Lenovo T60 image issues

[leco]

I'm having difficulty sending an image to a T60. I'm using Acronis Snap deploy this takes quite some time to deploy, goes through all the right motions, but then errors out. Unable to change partition due to bad blocks. When I restart the T60 I get the Blancco info screen. Putting in a Win 7 CD to boot from and looking at the drive details shows two partitions containing data. I've run the repair option from the Win 7 disc but still no joy.

 

From initial pleasure at the machine, I've put all the soft ware onto one of them to take the master image, I'm now starting to wonder. Anyone got any hints or tips? Am I doing something wrong or are IBM machines somehow different from other laptops?

[witch]

Sorry, but I have the same problem with my beloved T60s that I got from ICT Direct. I am quite relieved, in a way, to see that someone else has it too.

John Graham tried his best to help - he had a few ideas (no I cant remember what they were) but ultimately I couldnt get them to image.

Mine are XP and I use Ghost so it would seem to be a laptop issue rather than anything to do with the tools or operating system?

[leco]

Thanks Witch, like you I am relieved somewhat that it's not me doing something wrong. However, if John can't help then where does that leave us? I have 22 to do and the head is getting anxious as we are a week into term and the pupils have no computers. (Summer DC disasters coupled with contractors means I'm way behind schedule.) I don't really fancy having to install all the software on each individual machine. Think I might just image the desktops (26 of those) first whilst a solution is found for the laptops. Trawl of the IBM support forums for me this evening maybe.

[leco]

OK here's what I've done:

Booted the T60 from a Win 7 installation disc. Deleted both partitions and installed OS. Laptop now boots. Tomorrow I will try to deploy the image, but only the Primary partition not the system one. If that works, it's a long way round, but it would be a way forward. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed.

[Dos_Box]

You should be able to delete (all) partitions from whatever imaging software you use. Have you tried WDS or FOG yet?

[leco]

It's not the deployment software that's causing the no boot. Reading the forums, Acronis and Lenovo amongst others, the T60s have issues with cloning of any sort. The image deploys but the machine won't boot, which means that the rest of the Acronis instructions, new SID, name, etc, does not get carried out. Also right at this moment I do not have space in my brain for learning anything else, my journey this summer has been tough enough, I know how to use Acronis. Edited September 9, 2010 by leco

[witch]

I hope it works - let me know

I am not in such a state as you as most of our software is run off the server but I agree, it is a huge pain.

[Dos_Box]

Ric has T60s at his school. Give him a bell.

 

*shouts* RIC!!!!

[TronXP]

We have T60's imaged XP with Ghost and we just used WDS for 7. No problems so far for us.

[Ric_]

My T60s are always fine... I've used RIS, FOG and now SCCM to deploy them. I do remember having a problem with FOG where I had to reset the MBR the first time they were imaged but it wasn't too bad.

 

I think that the issue you're experiencing lies with the Blanco software completely wiping all the data (including the MBR). If you create a single new partition with diskpart (boot of a Windows Vista/7 setup disc), can you then deploy to them?

[witch]

This makes no sense - why would some of us have problems and not others? As I said, I use Ghost and the laptops are XP and have problems, and yet TronXP, using the same, doesnt?

[leco]

Well my plan B hasn't worked Failed "Unable to resize partition with bad blocks". I know the laptop does not have any bad blocks as I checked that last night. Laptops going on a shelf for now, taking too much time, on to desktops which deploy fine.

 

As you say Witch it makes no sense. If someone comes up with a solution please let us know - oh and the rest of the T60 owning and wanting to re-image people.

[TronXP]

It may be to do with the hidden partitions on the drives. I think we deleted all the service\hidden partitions and everything from our T60's. Then create one new partition.

[witch]

.... Deleted both partitions and installed OS.

 

leco already deleted the partitions - or was one missed?

[leco]

The partitions that I deleted were the ones from the deployment - those shown in Advanced set up on the Win 7 installation CD setup (if that makes sense). When I get time I'll install from the CD again and check the partitions again. Even hidden ones should show in Disk management - shouldn't they? It'll bug me now until I find a solution.

[computer_expert]

If hidden partitions won't show in windows, you could always use gparted (included on most, if not all, linux live CDs) to make sure the drive is clean.

[leco]

Thought I'd best do an update on this issue - where I am now. @Witch are you there?

On the machines that I have already tried to image I have:

Gone into the BIOS and disabled the PDA - Security/predesktop

Booted the laptop from the Win 7 CD. After entering Language and keyboard, selected Repair, ignored the auto option and selected Command Prompt. Run bootrec.exe /fixboot bootrec.exe /fixmbr bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

Restarted the laptop. Weee it booted to the image. Unfortunately it hadn't run the post image tasks (new sid, workgroup not domain) but hey it works. Taken off domain, do the necessary, re-join domain. With 23 machines to do this has got to be quicker than installing all the software manually.

 

Of all of those I'm not exactly sure which one did the trick:( Tomorrow's task will be to see when I start a machine from scratch, if just disable PDA will allow a new image. Wish me luck.

Edited September 20, 2010 by leco

[witch]

Ohhh - well done!! Keep me posted! Mind you, currently mine are XP so it may be different for me. About to buy a new one so keen to get this sorted

[leco]

bootrec.exe will possibly be on the XP disc as it was on the good old '98 boot floppy. I got the info, via the Lenovo forums, from an Acronis knowledge base article. Seems that many of the Lenovo machines have issues with cloning, not just the T60. And they covered differing copy software as well. Most of the Lenovo threads concerned single machines, people wanting to replace failing drives etc, even the Acronis threads were for single machines, which was slightly odd. Still there may be light at the end of the tunnel.

[Ric_]

Jst a thought... you know that you can get the laptops without the software from ICT Direct don't you? Mine are either new discs or Blancco wiped.

[leco]

All of the ones that I have bought are Blancco wiped.

[witch]

All of the ones that I have bought are Blancco wiped.

 

I got the ones without an OS from ICT direct but because of the imaging issues I have, I now get them with XP and add the software I need

[leco]

Just to re-cap:Blancco wiped T60

 

• Switched on
  
• Pressed ThinkVantage button
  
• Pressed F1 to enter Bios
  
• Security - Predesktop area
  
• Set to disabled - F10 to save
  
• Booted to Acronis Agent
  
• Deploy template - ensure Disc is "as image machine". This rather than "whole disc"
  

All went well, laptop restarted and continued with the Acronis instruction set. i.e. New SID etc. Automatic restart and booted into Windows 7 ready for joining to domain.

 

Very happy bunny. Will continue tomorrow - deployment takes some time.

[witch]

Ohh..clever. Wonder if it works with Ghost?

Well done - you're a better man than I

[leco]

Thanks Witch - though my hair is now very much greyer, what's left of it anyway. I have yet to see if disabling the PDA has any untoward effects, time will tell.