IBM T40, how to remove HPA

[chuckieland]

HPA=hidden partition area
where they put the recouver data instead of give out cds
but i want to remove it, because ít's taking 4gb of space, and i don't think it's worth it
my 30gb harddrive only how up as 25gb on the laptop. damn it

 

[RichieZ]

i believe there is an option to show the HPA in the bios. Then you can just delete the partition with partition magic or somethign like that. If you want the recovery CD's you have to call w/i the first 30 days. I just got them for my X31, its suprisingly 4 cds, my old T20 only came w/ 2.

 

[chuckieland]

hi, i have T40 237319U
i do not see anything about HD information on the bios

 

[beer]

Originally posted by: RichieZ
i believe there is an option to show the HPA in the bios. Then you can just delete the partition with partition magic or somethign like that. If you want the recovery CD's you have to call w/i the first 30 days. I just got them for my X31, its suprisingly 4 cds, my old T20 only came w/ 2.

Do you have a number to call? I have the exact same T40 with the exact same problem.

 

[beer]

Also, you can't arbitarily resize partitions natively. You need to use PartitionMagic or use a WinXP CD to format everything from scratch. You can't just delete partitions and add it to another with Windows directly - use partition magic, format the HDA and then combine the partitions. SHould work fine, but back up first, accidents do happen with it.

 

[firtol88]

Just use a Win9x boot disk and delete the partitions, then reinstall XP and let it do the rest.

 

[chuckieland]

hi, i use windows xp cd to boot up, in there i deleted the partition, then recreate the partition.
but i can not see the hidden partition
which is why i cannot deleted it.
also T40 237319U doesn't have floppy drive
i don't really like partition magic, is there anyother option?

 

[firtol88]

You could try using a Linux distro to delete the partitions...

Or buy this

 

[chuckieland]

Originally posted by: firtol88
You could try using a Linux distro to delete the partitions...

Or buy this

na, too expensive for floppy drive that i would prob only use it once
how about bootable usb memory drive.
would that work, if i put win9x boot disk in there?

 

[Yomicron]

I'm pretty sure you can disable this partition in the BIOS.
Durring boot press 'Access IBM' then double click 'Start setup utility' then go to 'Security' --> 'IBM Predesktop Area' and set it to 'Disabled'. Then you should be able to reclaim the area using partition magic.

NOTE: I have never done this.

 

[mocca]

Steps list below:

1) Boot up the system and press the "Access IBM button" before it get into Windows screen to get into the predesktop area or BIOS.
2) Get into the BIOS and goto "Security"
3) Change the setting of the "Predesktop Area" to "disable"
4) Save the setting in the BIOS and get out and reboot the system
5) Once you get into the Windows, you can use Partition magic to resize the hidden partition or you can simply format the partition and use it as a regular partition.

Mocca

 

[daveYpC]

so are there any consequences to removing the HPA? i have the recovery CD's. does it get rid of all the 'access ibm' stuff-- and if so is any of that stuff necessary or helpful? or is it bette rto reclaim the 5 gb

 

[Wooster]

If you want the recovery CD's you have to call w/i the first 30 days

Is there a charge for this or this is the free service provided by IBM?

 

[eriqesque]

[/quote]Is there a charge for this or this is the free service provided by IBM?[/quote]


No they are free of charge.

 

[eriqesque]

Originally posted by: daveYpC
so are there any consequences to removing the HPA? i have the recovery CD's. does it get rid of all the 'access ibm' stuff-- and if so is any of that stuff necessary or helpful? or is it bette rto reclaim the 5 gb

No there is no consequences all of those programs are on the recovery CD's everything will go back to the day you first turned it on
minus the HPA.
AFAIK you can even put the HPA back if you choose, you will just go back to the BIOS put it back the way it was and use the recovery CD's again.

 

[chuckieland]

i have done it
thanks all
just go to the bios
and disable the predesktop area
then put the recouvery cd or your own windows cds
then install away
i find it help ful to download the driver from your system or ibm website first
because if you are trying to get the drivers from recouvery cd, it's almost impossible.

 

[daveYpC]

i don't particularly feel like reinstalling and all (my 40 gb hd is about 80% full). can i remove the the hpa partition and add it as a d: drive for storage w/o disturbing my c: drive?

 

[eriqesque]

Originally posted by: daveYpC
i don't particularly feel like reinstalling and all (my 40 gb hd is about 80% full). can i remove the the hpa partition and add it as a d: drive for storage w/o disturbing my c: drive?

Yes just change the settings in the bios and then you can format it as whatever drive letter you like using the disk management in the control panel in XP.