Rescue and Recovery: Fails to Re-install Windows?

[elevated]

Hi,

I'm trying to do a clean install of windows xp on my x31. When I go through the options in the pre-windows area, I'm selecting to do a clean install of everything. The problem is what happens next: it asks me if it's okay to reboot before going ahead with the re-install. I click "yes," and then it reboots automatically. And goes straight to windows xp as if i did nothing.

Am I doing something wrong here? Alternatively, is there a way to just extract the Windows XP files from the partition and burn my own install disk?

Thanks,

Jake

[thibouille27]

Not normal indeed.

Did you select Factory Restore?

[elevated]

Yes, I select factory restore and going through all the options correctly seems to work fine (although I've never done this before).

I don't even want to get into what kind of problem would cause this behavior...

What about the idea of just extracting the information from the hidden partition somehow?

[elevated]

Hi everyone,

Okay... I just tried to restore to factory from the hidden partition for maybe the fourth time. This time I wrote down the exact sequence to ensure that I'm doing things correctly:

1) Press blue "access IBM" button during start-up to go to pre-desktop area.
2) Select "restore your system" option on left.
3) Choose to restore hard drive to factory state.
4) Choose to not save any files from the hard drive.
5) Confirm that i want to reformat to factory state, click next.
6) Warning not to power off during process, click OK to proceed.
7) Warning to proceed must reboot, click OK to coninute.

Does this sound right? Am I supposed to do anything after this point? (the machine reboots to windows as usual).

Thanks for any advice,

Jake

[solitude]

Whats the boot order in startup in the bios?

[elevated]

Solitude,

Here is the boot order listed in BIOS:

1. atapi cd0
2. usb FDD
3. legacy floppy
4. usb cd
5. ide hdd0
6. PCI LAN
7. USB HDD
8. -USB HDD

Exclude:

IDE HDD2
ATAPI CD1


Now I'm concerned about the exclude list... what could HDD2 represent? Anyone know which HDD should run the predesktop area?

Thanks again,

Jake

[andyP]

Which version of R&R do you have installed?
I had a case of a T41 that did exactly the same with R&R v.3. The original version that was on the machine was "IBM Rapid Restore with Rescue and Recovery" I think
After deinstalling R&R v.3 I could access the recovery in the normal way.
I'm trying it again as I have a T41 here - will report back.

For R&R your boot order is OK. HDD2 would be a HDD in a Dock's drivebay.

[andyP]

Update:

I don’t know if this information will help specifically in this instance; but maybe or maybe somebody in the future.

The T41 I used to play around with has Rapid Restore Ultra (RRU) and I believe the X31 may originally have had a different version, namely the first version of Rescue and Recovery (R&R) or was it called Rapid Restore with Rescue and Recovery? However it was AFIK a version that writes the backups to a protected folder in windows and not into the hidden partition as did RRU, (RRU expanded the partition as was necessary).

But here goes:

I killed the HDD with IBM SDD to be sure it was blank and then recovered the TP with the recovery cds ensuring the hidden partition was created.

I installed R&R v.3 with no problems and re-booted the TP 2 times to be sure everything was OK. After that I made a cold start and pressed the Access IBM button, as expected the TP booted into R&R. I followed exactly the steps that elevated describes in his post above and the TP re-booted into Windows. I repeated cold starts and going into R&R with the F11 and Enter buttons, each time it re-booted into Windows.

What next?

I uninstalled R&R v.3 and allowed it to re-boot into Windows. There were no entries in Programs or add remove software relating to R&R or RRU – neither was present. After shutting down and making another cold start the TP booted, using the Access IBM button, into RRU without any problems and I was able to recover to factory settings as is normally to be expected.

What now

@ elevated – Which version of R&R does your X31 have installed on it?

@ forum members with X31 – Can anyone say for sure which version of RRU or R&R the X31 had originally? Anyone not updated it?

[elevated]

AndyP,

Thanks for helping out on this! I just went into the Rescue and Recovery (pre-windows) mode and found out that it is R&R 3. I also just checked in "add and remove programs," and found that there is some kind of rescue and recovery update in there (although it says Rescue and Recovery-- Client Security Solution").

In that last paragraph, were you indicating that by uninstalling the newer R&R, you were able to do the "factory state" recovery?

[andyP]

Yes, I believe that uninstalling the R&R v.3 will solve the problem. It worked on the T40. (and can't hurt anyway)

[elevated]

Sounds great, will try to uninstall the new version of R&R and then report back (hopefully after restoring factory state).

Should I be uninstalling through "add and remove programs" in Windows? There is only the one entry there named "Rescue and Recovery-- Client Security Solution." Size is 139.0 MB...

[andyP]

Sorry for the delay in answering - have had a busy week.

I would uninstall everything that has to do with Rescue and Recovery or Rapid Restore with Client Security Solution that shows up in "add and remove programs". Then after a new start double check that nothing about either shows under "All Programs".

Hopefully you will then have the possibility to press F11 when starting to enter the "Pre-Desktop-Area".

Don't forget to backup important files beforehand - just in case.