomJabbar wrote:Maybe, maybe not. I don't know what year the A31p came out, but it may be old enough to not have the Fat32 Service Partition. One thing to check would be the security setting in the BIOS for the Predesktop Area, HPA or PARTIES - whatever it may be called on the A31p.

To give you some facts:

I'm writing this on my X31 but my A31p is working and placed next to it.

Under Windows/computer management/disk management (I'm not sure if these are the right english words for it!) of my A31p there is a Partition "IBM_SERVICE" file system"FAT32" status "without error(unknown partition)" size "1.42GB" free space "205MB" at the end of the drive!

"Press F11" is visible and useable on my A31p (not greyed out) and if I press it I can work with the "IBM Product Recovery Version 5.7"

PartitionMagic 8 and Drive Image 2002 are able to see and work with that partition!

Under Windows Explorer the Service partition is not visible or useable.

There is no BIOS option AT ALL which has to do with the settings of the service partition!!!
In BIOS you can only enable/disable boot prompts for F1, F11, F12 each of them individually!

It's completely different with my X31:

Here I have BIOS options to set the partition "secure", "normal" or "disabled".

With setting "normal" PM8, DI2002, Windows Explorer, Windows disk management cannot see or work with that partition! They all think they have a smaller disk available!

With setting "disabled" PM8 could see unallocated space at the end of the hard drive but nothing else!

So far with the facts - and now the question:

Is it possible that IBM after using a hidden FAT32 service partition with the older models (like my A31p) changed it to the HPA/PDA/PARTIES with some middleaged models like my X31 (and the T40 and T41 if they are the same) and changed it back again to a FAT32 type service partition with all _42 _43 and _60 models ???

It's really confusing to me - perheaps we should start an sticky thread in the general forum about the different types of service partitions, on which Thinkpad-model which partition type is used and which tools are working with which partition type to successfully clone it.

wacian · #73 Post by **wacian** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:58 pm

I also wanted to add that I had the same problem after installing fresh copy of vista on my T61 with Rescue and Restore 4.0 .
I tried making a bootable cd from the floppy created on my desktop with nero, but did not work giving me an error that "media is write-protected"
I also tried copying files from the floppy to the cd and then bootup using dos 7 and copying the file on the cd to the ram drive. but it didn't work either.
Finally the problem was resolved by making a bootable floppy disk from rnr40_rrd.exe from lenovo support site and borrowing an external fdd from a friend. it repaired the mbr and the things went right.

anyway I learned alot from this topic and thanks to all the people who participated.

Restore MBR partition

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