Adding "hidden" partition to new hard drive

[robscomputer]

Hi,

Currently I’m using a T42 with 40GB 5400RPM drive. It’s a great notebook but would like to have more space and better drive performance. I’m planning to install a Hitachi 60GB 7200RPM drive but would like to keep the IBM Recovery partition just in case something goes wrong with the notebook.

My question is can I use the recovery CD’s I made from the Recovery tool to install the hidden partition on the new drive? I know it’s a 5GB partition but not really sure where or how do I install the files needed for the Recovery tool.

I also searched around this site and others but didn’t find the info. Any help is welcome!

Thanks,
Rob

[rhobite]

I believe that if you start with a blank drive and boot off of your recovery CD (you made a set, right?) you can create the recovery partition on the new drive. I don't know the answer for sure, and I am also interested in hearing about how to do this, because I'm in the same situation. I've already erased the partition on my 40GB because I needed to reclaim the space. But if I got a 100GB drive, I'd put the recovery partition back.

[robscomputer]

I actually just this weekend made the recovery cd's and reinstalled the notebook to defaults. I didn't need the recovery cd to resintall XP and the drivers since the recovery partition did this for me. Tonight once I get home I'll try out and see how the cd add the recovery partition to the disk. If not I'll call IBM support and ask them.

Just wonder will they not approve of adding non-IBM drives to the notebook and then adding recovery partition to the disk?

Rob

[robscomputer]

I just got off the phone with IBM support. So far two calls in two days and both times less than 5 minutes of hold time.

The support engineer said to used the recovery cd's and then install the new hard drive. From there the recovery cd's should take over and create the hidden partition. I think he might have misunderstood me but to be sure I checked IBM's site and found this document.

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/th ... r20mst.pdf

From here I found some info about the actual size of the hidden partition which is called the Factory Recovery partition. Still wasn't clear about where this is actually installed from.

Upon more searching I found this note under hard drive errors.

"If the Access IBM Predesktop Area has been previously disabled, then go the the IBM BIOS Setup Utility by pressing F1 to open the IBM BIOS Setup Utility. Select Security, select IBM Predesktop Area, and then select Access IBM Predesktop Area. Set this item to Disabled. Save and exit.
If the Access IBM Predesktop Area has not been previously disabled, press Enter to load Access IBM Predesktop Area. Then run RECOVER TO FACTORY CONTENTS in Access IBM Predesktop Area.
If item 2 failed, press F3 in welcome screen in RECOVER TO FACTORY CONTENTS. Run FDISK, and then delete all partitions. Run RECOVER TO FACTORY CONTENTS in Access IBM Predesktop Area again.
If item 3 failed, select CD-ROM boot in Startup in Access IBM Predesktop Area. Boot from Recovery CD and perform full recovery from it.
If item 4 failed, replace the hard disk drive.
"

In this information it says, "...If item 2 failed, press F3 in welcome screen in RECOVER TO FACTORY CONTENTS. Run FDISK, and then delete all partitions. Run RECOVER TO FACTORY CONTENTS in Access IBM Predesktop Area again.
If item 3 failed, select CD-ROM boot in Startup in Access IBM Predesktop Area. Boot from Recovery CD and perform full recovery from it..."

This looks promising, I think the BIOS will allow to repartition the sized automatically and also have a choice to do this from the recovery cd's.

Finally from this link on step 4 the method to recovery is similar to the previous note.

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.ws ... en_US#help

I'm going to try this out once I get home tonight. My new hard drive doesn't arrive until Friday so I have some times to check this out. I'll post my findings.

Rob

[manixc]

hi, can you comment on how easy or hard to replace the hard drive?

[robscomputer]

hi, can you comment on how easy or hard to replace the hard drive?

Installing the hard drive is easy but there are small pins that can be bent if not correctly positioned.

Here's the instructions for the T series.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-50021

Hope this helps!

Rob

[robscomputer]

Ok, great news!

I found how to make the hidden partition.

I actually stumbled on the answer but the call to IBM support cleared everything up. Basically you create your Rescue and Recovery cd's from you notebook. This needs to be done with the hidden partiton still in place. Now if you deleted the partition, no biggie, just order a new set from IBM.

Once you create the cd's you should have the follow cd's.

1 - Rescue and Recovery Rapid Restore
6 - IBM Recovery cd's 1 through 6

With a blank hard drive boot up with Rescue and Recovery Rapid Restore cd. The Rescue and Recovery should come up and then choose "Return to System Defaults". From here you will be notified that all the drive partitons will be erased, do you wish to continue or back up your files. Make sure everything is backed up and then continue.

From here files will be copied to the hard drive and the notebook will reboot. After the reboot IBM Product Recovery will start up asking for each of the cd's 1 through 6.

Right now I'm on cd 1 and looks good. I'm very impressed with IBM and really like the ease of use for this recovery tool.

Hope this also answers any questions about Product Recovery.

Thanks,
Rob