Konrad Neuwirth <konrad@fimsch.net> writes:
> Hello,

>   I've recently aquired a Thinkpad X20 that is currently running
> Windows 2000.  Before I start to dismantle the configuration and
> overwrite the current boot block---has anybody done a configuration
> like that and can offer any pointers?  For instance, is the IBM
> Product Recovery Mode the system offers based on a custom boot block,
> or is it BIOS-based?  Can I just go ahead and install the system with
> a normal configuration?

To start with - it works. I'm typing on my X20 running 1.5 ZA right
now, and it works just fine, except for the built-in modem (WinModem)
of course. I have small problems with jerking certain PCMCIA stuff in,
out, in, out ... but in general - it's a pleasure.

I have 4 partitions on my HDD, Windows 2000, Debian Lunix, NetBSD and
the "restore" partition.

First I made a sector-by-sector dump of the drive "as shipped", using
a NetBSD boot floppy and "dd if=/dev/rwd0d" - just as a precaution. ;-)

Then I used the Windows program "PartitionMagic", to shrink the
existing w2k partition (that took a night! ;-), and open up for Lunix
and NetBSD, but I didn't touch the restore partition. I now run with
the NetBSD boot selector, all three OSs boot just fine (although w2k
was in there and fiddled with the text labels, so it says

F1 Windows 2000
F2 Linux
F3 NetBSD
F4 Restore&!&%"%

... but it works flawlessly for normal operation).

The one thing I've never tested, because I'm a bit "afraid" of what it
might do to try to "restore" my carefully crafted HDD, is to boot from
the restore partition.

I _think_ the recovery thingie is actually _both_ BIOS and the
original boot block, because I still see the "Press F12 to restore"
message early in the boot sequence - long before the HDD is ever
accessed - but if memory serves me, it says so _also_ after having
loaded the w2k loader program.

Let me know if you need an XF86Config or if I can help you in any
other way.

				Cheers,
				  /Liman
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# Lars-Johan Liman		! E-mail: liman@autonomica.se
# Senior Systems Specialist     ! HTTP  : //www.autonomica.se/
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