Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

T20-T23 Series and T30. NOT for T25-Retro.
Post Reply
Message
Author
Manuel
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:44 am
Location: Milano, Italy

Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#1 Post by Manuel » Thu May 17, 2012 7:31 am

Hi, I have a 2003 ThinkPad T30 with Windows XP Pro. It's not my primary computer, but, despite its age, the machine is very fast and reliable.

A year ago I installed Ubuntu alongside Windows XP (dual boot) and I deleted the hidden partition.

Yesterday I decided to perform a factory recovery of the machine. Of course the hidden partition was gone, but I had the recovery cd's. Before using the cd's I deleted all partitions (using a Windows XP cd) and created just one partition whitout format it. Then I used the recovery cd's to reinstall the os, the drivers and other software.

After the procedure ended, there was a surprise. Normally the recovery cd's recreate the hidden partition, but this time there was no hidden partition, there was only one partition with Windows XP. As a consequence in the welcom screen there was not the option to recovery the syste using the hidden partition (F11).

How do you explain this? How did I manage to avoid the creation of the hidden partition?

Thanks

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu May 17, 2012 10:03 am

Start again, and before that, delete all partition(s).
Then let the recovery CDs partition/format the HD and all should be well.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

pianowizard
Senior ThinkPadder
Senior ThinkPadder
Posts: 8545
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:07 am
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Contact:

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#3 Post by pianowizard » Thu May 17, 2012 10:05 am

If I recall correctly, older Thinkpads' recovery discs did not reinstall the hidden partition. My T23's XP discs definitely did not.
Dell Latitude 7370 (QHD+, 2.84lb); HP Pavilion x2 12-b096ms (1920x1280, 3.14lb); Microsoft Surface 3 (1920x1280, 2.00lb);
Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF (Core i5-6600); Acer ET322QK, T272HUL; Crossover 404K; QNIX QHD2410R; Seiki Pro SM40UNP

Manuel
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:44 am
Location: Milano, Italy

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#4 Post by Manuel » Thu May 17, 2012 11:18 am

I'm sure that my recovery cds are able to reinstall the hidden partition (it happened in the past).

So my hypotesis is:

1. If I delete all partition without creating any new partition, the cds will create the hidden partition along the IBM_PPRELOAD partition;

2. If I delete all partition and create a new single partition, the cds will install the IBM_PRELOAD stuff in that single partition without creating the hidden partition.

Am I right?

robert213
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 479
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:17 am
Location: IN: Indianapolis

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#5 Post by robert213 » Thu May 17, 2012 2:38 pm

Been There. Done That.

Just follow RBS's advice -- as I did way back then.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=62150

RBS advised...
AFAIK you should let R&R do the partitioning/formatting.
I reported back...
Just a few moments ago, I used FDISK to delete the C:Primary Partition.

Guess what?

The message asking to install hidden partition came back...

Step-by-step process of installing Windows XP using T30 Recovery CD...
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=94994

How I configured my T30 after fresh Windows XP install...
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=94148
TuuS-built T61: T8100 2.1 GHz, SXGA+, NVS140M, Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800, Samsung 840 Pro; Thinkpad T30: P4M 1.8 GHz, HYNIX 512 MB PC2700S DDR, Hitachi Travelstar 7K100; SilverStone Raven RVS01; 97 Volvo 850-R, 85 Mitsubishi Starion-ES, Keilwerth SX-90R, Ensoniq TS-12, Kawai EP-608

robert213
Junior Member
Junior Member
Posts: 479
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 11:17 am
Location: IN: Indianapolis

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#6 Post by robert213 » Thu May 17, 2012 3:00 pm

Manuel wrote:I'm sure that my recovery cds are able to reinstall the hidden partition (it happened in the past).

So my hypotesis is:

1. If I delete all partition without creating any new partition, the cds will create the hidden partition along the IBM_PPRELOAD partition;

2. If I delete all partition and create a new single partition, the cds will install the IBM_PRELOAD stuff in that single partition without creating the hidden partition.

Am I right?
Partially correct. Not sure about step 2. This is how I remember step 2...

2. If I delete all partitions and create a new single partition, the cds will delete new single partition and create IBM_PRELOAD partition without creating the hidden partition.


---------------------------

One thing that I do know for sure. Using FDISK, I created two partitions on my 92GB HDD -- a primary partition (C:) for Windows XP and application install programs and a secondary partition (E:) for my application data.

After I ran the Windows XP T30 Recovery CDs, (besides not creating a hidden system partition) my beautiful secondary partition was GONE.

I purchased Norton Partition Magic and used DOS bootable version to create a secondary partition.

(When you move on to Windows 7, Do NOT use Norton Partition Magic with Windows 7, use Windows 7's Disk Management instead).
TuuS-built T61: T8100 2.1 GHz, SXGA+, NVS140M, Patriot 4GB PC2-6400 DDR2-800, Samsung 840 Pro; Thinkpad T30: P4M 1.8 GHz, HYNIX 512 MB PC2700S DDR, Hitachi Travelstar 7K100; SilverStone Raven RVS01; 97 Volvo 850-R, 85 Mitsubishi Starion-ES, Keilwerth SX-90R, Ensoniq TS-12, Kawai EP-608

Manuel
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:44 am
Location: Milano, Italy

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#7 Post by Manuel » Thu May 17, 2012 5:06 pm

robert213 wrote:Been There. Done That.

Just follow RBS's advice -- as I did way back then.

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=62150
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:thumbs-UP: :thumbs-UP: :thumbs-UP: :thumbs-UP: :thumbs-UP:

Just another question regarding BIOS.

Currently "IBM Product Recovery Program Prompt (F11 key message)" appears in light grey and I am not able to change the setting to [Enabled]. When I will recreate the hidden partition (following your procedure), what will happen to BIOS? Will it fix itself? Or will I need to reload BIOS default settings?

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: Recovery cd set didn't recreate the hidden partition (T30)

#8 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu May 17, 2012 5:45 pm

Once it's there, the BIOS option will be enabled.
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad T20-T23 & T30 Series. NOT for T25-Retro”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 29 guests