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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2003-02-06

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Wiping Out Special "Recovery" Partitions, Pt. 1

Fred- Recently purchased a Compaq Presario 6000 that was an 'open box' purchase from Circuit City. Got it cheap, ok? Only probbie with setting it up was that I found it was loaded with WinXP. Have wrestled with this OS for the last 3 months, am giving up. I sent an email to Compaq asking their support. Strangely enough, I actually got an answer!! Never happened before!! My old puter was a Compaq 5710 with Win98. Never ever got any answers when I asked them then!

Anyway, asked the support for information on how to get rid of XP, and load 98SE into the new puter. Was informed that it could not be done!

That was what really torqued me, that they are telling me that I can't tell this puter what OS I want to use. The help people there told me that if I tried to load Win98SE into !THEIR! puter, that the drivers were all different, and that it couldn't be done! Jeez, when one formats a drive, doesn't it erase everything, including the drivers?

My question is, if you format a drive, and tell it to load 'this'-what the hell difference does it know? It's my puter, not 'Theirs'. I paid for it! Why can't I put in an OS that I know, and can control?

Just wondering if you have any answers or suggestions. Thanks, Bill

It can be done, Bill, but there can be some pitfalls.

Many vendors now ship PCs with a special hidden partition on it that contains the recovery data, diagnostic software, and perhaps a kind of disk image of the as-delivered, factory-fresh software setup. The idea is that when you get into trouble, you can restore this pristine image, and get things back exactly the way they were on day one, when the PC rolled off the assembly line.

Vendors love this because it reduces their support costs: They can undo any user- or software- caused problems simply by having you roll your system back to a controlled, known-good, factory-perfect state.

Trouble is, the hidden partition cannot be used for anything else; it eats up a chunk of your total hard drive space, even if the recovery files are of no use or interest to you. And if you do use the recovery tools, they're still not a panacea: Restoring your PC to the state it was in before you bought it means (obviously) that everything you did to the PC after you got it--- all your data, user-installed software and customizations--- may be wiped out. (This is another reason why making frequent backups, and storing them outside your PC [not on the hard drive, with everything else] is so important. See http://www.langa.com/backups/backups.htm .)

So, if the hidden partition isn't all that great a solution to system restoration, why not just wipe it out and gain back the space? Well, in some PCs, the hidden partition may also control how the system boots: If you simply delete the partition, you may also make your PC unable to boot from the hard drive until or unless you alter the boot process, which may involve some deep-geek tweaking.

And here's another major gotcha: In systems that ship without an operating system setup CD, your copy of the operating system setup files may also be in the hidden partition. If you remove the recovery partition, you may make it impossible to reinstall the original OS; or may make it very difficult to install new hardware, because the drivers that normally would be on the setup CD are instead found in the (now missing) recovery partition.

Recovery partitions clearly are a flawed solution, but--- because they give vendors a fast, cheap (and crude) way to fix many kinds of problems--- they nonetheless have become an essential part of many vendor's support process: In fact, some vendors set things up so that if you remove the factory-supplied recovery tools and data, you may void your warranty. Why? Because you've taken away the vendor's simplistic (but inexpensive, for them) way to "put things back the way they were at the factory."

Some or all those reasons are probably what's behind the tech telling Bill that he "can't" install Win98 (or any other OS besides what shipped with the original system) on your PC. But, there usually are ways around this; see next item.

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2) Wiping Out Special "Recovery" Partitions, Pt. 2

Ideally, you want a way to retain any recovery data, software, or setup files that may have been put in the hidden partition, while also gaining control over your PC--- and gaining access to all the hard drive space you paid for. 

The safest approach is to start by backing everything up, including the contents of the hidden partition. For that, you may need special software. For example, you may need to boot to DOS (from a floppy or a CD if you're using a non-DOS-based version of Windows, such as XP), and then use a DOS-based tool like Partition Magic or Drive Image to get at the "hidden" stuff.

There are other options and tools, too. For example, see http://www.google.com/search?&q=unhide+reveal+partitions . You'll also find some additional backup ideas and approaches detailed in "Miss Your Setup CDs?" at http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-01-15.htm#4 , and in the "System Setup Secrets" articles at http://www.informationweek.com/LP/columnists/langa/1999/0831.htm and http://www.informationweek.com/LP/columnists/langa/2001/03.htm . (Hmmmm. Looks like it's getting to be time to refresh that info...)

