Reset system

Message

DavidR · #1 Post by **DavidR** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:34 am

R51e
I have totally screwed up my Windows installation. Along the way, I installed Xandros which included a boot manager. I deleted that partition and used PartitionManager to recover the space. I have tried to Repair the Windows installation with the Windows CD, but to no avail. The laptop boots up to a half screen of 99 99 99 99 99 etd. The drive seems healthy - I can read off of it using a USB adapter. I can see the IBM partition but not access it. How can I get the IBM partition to boot? I tried to install WinXP using another drive but not having the drivers really is a pain.

SHoTTa35 · #2 Post by **SHoTTa35** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:39 am

just press the blue ThinkVantage button when the system is just turned on.

DavidR · #3 Post by **DavidR** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:17 am

Of course, that was my first choice but it does not help me.
The options are only:
ESC to continue booting Windows
F1 to get into BIOS Setup
F12 to change the boot device

F1 is no help
F12 lets me boot from an external USB drive, CD ROM or internal drive.

Like I said - I screwed this up big time!!

Partiiton Magic sees the IBM as a Primary partition but I can't set it as active.

Any other ideas?

#4 Post by **Kyocera** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 11:56 am

If the IBM partition is still intact you may be able to run the MBR fix via usb floppy. Or if you have the recovery CD's use them .

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-54483

alacrityathome · #5 Post by **alacrityathome** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:03 pm

Kyocera,

Is there anything like that recovery floppy software available for CD from Lenovo? I am always messing with my MBR with Linux and dual booting....and could use that recovery disk on CD.

I tried that program using a CD but couldn't get it to write.

Thanks,

Alacrity

#6 Post by **Kyocera** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 3:39 pm

I tried using the file on a CD and could not get it to work, I wonder if you could get it to boot from a usb drive.....?....Seems like I read somewhere here on the forum that they had a procedure or program for writing that file to a cd.

Hopefully someone else will remember and chime in.

phool@round · #7 Post by **phool@round** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:08 am

DavidR wrote: Along the way, I installed Xandros which included a boot manager.

That caught my eye, I've had the same issue with Xandros. (Nice OS for older hardware.) A little tough to get rid of the boot manager eh........ lol. Been there once or twice.

I found this while poking around Lenovo's website; http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-62978

This package updates the Master Boot Record of your hard drive when your system cannot boot into Windows after installing or upgrading Rescue and Recovery.

It is a method for fixing the MBR with a floppy to recover your R&R partition. (I've personally not used it so I can't answer any questions.)

It's included as a download under the Support & Downloads; Product: ThinkPad R51e.

#8 Post by **Kyocera** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:20 am

It does work, I have used it a few times, with a USB floppy drive. It's a very simple and quick process. Putting the file on a CD and getting it to boot is something I hav enot done successfully.

Reset system

Reset system

Who is online