TravelMate 6463 / hidden partition

Hi,

on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
Since I had some problems with these tools and can't run them any more
(a re-install didn't work either), I want to use that space and like to
konw if there's a methode to access this area and burn the stuff on a DVD.

Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

Thanks
Martin

Martin Joachim wrote in news:45d06821$0$5718$9b4e6d93
@newsspool3.arcor-online.net:

Hi,

on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
Since I had some problems with these tools and can't run them any more
(a re-install didn't work either), I want to use that space and like to
konw if there's a methode to access this area and burn the stuff on a
DVD.

Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

Thanks
Martin

If you go to the acer website you can download all the system files
that are on the hidden partition.
Look in the driver & download section under your computer.

zack.


Recycle food today, eat a burger for dinner & tea.
Destructive typing in progress, please watch your fingers.
Will the last person to leave planet earth switch of the light.
--
================================================== ===================
Schizophrenia beats being alone
================================================== ===================

zack wrote:

Will the last person to leave planet earth switch of the light.

do you mean "switch off the light" ??

Am 12.02.2007 16:21 schrieb zack:
Martin Joachim wrote in news:45d06821$0$5718$9b4e6d93
on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
[...]
Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

If you go to the acer website you can download all the system files
that are on the hidden partition.
Look in the driver & download section under your computer.


Yes, I know that website. But what about the WinXP installation files?

I did some research with PQ PartitionManager and could actually see
what's on that hidden partition. It's not only the drivers but every
file you need to install the machine like it was out of the box. I'd say
this is what should be on a DVD when Acer ships the device!

With PQ BootMagic, I could boot from that partition but it only lets me
re-install my notebook to the factory settings. That's not what I want,
I want to access this area and copy all files to another drive to burn
them on a DVD.

Martin

so, whats stopping you?

"Martin Joachim" wrote in message
...
Am 12.02.2007 16:21 schrieb zack:
Martin Joachim wrote in news:45d06821$0$5718$9b4e6d93
on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
[...]
Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

If you go to the acer website you can download all the system files
that are on the hidden partition.
Look in the driver & download section under your computer.


Yes, I know that website. But what about the WinXP installation files?

I did some research with PQ PartitionManager and could actually see
what's on that hidden partition. It's not only the drivers but every
file you need to install the machine like it was out of the box. I'd say
this is what should be on a DVD when Acer ships the device!

With PQ BootMagic, I could boot from that partition but it only lets me
re-install my notebook to the factory settings. That's not what I want,
I want to access this area and copy all files to another drive to burn
them on a DVD.

Martin

Martin Joachim wrote:

Am 12.02.2007 16:21 schrieb zack:
Martin Joachim wrote in news:45d06821$0$5718$9b4e6d93
on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
[...]
Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

If you go to the acer website you can download all the system files
that are on the hidden partition.
Look in the driver & download section under your computer.

Yes, I know that website. But what about the WinXP installation files?

I did some research with PQ PartitionManager and could actually see
what's on that hidden partition. It's not only the drivers but every
file you need to install the machine like it was out of the box. I'd say
this is what should be on a DVD when Acer ships the device!

With PQ BootMagic, I could boot from that partition but it only lets me
re-install my notebook to the factory settings. That's not what I want,
I want to access this area and copy all files to another drive to burn
them on a DVD.

Martin


I can see the partition with Norton Ghost. So one should be able to make
an image of it on the C or D drive then burn the image to DVD.

If needed, one could open said image with Ghost Explorer and have access
to any file.

I'm going to try this when I get my notebook back from the shop.
--
/Tazz

hi , someone can answer me?

Martin:

Your best bet is to go ahead and let it reimage your drive, then run Acer's
programs to make the DVD/CD-R you desire. Once that is done, you can do
whatever you want.

As for the system, copy someone's OEM XP disk for whatever OS is installed
on your notebook. Someplace on your pc, the back, bottom, side, there is a
Microsoft sticker with the key you need to install the OS. Put the two
together (figuratively speaking) when you reinstall the OS. IE: When MS
asks for the key, use the one on your pc. Piece of Cake! Remember, the
installation CD must be the OEM version (silver), not the retail or upgrade,
and only Microsoft, not someone else.

The drivers you need will be on the CD/DVD you made when you let Acer
reimage your drive.

By the way, all you need to do to reactive the hidden partition is make it
active and not hidden, then it should boot from that partition. I got real
good at doing it for a while when I didn't know someone put incompatible
memory in my notebook. You won't be able to use F10 to activate the process
but this bypass works. Once the OS is installed all you have to do is hide
the Acer partition and activate the C partition. Oh, and make sure D2D is
active/enabled in your BIOS!

I'll check back to see if you have questions.

Ernie in Kansas City, Kansas, USA


"Martin Joachim" wrote in message
...
Hi,

on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
Since I had some problems with these tools and can't run them any more
(a re-install didn't work either), I want to use that space and like to
konw if there's a methode to access this area and burn the stuff on a DVD.

Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

Thanks
Martin

Am 12.02.2007 14:14 schrieb Martin Joachim:
on my TM 6463 there's a hidden partition on the beginning of the
harddisc. I know it's for restoring the system and those ePower tools.
[...]
Windows Drive Management says, it's an "EISA configuration", PowerQuest
Partition Manager tells me "FAT formated". Neither lets me activate that
partition. What now?

I GOT IT!

In the PQMagic installation folder I found a file called "ptedit32.exe".
It's the "PowerQuest Partition Table Editor" and with it I changed the
type of the hidden partition from hex12 (Compaq diagnostics) to hex0C
(FAT32X).

After a reboot, I have a new drive which is just this §%&$*# hidden
stuff. I'm going to burn it on a DVD and then (finally) use those 4 GB
for what I want to use them.

In case someone wants to follow my steps: FIRST use the eRecovery tool
to get a recovery DVD (or CDs) for your system and then fool around with
PQ Partition Magic.

And as always:

USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISC!

Thanks for everyone who helped me with ideas.
Martin