Product Recovery does not function

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paddi · #1 Post by **paddi** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:15 pm

I deleted the original recovery partition by setting "predesktop area" to "disabled" in BIOS and formatting it with partition magic, because I needed the space.
Now I want to restore the system with the original recovery CDs.
I got one named "IBM Rescue and Recovery" and 7 "Product Recovery CDs".
I booted from the "IBM Rescue and Recovery" CD and got to the welcome screen.
There I selected "Restore your system", then the option of full recovery.
Then the tool wants to reboot the notebook.
After rebooting a "Windows 98" DOS-start-sequence comes up but I get the messages:

No formatted PSAs found with Id=0x8888
Invalid drive specification
File creation error
Invalid drive specification
Invalid drive specification
Label not found

After that it returns to D:\ or E:\
If I execute a "dir" I find recover.bat which starts the DOS-tool version 5.8 where I normally have to answer 3 questions with "Y" or "N".
After the second "Y" the tool fails with some errors and returns to D:\ or E:\

I thought maybe the problem is because "predesktop area" is set to "disabled".
But if I set it back to "normal" after rebooting I get the 1810 error (http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-42321). But the tips there also do not function!

I was wandering why the recovery tool never asked for the 7 "Product Recovery CDs".

Is there somethin wrong with the "IBM Rescue and Recovery" CD?

Please help me. I'm trying til hours...

#2 Post by **jdhurst** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:34 pm

You can try exiting from the CD boot after it has started up. That should leave you at an X:> prompt. Run Fdisk and delete all partitions. Then run Fdisk /mbr to reset the master boot record. Then run the CD recovery again. It should use all the CD's before commencing the recovery or it will go wrong. ... JD Hurst

paddi · #3 Post by **paddi** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:19 am

Now I only get "Missing operating system" after Rescue and Recovery reboots.
I also tried, instead of "Restore your system", "Diagnose hardware". Rescue and Recovery reboots but the sams: "Missing operating system".
It seems that Rescue and Recovery install nothing.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:02 am

I believe you should run fdisk as JD Hurst outlined with the Predesktop Area set to Disabled. Then, I think you should reset the Predesktop Area to Normal before using the Product Recovery Disc set. Make sure the CD drive is before the hard drive in the boot order in the BIOS.

I have a feeling that the Product Recovery Disc set will not work with the Predesktop Area set to Disabled.

paddi · #5 Post by **paddi** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:33 am

GomJabbar wrote:I believe you should run fdisk as JD Hurst outlined with the Predesktop Area set to Disabled. Then, I think you should reset the Predesktop Area to Normal before using the Product Recovery Disc set. Make sure the CD drive is before the hard drive in the boot order in the BIOS.

I have a feeling that the Product Recovery Disc set will not work with the Predesktop Area set to Disabled.

I made it, but then again I get this after rebooting (with unplugged CD drive):

No formatted PSAs found with Id=0x8888
Invalid drive specification
File creation error
Invalid drive specification
Invalid drive specification
Label not found

D:>

In D: there are standard utilities like fdisk, xcopy, and so on, but also recover.bat which starts a program in which recovery should be possible but it doesn't function.
In D:\recovery there are tools like psautil.exe, findhdd.exe clnrecov.exe and some language files.

The next time I reboot I get "Missing operating system".

#6 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:03 am

I think the key here is to remove all partitions and leave the drive without any partitions on it at all when you use the Product Recovery Discs. It seems like I have read that some people still had a problem until they ran a program that completely erases the hard drive. If you have a Hitachi drive, you can use the first tool below. For a Fujitsu drive, you can use the second tool below. There are other programs that write zeros across the entire hard drive that should work as well, however I am not familiar with them.

Hitachi Drive Fitness Test

Fujitsu Erase Utility

FYI, I have used the product recovery disc set on a brand new hard drive without any partitions on it - successfully.

paddi · #7 Post by **paddi** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 9:25 am

OK, I will try the tools but I even deleted all partitions with fdisk.

I will do these steps:

1) set predesktop area to disabled in bios.
2) zero-write the harddisk.
3) set predesktop area to normal in bios.
4) boot with the rescue and recovery cd.
5) choose full recovery.

