T23 Hidden Service partition

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Andersonjoe711 · #1 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:18 pm

so.............I'm learning something new everyday.

I've been reading around the site a bit, and saw a bunch of information about this hidden partition on the Hard drive. Problem is, I'm on my 3rd hard drive and got it blank off of Ebay.

Here's the question: What can I do to put this hidden partition, and Rescue and recovery back on my Hard drive? Do I need to re-format my drive? I have a set of disks that I'm told will restore my drive back to factory settings. Will those disks restore rescue and recovery? Also, what can I do to save my stuff on my hard drive already? just a few CD-R's?

Stargate199 · #2 Post by **Stargate199** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:46 pm

If your T23 had the recovery partition on it from the factory (which I think all T23s did) then using the Rescue and Recovery CD will restore the hidden partition onto the hard drive. All I have for my T21 is the recovery CD and I do not think it has a recovery partition it will install.

Andersonjoe711 · #3 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:17 pm

If I use the CD, will it erase my hard drive?

Temetka · #4 Post by **Temetka** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:35 pm

Andersonjoe711 · #5 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:59 pm

I don't think words can describe how frustrated I am right now!

I just used disk one of these recovery cd's, and it cleared my hard drive, and re-installed Windows XP. It never asked for disk 2, and now I can't register it, and I have 30 days left. It won't take my Product key.

On top of all that, the hidden partition STILL ISN'T THERE!!!!!!

I really want to throw this laptop out a 5 story building. Why doesn't anything I every try actually work? Does anyone who reads this thread actually have any idea of what's going on? Can someone actually give me the answer to my question, and tell me how the heck I can do what I'm trying to do? How many freaking more hoops do I have to jump through, and suggestions do I need to try before someone comes forward and actually helps?

I want to put the hidden partition back onto my hard drive, and I want to re-install the Rescue and recovery program that came with this laptop. I think it was version 2. This is all I'm trying to do!!! Can anyone out there actually help me before I go and re-format my hard drive for a THIRD time?

Temetka · #6 Post by **Temetka** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:53 am

Whoa there! Calm down, step back and take a deep breath and relax.

First off, are these official restore discs? Secondly, when you booted off of the disc what options were on the screen?

Also I believe that you might need to go into the BIOS and turn on the hidden partition of it is set to 'disabled' then you will want to enable it.

There should be an option somewhere in the recovery screen to restore your hard drive to it's factory contents. I am basing all of this on my experience from the T23 I owned a few years ago and my memory might be a little foggy.

If you are unsure of how to proceed, might I suggest you either tell us what is says on the screen as far as recovery options are concerned, or find a digi-cam and take a picture of the screen and post it somewhere.

JHEM · #7 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:09 am

Andersonjoe711 wrote:I just used disk one of these recovery cd's, and it cleared my hard drive, and re-installed Windows XP. It never asked for disk 2, and now I can't register it, and I have 30 days left. It won't take my Product key.

On top of all that, the hidden partition STILL ISN'T THERE!!!!!!

To ensure success when using the recovery CDs you must start with a blank HD to reinstall the OS and create the recovery partition.

What happened is that the recovery CD you used performed a "repair" of the existing OS installation rather than a new install. Don't blame IBM/Lenovo for this, it's a MS "feature".

You need to wipe the HD completely, make sure the hidden partition is enabled in the BIOS and start over.

James

andyP · #8 Post by **andyP** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:26 am

Just been looking at my T23.

I can't find an option in BIOS to change the status of the hidden partition as is on the current TPs. But, one thing I do know is that; if the hidden partition exists there was a tool to repair the boot sector / repairing the F11 message.
The link I have to the tool doesn't work now, but I'm working on finding it, I'll post again.

JHEM · #9 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:32 am

andyP wrote:The link I have to the tool doesn't work now, but I'm working on finding it, I'll post again.

Don't bother, he's on his third HD and I sincerely doubt that it has an existing recovery partition.

James

andyP · #10 Post by **andyP** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:48 am

JHEM wrote:

Don't bother, he's on his third HD and I sincerely doubt that it has an existing recovery partition.

