T20 won't let me reformat

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hwtf · #1 Post by **hwtf** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:22 pm

Hey everybody

I just bought a used T20 (2648-46U). The person who sold it to me reformatted with a clean install of WinXP.

I plugged it into the network, and it was infected by Sasser in a few minutes. The copy of XP wasn't SP1 or SP2, so I decided to reformat with XP (SP2 already integrated). The copy works fine, I've used it on my desktop without a hitch.

It will enter setup, and load the drivers and such, but right after that, the laptop just shuts off. It does this right before the screen that gives you the terms of agreements is supposed to pop up.

The BIOS is the latest, and I have no clue what's going on. If it makes any difference, there's a nonstock 30gb IBM harddrive in there.

Any ideas? thanks!

hwtf · #2 Post by **hwtf** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:21 pm

Marc_G · #3 Post by **Marc_G** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 5:56 pm

Perhaps the copy you use on your desktop is an OEM copy that is paired with a specific hardware configuration. In this case it would detect the IBM computer as "not the right configuration" and fail the install.

Just a thought.

MadeInJapan · #4 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:48 pm

Boot up with a Win98 floppy and FDISK and format in FAT32 first....then use your WinXP install disk (in the end, you end up with NTFS anyway) don't know why but this has worked when I ran across the same thing before with my laptop.

JohnDrake · #5 Post by **JohnDrake** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:59 am

Sounds like you are still infected, actually...

You can download IBM's Secure Data Disposal program to zero out the drive first...use setting 2, which writes a fixed bit pattern over the entire drive...

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... d=TVAN-SDD

JohnDrake · #6 Post by **JohnDrake** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:46 pm

Also...

This utility will completely wipe a Thinkpad's drive, and with the proper parameters, will wipe the hidden system partition as well. It needs to be put on some bootable external media (USB floppy, put on a bootable CD, bootable USB Thumb drive, etc).

It will not give a "Are you sure" warning. Be careful with it. Read the TXT file. All "parts" of the program must be present in the same directory it is executed from.

It is VERY good for running before using recovery CD's.

http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/n/t/n ... otkill.zip

beeblebrox · #7 Post by **beeblebrox** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:17 am

you can also use the system low level formatter from the company that built the hard disk (Fujitsu, Hitachi....).
The even reformat, weak sectors and every thing.
The disk has then the same state as just bought.

T20 won't let me reformat

T20 won't let me reformat

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