[ltp] X60s: Reinstalling on a 100 GB

[Richard Neill]

Atul Chitnis wrote:
> I recently purchased an Thinkpad X60s, along with an extra 100 GB disk 
> (5400 RPM, SATA).
> 
> The original 60 GB disk came with the pre-desktop reinstall partition, 
> but the 100 GB drive (which I want to make my main drive), does not have 
> the installer.
> 
> Under normmal circumstances, this would not be an issue, since I use 
> Linux primarily, and installing FC5 is not an issue.
> 
> However, IBM/Lenovo requires the original OS shipped with the machine to 
> be installed in case service is required - which is why I usually have a 
> small Windows partition on the disk, installed using the shipped 
> installer, and the rest Linux (IBM/Lenovo are OK with this).
> 
> Now here is my issue - no physical media (i.e. no reinstall CDs), and no 
> way to install Windows as IBM/Lenovo/God intended on the 100 GB disk. :(
> 
> I could order reinstall disks from the USA (I live in India, and for 
> some strange reason, they refuse to give/sell us reinstall media here), 
> but that would take too long.
> 
> Does anyone have a clue how to back up the pre-desktop partition from 
> the 60 GB disk and transferring it to the 100 GB in such a way that it 
> becomes bootable by hitting the F11/ThinkVantage key, so that I can do 
> an install of Windows, alon with all the required drivers (after which I 
> shrink it down to about 5GB, and use teh rest of the space for Linux)?
> 
> I have tried DD'ing the partition (type &12, about 4.8 GB, VFAT 
> formatted) to a file, then booting into knoppix, partitioning the disk 
> to fill all but the last 4.8 GB with an NTFS partition, then creating a 
> second primary partition, setting it to type &12, and DD'ing the 
> originally saved partition image into the second partion. This worked to 
> the extent that I can see the partition under Knoppix, can mount it and 
> see all the correct files there (and it passes a binary compare as 
> well), but booting refuses to boot off it. :(
> 
> After several days of trying, I am throwing in the towel and asking for 
> help. :) Can anyone tell me what to do to transfer the partition to teh 
> new disk, or how to turn it into a bootable DVD?
> 

Just a thought - have you made the partition bootable (with fdisk)?

Also, have you written anything to the bootsector of the new disk?
Unfortunately, you can't just copy the bootsector across, because the 
size has changed. However, I think that your distro installer should 
detect the PDA and add it to the bootloader. [I know Mandrake did this 
for me the one time I tried it]

If I ever had to have a machine serviced, I wouldn't send the disk back 
anyway for privacy reasons, so if that's the only reason why you care 
about it, you might find it easier to workaround the real problem, i.e. 
  Lenovo beaureaucratic regulations. Just keep asking to speak to a 
manager - and eventually, you'll get around the problem.

Also, do you really need to keep the pre-desktop area, or just a copy of 
the actual Windows install?  I'd recommend you copy over (and/or back 
up) the Windows partition, but destroy the pre-desktop area.

Best wishes,

Richard