Do I have to set the harddisk to "active" or "primary"?

#8 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 12:02 pm

No, you do not need to worry about that.

Note also the following:
When you boot up the Product Recovery Startup Disc, you will enter Rescue and Recovery. Choose Restore Factory Contents. After loading all the CD's, it will reboot back into Rescue and Recovery. You need to choose Restore Factory Contents again. Follow the prompts.

paddi · #9 Post by **paddi** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 2:23 pm

Ufff, that low level format takes time...

When takes "loading all the CDs" place?
After I choose restore factory contents in the tool of the rescue and recovery cd I get some message boxes which say that I have to remove the cd and to reboot.
After confirming the message boxes nothing happens, so I manually reboot, but then I only get the upper (orange) messages.
Or should I put in the first of the recovery cds before rebooting?

#10 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 5:07 pm

It's been about a year since I did it last, but the way I remember it, I booted up the Product Recovery Startup Disk and told it to Restore Factory Contents. It then began copying files off of the Startup Disc to the hard drive, after a time it asked for the subsequent CD's and copied all of their contents. Then it told me to remove CD and reboot. On reboot it entered Rescue and Recovery again. I had to tell it to Restore Factory Contents from here again, but no CD's are used at this point, as all of the information is already on the hard drive.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 239#161239

BTW, which model ThinkPad are you trying to Restore Factory Contents on? Do you have the Product Recovery Discs for the proper model ThinkPad? Did you burn these discs yourself on that same ThinkPad, or did you purchase the discs?

paddi · #11 Post by **paddi** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 1:15 am

Yeah, fdisk was too weak, the low level format was the solution.

Thank you very much!

#12 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:02 am

I'm glad I get to use this emoticon

- instead of this one!

jparrot427 · #13 Post by **jparrot427** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:36 am

In this trend, paddi talks about a LL format. Is this possible and if so, how, please.

Or does he mean writing all zeroes to all sectors like using baktrak ? I have a few HDs here that I wouild like to LL format.

Have a great day. JP.

#14 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:37 am

See my post in the Hardware Forum/FAQ: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24116
It contains an excellent LL format program.

jparrot427 · #15 Post by **jparrot427** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:03 am

RBS, hello.

I D/L'd that .exe. I will look at it soon. Thanks.

NB: I hope that it is not a virus :-) JP.

thedogwarrior · #16 Post by **thedogwarrior** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:35 am

I've got a T61p, and I cannot find any mention of "predesktop" area in my BIOS. I've looked at every setting screen, Security, etc. Am I just overlooking?

#17 Post by **ryengineer** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:29 pm

thedogwarrior wrote:I've got a T61p, and I cannot find any mention of "predesktop" area in my BIOS. I've looked at every setting screen, Security, etc. Am I just overlooking?

Predesktop Area option hasn't been integrated in the BIOS of *61 series. *60 and prior series had it.

jparrot427 · #18 Post by **jparrot427** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:03 am

Hello RBS.

>>[See my post in the Hardware Forum/FAQ: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=24116
>>It contains an excellent LL format program.

I did D/L the PRG and it scrapped my HD. I had to use fdisk and reformat the device. The LL format left the FAT on the HD too. Quite a procedure !

I need access to some PW protected 20 g 2.5" IBM HDs. I want to flush them, I have no need for the data on them, I just want to use them for backup procedure on USB. If you have the Master PW, please let me know.

Have a great day. JP.

#19 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:01 am

LL format does just that! It leaves the HD in its most basic state.
Afterwards you will always have to partition and format it, using other programs.

What do you mean: scrapped my HD?
When I used it on my HD, it wiped the HD completely. It took about 2-3 hours for my 40GB disk. Afterwards I used Partition Magic to Partition and format in NTFS, and it was like new!

PW protected disks are doorstoppers if you don't have the PW.
The only outfit I know that can remove it is: http://www.nortek.on.ca/Password%20Remo ... moval.aspx
but their services come at a hefty price!
Cheaper to buy a new HD.

Product Recovery does not function

Product Recovery does not function

Low level format ?

LL format.

LL format.

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