New hard drive and HPA

[alexs4327]

Hi,

I was recently thinking about getting a new hard drive for my T43. I have already created the Rescue and Recovery CD and DVD. What I was wondering is that if I were to install a new drive unpartitioned, and use those two discs, would those recovery discs create a new HPA for me as well as load my Windows XP system to an original factory state? And if so, would my blue Access IBM button work in the same way when I turn on my system as it has been?

Thanks!

Alex

[christopher_wolf]

Welcome to the Thinkpad Forum

The RnR CD/DVD set should get your T43, on any new HDD, back to the way it was from the factory; HPA and all, including Windows XP. Along with that goes the functionality of the blue Access IBM button.

[alexs4327]

Thanks for your reply!

Also, I'm planning on getting the Hitachi 7k100, and was wondering if I could use the generic firmware, or if I will need to load a specific IBM/Lenovo firmware?