I screwed up my T400. Any help is appreciated

Hi all,

Long story short.

I used Disk Management Tool for partitioning "C" and tried installing Ubuntu. Vista started showing "Simple Volume" for "C" instead of "Primary Partition". So I used ubuntu to format C. Somehow the recovery and services partitions were also touched.

Now when I put in Vista DVD (I have an original one with CD key) the installer doesnt recognise the partitions on the hard disc. However Ubuntu does.

I also see a 1.46 GB partition which I suspect to be my 2GB Turbo Memory, Am I wrong here ?

I cant understand why Vista 64 installer cant recognise the partition. I tried Vista 32 bit, with same results. Windows XP gave a BSOD.

In Ubunbtu, there's a 5mb partition which reverts back to its state whatever I try to do it with it.

Any Help would be appreciated.
Thanks for the time.

Also, since this laptop is days old (maybe 3 or 4) what's the process of getting Lenovo's help in this.?. What number should I need to call and how _would_ be the procedure. I've never done anything like this before and this is very depressing for me.

Jeff

 

ok first off no big deal... like u said you have a vista cd, and your cd key is on the bottom of your laptop (u will just have to redownload drivers)

ok so first!
*go into ubuntu install delete/remove all partitions (swap and all)
*reinstall on the blank drive with the vista cd (leave as much free space as you want to install ubuntu on after)
*install ubuntu on the extra space (dont forget to install a bootloader when installing ubuntu)

done

 

Don't know whether this is the problem, but... there are two types of MBR partitions: primary and extended. Windows has to boot from a primary partition. gparted (in Ubuntu) should show you which is which.

Also, rather than formatting the Windows partition in Ubuntu, I suggest just deleting it instead. Let the Windows installer create and format the partition.

I don't see any need to wipe off Ubuntu, as long as you're happy with the size of the Windows partition and you aren't using up all your primary partitions.

 

@shoulin333 - have you actually ever gotton Vista to activate with a key on the bottom of the laptop? It wouldn't work for me, and Lenovo (as well as what I've read here) says it wont work because it's an OEM key.

Again, I repeat to everyone, first thing you do when you get your laptop. Build the recovery disks, and use that ABR to back up your Vista activation stufff.

@jeffjose. Sorry I don't have specific help. I went through some issues with my Vista 64-bit not being recogined to start from, but eventually it worked and I was able to install fresh. If you call Lenovo, they'll basically be walking you through a system resote...which will put your laptop back into the same state as when you received it.

 

This I can answer -- that is your Service partition (S: ). I don't think the turbo memory shows up as an actual drive. I have that partition and I do NOT have turbo memory in my T400.

As to the other stuff -- I expect the extent of Lenovo's help will be to direct you to use your Product Recovery Media to load a fresh image onto the drive.

If you didn't make a set of Product Recover Media, I've heard claims of them charging up to $45 for a set, though the majority of that cost is likely the expedited shipped. I also heard someone had that fee waived in the instance where they had tried to make their own Product Recovery Media and the process failed.

 

Actually IMHO that should be the 2nd thing.

First thing is use a third party tool such as Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost to make a full disk image onto an external drive. Takes about 16GB or so. Also be sure to make a boot disk per Acronis' or Norton's instructions.

This way if something goes wrong while making the product recovery media you can reload the system and try again.

 

I have tried the product key on the bottom of the laptop and it works.

 

I would recommend one of the following options:

Suggestion Solution #1

Use a format utility to completely wipe the drive and start from scratch. This should stop your Vista Installer issues, however, you will have to reapply Ubuntu later, but that isn't very hard. Just remember to go into the control panel under system information once you have the notebook running again and choose the section that lets you view your CD-Key. I have used my personal OEM discs to install fresh O.S. partitions which required the original key during the installer, then simply went in and told it I had a new key and typed the manufacturer provided OEM key on the bottom of the notebook and everything was fine.

Suggested Solution #2

If you have problems with solution suggestion number 1, the other alternative is to order the recovery media from Lenovo directly. The advantage here is that the recovery media, while loading it back to factory image (i.e. a few trials you'll need to remove again), will also re-establish your recovery partitions and drivers to save you some time and hassle. Yes, if you call their tech support, they will generally try to charge you for the discs. The price usually depends on how fast you wish to receive them as well as how old the laptop is. Most manufacturers follow the 3-5 rule. In other words, they make and readily care recovery media for the first 3 years (same time warranty work is being covered through extended plans by the company), then from 3 to 5 years they stop making the media, however, they have several copies stored so it is still not hard to get them. This covers the last clearance models through their extended service plans. Finally at 5 to 6 years, the discs are trashed and support becomes very difficult to find.

That being said, the average consumer replaces a laptop once every 3 years or so, so that plan is not all the bad of a thought process.

If you choose to go with option 2, I would also let you know that if you go to the support section of Lenovo's website, they actually have an advise and help forum divided between different model series. There is an admin in their by the name of Mark who works as a median to help fix problems for consumers as well as act as the middle man to get problems resolved for those that wish to use the internet side and not the phone support side. He seems to be very knowledgeable both of Lenovo's PCs and systems as well as technology in general to me.

Furthermore, I have seen a few posts similar to what you have experienced where a customer explained they tried to split partitions or formatted their recovery before making back up discs or something along those lines and politely requested any assistance. Mark requested they PM him, and then most of the customers came back within a day or two posting how they had discussed it with Mark and he had helped to get a set of discs sent to them for free. Kinda cool there in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

BBGus

 

Thanks guys for all the responses.

Today night I'm gonna remove that 1.46 GB partition. I tried everything, from formatting using command prompt in vista installer and formatting using gparted from ubuntu.
I think its the Services partition which is messing up, because I remember seeing Services partition occupies the first blocks in the hdd.

Luckily I have my activation backed up using the ABR and I have a vista disk, so activation is not a problem.

I really dont want this to be sent to Lenovo, they'll make it the way I got it, with just one partition and I will have to jump through all the hoops to get ubuntu installed again.

The only mistake I did was not to write/make images of recovery and services partitoin.

I have one questin, what does the services partition do ?

I'll keep you guys posted on what happens.

Thanks
Jeff

 

Some manufacturers now are going to a three partition format. Most are aware of the standard partition for the O.S. that we use as the end user. The second was the recover partition which could be used to return to factory image in a worse case scenario. Now, there is a very tiny 3 partition which is being referenced to as the service partition. Most of the time, this contains the important programs and utilities to run diagnostics on a laptop for hardware issues. Dell has had a "service partition" for years and is just now starting to do recovery partitions as well. Personally, as a PC service technician myself, I would love to see all manufactures start to provide these service partitions as it greatly helps me to find a problem and fix it quicker, which means a happier owner.

BBGus

 

Oh and just for the record, what I was saying about Mark was not to send it in to Lenovo, but rather he sends you, the owner, the recovery discs to try to rectify the problem yourself. He, of course, provides continued support should you have any additional questions. As for it returning everything back to the factory image being a problem, that's a personal choice there.

BBGus

 

Hey all !
I finally got it working.

That 1.4Gb info really helped, turned out that wasnt turbo memory.

I made a live GParted CD and cleaned the whole HDD. Made partitions the way I liked and popped in the vista DVD and voila, it work'd !!

Thanks guys, for the support and help.
I appreciate it !

jeffjose