[ltp] just a small OT

[Christopher Sawtell]

On Sunday 16 April 2006 08:29, Pino Giaquinto wrote:
> > How could it be perfect, if it has Windows on it?
>
> OK! It isn't perfect... I love linux and I wish to install just it on my
> notebook but I'm terrorized reading some web pages on linux installation
> on ThinkPad T43p.

> Someone say that I cannot write on MBR...
True.
If you want the XP recovery system to work you should not write on the MBR.

> other say that I MUST have XP on the notebook and I MUST use dual boot...
Totally false.

> someone say that I can lost the 'Access IBM' button functionality....
True.
I found that installing an alternative MBR stopped me being able to 
re-install XP. ( In spite of having the recovery partition untouched. 
Interesting failure that! )

> Besides, from thinkwiki pages: <Tinkering with the default MBR and the
> Rescue & Recovery partition puts risk to your system. It can result in
> rendering the system completely unusable and severe data loss. You
> follow any instructions described here on your own risk>.
They are talking about _software_ stability here.
Also in the Land-of-Legal-Eagles they have to say that so they cannot be 
sued if some witless fool does something silly.
  
> I wish to delete XP and to install just Linux...
Just go ahead and do it. 

> I don't need Access IBM button functionality at the boot time because it   
> install the german XP version (I'm italian!)...
> I wish to know if I can disable the recovery functionality,
Yes. There is a BIOS option to enable or disable writing to the 'Recovery'
partition. You can and may set it to 'Unprotected'.

> if I can (must?) delete the hidden partition without problem,
You can and may, but you do not have to.
 
> (can I afterwards re-install XP, IF I NEED IT, using a standard 
> italian XP cd-rom?),
Yes, but to avoid any possible problems in the future, I'd suggest that you 
obtain the correct CDs before you install Linux. 

> if I can install Fedora 5 writing on MBR... etc...
You can install any Linux you like on your ThinkPad.

> ThinkPad T43p is a very expensive computer... I wait a VERY VERY LONG
> time to buy it and I cannot buy another T43p if I destroy it :-(
I can understand that, because I had to wait for my R40. Installing Linux 
won't destroy your ThinkPad.  Promise. To avoid overheating your T/P 
ensure you have the "DynamicClocks" option for the X server enabled, and 
one of the CPU clock-speed regulating daemons installed and enabled.

> Please help me!
Ted Frater's idea of buying another hard drive to run Linux is a good one.
That way is _completely_safe.

-- 
CS