Oh ha - I found it quick anyway - search on dockument MIGR-4QER6R , if if a hidden partition is there then this is hopefully the solution.

Phazer · #11 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:49 am

If your going to throw it, throw it my way.......

Anyway, I just ran the recovery disks, (clones) (W2K) on one of my T23's and here was my experience.

1. Existing OS on HD: Inserted disk #1 and rebooted, disk activity, rebooted and appears to have "repaired" my OS. No hiddden partition installed.

2. Wiped HD: Installed disk #1 and rebooted. Ran a completely different different type/length of load. Asked for disk #2. No hidden partition installed, but.........appears to have installed every bit of software that originally came loaded.

Neither scenario asked for a product key and #2 is a valid install but of course it's only W2K.

My take: Even though the hidden partition is not there, (HD space saved), it gives you everything needed. And you have the restore/recover CD's which is just about as good as having the hidden partition.

JHEM · #12 Post by **JHEM** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:20 pm

andyP wrote:I can't find an option in BIOS to change the status of the hidden partition as is on the current TPs. But, one thing I do know is that; if the hidden partition exist.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-42072

Startup> IBM Product Recovery Program Prompt> Enable.

It has to be enabled in the BIOS in order for the recovery CDs to write the partition.

James

andyP · #13 Post by **andyP** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:01 pm

@JHEM

Thanx, the one place I didn't look earlier

Website · #14 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:48 pm

JHEM wrote:What happened is that the recovery CD you used performed a "repair" of the existing OS installation rather than a new install. Don't blame IBM/Lenovo for this, it's a MS "feature".

You need to wipe the HD completely, make sure the hidden partition is enabled in the BIOS and start over.

That makes sense...it explains why the same thing happened to me once....but only once, since I normally use AutoClave to wipe my hard drives, prior to using the Recovery Disks...except on that one occasion that I used an existing hard drive.

For the record, I am the one that sent him the disks. As several members here can tell you, those disks will work....I have sent a few copies out there for those that lost their Recovery Partition.

Andersonjoe711 · #15 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:28 pm

Sorry I lost my cool.

I've just been stressed out lately and these problems with my T23 are only making stuff harder.

When I go to BIOS, that option for the Product Recovery Program (F11 key message) is enabled, but grayed out.

I'll run the CD again, and see if I get any different results.

I made one of those Diskettes, the ones that will repair the F11 message. That was the first thing I tried actually, but unfortunately it didn't work, because the partition wasn't there.

Tonight when I try it again, I'll make a detailed list of what I do, and what the screen says.

Again, sorry for that bit, and thank you all for your help.

*sigh* Now I need to study for my playing exam in Wind Ensemble tomorrow.

P.S., a word to the wise- If you want to be a Music Ed major, think hard before you do it! It ain't for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

andyP · #16 Post by **andyP** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:35 pm

Hey,

sorry it didn't work / isn't there, but good luck with the exam and your T23

Phazer · #17 Post by **Phazer** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:07 pm

I also tried the download to fix the "enabled" but greyed out F11 option, it too didn't work.

tfflivemb2: Sorry, didn't mean to imply that they didn't work, (they work like a champ). Just wanted to state that they were not OEM's. They work as IBM intended them to and much to my satisfaction if I may add......

Website · #18 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:52 pm

Phazer wrote:tfflivemb2: Sorry, didn't mean to imply that they didn't work, (they work like a champ). Just wanted to state that they were not OEM's. They work as IBM intended them to and much to my satisfaction if I may add......

Not a problem...I didn't take it that way. I'm not sure why the disks didn't restore the Hidden Partition for you, because it did for me on the last two T23s that I used the disks on....atleast I am pretty sure that they did. As I told the OP in a PM....I don't bother with Rescue and Recovery, because I prefer fresh installs, which means that I didn't really take the time to check that. (all of my files get backed up outside of the OS) It was my understanding that it did restore it.

tom_k · #19 Post by **tom_k** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:35 pm

The T23 xpp recovery CD`s german version will create a service partition if the harddisk is recognized as "new"

If a "new" disk is found you can choose between
a: simple recovery, or
b: install service partition on hd and then recovery
(last will be launched from hd, and stopping the process at the right point
gives you some nice opportunities, but thats another topic ;)
However i am quite sure the us version will work the same way.

