thinkpad R40 freebsd preperation questions...

[Lars]

Hi,

I also have an IBM TP R40.
I started the computer and let WinXP startup, convert it's partition
to NTFS and install itself.
Then I resized the partition with Partition Magic.
Booting from the FreeBSD CD I created three additional primary
partitions and installed FreeBSD in the second one, WinXP is in the 
first one. I also installed the FreeBSD bootloader, it boots WinXP
but the boot entry shows as three questionmarks, but boots nicely
despite that.
The recovery partition works without problems and is also accessible
per "Access IBM" button.

You can also check my setup on:
http://gerda.univie.ac.at/freebsd-laptops/

About the CDs, I also didn't receive any CDs with the notebook.
But just after I received the notebook I called IBM and asked them
to send me them. I had to haggle with Support however, since they
didn't want to send me the disks without me having a problem.
I then told them I borked my hdd and then they sent them.

hth,
lars.
On Thu, Nov 06, 2003 at 11:54:11AM +0000, Jev wrote:
> 
> 
> Rod Person wrote:
> 
> >On Thursday 06 November 2003 05:50 am, It was written:
> >
> >
> >>I have only heard of people using partition magic to do this, can I do
> >>this with fdisk, or other?
> >
> >
> >Hello,
> 
> Hi :)
> 
> >
> >I have an R40. I used partition magic to resize the partition, by far the 
> >easiest way to resize a partition. 
> 
> But, just for completeness, fdisk shouldn't have any problem deleting 
> the partitions and creating new ones for a reinstall of XP, and a new 
> install of FreeBSD? I think this is obvious, but I want to be sure the 
> hidden tracks and slices won't complicate things :)
> 
> >
> >
> >>Does this partition have to be FAT32 or can I use NTFS?
> >
> >
> >It's been sometime since I've done this about 8 month or something, but I 
> >believe that I told partition magic that the new partition would be used 
> >for linux, IMO it doesn't matter if it fat32, dos or ext2 since freebsd 
> >will reformat the partition anyway.
> 
> Ah, I thought I read it at that the partition for XP would be formatted 
> as FAT32, is our WinXP installed on a NTFS slice or other?
> 
> 
> >
> >
> >>After I reinstall XP on the newly created partition, I install FreeBSD,
> >>is it safe to install the freebsd boot manager just like one would on a
> >>normal pc, or will this disrupt IBM's hidden recovery partitions or
> >>other hidden things on the hard disk?
> >
> >
> >If you install the freebsd boot manager the hidden partition will show in 
> >the boot menu, mine was F3. Pressing F3 will not boot it.  The ACCESS IBM 
> >button still works on boot to enable you to get into the bios and recovery 
> >menu.
> 
> I can live with that :)
> 
> >>One not so tech question (and, a XP question at that!! :), From what I
> >>have read on this and other lists, Thinkpads don't ship with a
> >>re-installation disk for XP, they have the "Recovery Partition" instead.
> >>It is my understanding that If I request the re-installation disk from
> >>IBM within the first 30 days I will get it free. Has anyone had success
> >>with getting their reinstall CDs with out extra charge from IBM?
> >
> >
> >It's true that you don't get a recovery cd. I didn't know you could get 
> >the cd free within the first 30 days until I had the laptop for a few 
> >months. Also the other software Lotus, DVD software etc is archived on the 
> >pc in a directory called support. I ended up burning 3 CDs to keep the 
> >software on.
> >I also removed the recovery partition, but you'll want to think about 
> >that, it all depends on how much you use XP - I only use it to play 
> >Morrowind so all the windows stuff isn't too important to me.
> 
> 
> I think I will nuke the recovery slice if I get the cd, or If I can pull 
> the bundled software off the recover slice and burn to CD as you have.
> 
> Thanks for your help,
> -Jev
> 
> 
> >
> >HTH
> >
> 
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