Urgent Help Needed! Resetting/Recovering T42

Message

KirstyMcK · #1 Post by **KirstyMcK** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:27 pm

Hey guys,

Bit of a nightmare, my T42 recently developed a problem where I am constantly getting the error "C:\$Secure is corrupt and unreadable. please run chkdsk.exe" on login. Check Disk runs on startup every time but finds no errors, I have run Anti-Spyware/Antivirus into the ground and my system registers as clean, so ive given up and i want to start fresh.

I thought it would be possible to simply reset the thinkpad to as if it was new, but I see no option to do this. Hitting the access IBM button on restart just gives me bios settings.

Can someone please explain to me how/what I need to absolutely reset my thinkpad? I really am a bit clueless about the whole thing, and as im using the laptop for my studies, i'd really like to get it sorted soon.

Thanks in advance,

Kirsty x

Danny Manabat · #2 Post by **Danny Manabat** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 12:30 am

your master boot record could have been corrupted.

do you have the recovery cd with you? you will need them to restore.

you can also make use of mbr recovery diskette to recover your mbr. i had a bad experience using the mbr recovery diskette. i prefer using the recovery cd's.

try reading the posts, you'll find dozens of similar problems. you'll find the answers here.

#3 Post by **BillMorrow** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:31 am

google "C:\$Secure" and read what you find..

KirstyMcK · #4 Post by **KirstyMcK** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:02 am

I will have to purchase some recovery CD's from IBM, as after some reading I don't believe the recovery partition is still on this thinkpad.

Google was my first port of call before posting, nothing I was able to find was helpful, as in all cases the solution offered was "run chkdsk", which isn't very helpful, as chkdsk runs automatically every time, and does nothing to help the problem as it finds no errors.

#5 Post by **carbon_unit** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:09 am

I think I would run the Hitachi Drive fitness test and make sure the Hard Drive is OK before doing anything else......Well except backing up your data. I would do that right now!

One way to tell if the restore partition is intact is to look at the size windows reports for the C:\ drive. For example if you have a 60 gig hard drive and it shows the size as ~57 gig the partition is missing, If it shows the size as ~52 gig the partition is intact but the mbr is messed up and not letting you access it.
This might help: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54483

agarza · #6 Post by **agarza** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:14 pm

Is your machine still under warranty?
If yes, then you could get the recovery CD's to be shipped at no charge. I just did that yesterday and the guy on the phone didn't complain at all.

KirstyMcK · #7 Post by **KirstyMcK** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:26 pm

I gave IBM UK a phone today - don't know what to think of tech support at the moment, the first techie I spoke to set up my account, details etc and then after explaining what happened, and what I needed (recovery CD's) said that someone would call me back within the next half hour.

No one did, so I phoned in a couple of hours later, queried my last call and was told:

"They are sending out recovery cds..... I think"

So hopefully have the recovery cd's in the next week or so, until then the laptop is useable, all my data is backed up, just have to live with an annoying popup at login (and the inability to install my printer due to the same popup appearing).

Also ran the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test (ran it in ATA mode and Advanced Scan, and got a green all-clear 0x00 screen at the end, so the drive, I assume, is fine).

Thanks for all the help guys, will keep you posted of any developments!

Kirsty x