PMagic, pc dostor dos (by overwriting with zeros), activekildisk, debug.com can make a "new" hd

To ensure error free CD`s , clone it
And try again.

--------------------
The option to lock/unlock the service partition is not available in T23 bios, the same in my T30.
Disabling F11 prompt will only hide the message at post, but not disable the F11 key+function.
I`m quite sure that is implemented on the hd, because even old machines without any bios f11 option but a hpa
show the F11 message,
not at the boot logo but after post before booting the os.

btw:
Its possible to install a hpa on a machine with a bios that can`t handle the hpa by:
a) installing on eg T40 with interruption and exporting the hd to a T2_ 600x, x20, 570e, or
b) see addendum of hpa_aibm.pdf
There it will remain locked until.....(but thats again another topic;)

last not least: the mentioned "service partition repair diskette "works great, again also on other machines ;)

Phazer · #20 Post by **Phazer** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:23 pm

Playing around this weekend, I discovered that if I format the HDD "and" delete any and all partitions, the recovery disks will reinstall the hidden partition and give me the F11 option during bootup. About the worse two things about this, it does a W98 install first but upon one of the reboots, it asks if you want W2K installed and it goes through the same procedure except it's all done from the hidden HDD partition. That and it's not much faster than hair growing or paint drying.......

Website · #21 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:18 pm

Phazer wrote:Playing around this weekend, I discovered that if I format the HDD "and" delete any and all partitions, the recovery disks will reinstall the hidden partition and give me the F11 option during bootup. About the worse two things about this, it does a W98 install first but upon one of the reboots, it asks if you want W2K installed and it goes through the same procedure except it's all done from the hidden HDD partition. That and it's not much faster than hair growing or paint drying.......

For the record....Phazer has copies of the W2K disks, not the WinXP disks that the OP has....just incase the OP reads this and is trying to figure out where the W2K option comes up.

Andersonjoe711 · #22 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:54 am

so, format the hard drive, and delete the partitions, and run the repair disks. And that should put the hidden partition back on. O.K. I'll give it a whirl.

Thanks guys! I'll let you know how it turns out!

Phazer · #23 Post by **Phazer** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:38 am

That's what worked for me. On the T22, the F11 is before the splash screen all by itself, (and took 2 hours). On the T23, the F11 is on the splash screen along with the F1 & F12, (and only took 1 hour).

Andersonjoe711 · #24 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:54 am

After fiddling around with jumping bewteen programs to delete the partitions and format the hard drive, took about an hour, but everything is there just like new!!!!! IT WORKED!!!!

I got another question though.....

If I installed it, and it has XP on it, why didn't it ask for the COA? is it a COA-less XP because it was "factory installed"?

Phazer · #25 Post by **Phazer** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:54 am

It knows it's a factory re-load I would assume.

Why's it work????? Because it's IBM and that's the way it's suppose to, (there's a novel concept....).

Website · #26 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:33 pm

Andersonjoe711 wrote:If I installed it, and it has XP on it, why didn't it ask for the COA? is it a COA-less XP because it was "factory installed"?

Glad to hear that it finally worked for you...atleast we will be able to share this information in the future with other forum members, so that they won't have to fight with it like you did. I should have known, to give you a warning, but formatting my drives is automatic for me....

As for the COA....it is supposed to be easier for someone in a corporate environment....an IT person can use the same disks over and over again without having to match the exact disks with the exact system, when their could be 500+ machines to work on.

Andersonjoe711 · #27 Post by **Andersonjoe711** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:44 pm

That would make sense, and explain why the cost of the replacement Cd's from IBM cost so much. Cause you're technically buying a copy of windows as well.

T23 Hidden Service partition

T23 Hidden Service partition

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