When you have a safe backup of everything you might need from the system--- all your own data, and any necessary or useful files from the vendor's setup--- you can totally clear the hard drive. (Note: Because you'll be wiping the drive clean, your backup needs to be in some off-disk medium such as CD, tape, a second or network hard drive, floppy, etc.)

Once your backup is secure, you usually can wipe out everything on the entire disk--- including hidden partitions--- with a full disk re-partition using FDISK ( http://www.google.com/search?q=using+fdisk ) or a tool like Partition Magic http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=%22partition+magic%22&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 ) ; or with a low-level (factory-type) hardware reformat of the drive ( http://www.google.com/search?q=low%2Dlevel+factory+format ) . Note that a standard, DOS or Windows software "Format" command will not affect hidden partitions--- it will only work on "visible" partitions.

After the drive is totally empty of all previous partitions, formatting, and data, you can start over by repartitioning, reformatting, and then installing the OS of your choice.

If your system is reasonably new and uses mostly off-the-shelf, retail-style components, you should be able to install Win98, WinME, Win2000, XP, Linux--- just about any current OS--- and get decent results: Drivers for all your hardware will most likely be readily available either as part of the OS itself, or from the manufacturers of your system components such as the video card vendor, the audio card vendor, etc.

But--- and this is yet another gotcha--- if your system uses proprietary components, such as special OEM versions of motherboards, video cards, audio systems, and so on, you're at the mercy of the system vendor for the unique drivers that your hardware requires.

Win98 and XP use very different (and incompatible) drivers, for example: If you want to install one OS, but the vendor only offers drivers for the other, you're out of luck. (Remember: In deleting the "Recovery Partition," you probably put your system out of warranty; the vendor doesn't have to support you.)

You may be able to find adequate drivers by searching for similar hardware models from the same maker, or by opting for a more generic driver (for example, using a basic video driver instead of a custom one). If the results are acceptable to you, you're done: You can tune and tweak the new OS, and go on from there.

But if you're unhappy with the outcome, or if you just can't get the new OS to work right, that's where your backups come in: Use your disk images or backups to put things back the way they were before you tried the new OS.

This also is important if you run into a hardware problem that normally would be covered by warranty--- say, your video card dies. By restoring the system software to the original factory configuration, you can clearly demonstrate that the problem isn't in the software you installed, but is indeed in the original hardware, and thus should qualify for warranty coverage.

So, yes, you can install whatever OS you want on your system. But you have to realize that you may affect your warranty, and you may have trouble with drivers (or other issues) in running an OS for which the hardware was not designed or set up.

Whatever you do, make full, complete images or backups of everything on the hard drive--- everything!--- before you proceed. That way, if anything goes wrong, you can get things back the way they were.

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3) Free Shutdown Tool

We've covered various shutdown/reboot tools before, including "Wizmo" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-09-05.htm#1 ), "PowerOff" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-04-22.htm#5 ) and others.

Now, Karen Kenworthy has released her own "PowerTool" version of this type of software, called "PTStopper." Like some of the others, it's fast, free, and fully-featured, offering easy ways to shutdown, poweroff, reboot, logoff, suspend or hibernate your PC either by clicking, by typing a command, or by timed event. But as usual, Karen also offers very clear explanations, so you not only pick up some free software and learn how to use it, but may also learn something about your PC's operations and options.

You can read about PTStopper at http://www.karenware.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-28.asp ; and while you're there, check out her newsletter and CD.

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4) Ad-Aware's Back

LavaSoft has returned from Limbo with a new site design, and a long-overdue version 6 of their Ad-Aware anti-spyware software. That's good news for those who paid good money to buy the enhanced version last year: They finally have something to show for their purchase.

I'll take a look at the new version of Ad-Aware, but I don't plan to rely on it any time soon. LavaSoft left their customers exposed to malware for some 5 months before the new version came out--- an eternity when it comes to online security threats. There are plenty of other excellent anti-spyware tools out there, free and paid ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-13.htm#3 ), that offer regular, frequent updates, and that have avoided the site outages and download problems that plagued Ad-Aware even when it was being updated regularly.

 I'll stick with those other tools for now. An out-of-date security tool is almost as bad as no tool. Even if the new version is perfect (and it cannot be--- no software ever is), it'll be a while before Ad-Aware regains my trust.

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5) New Version of Baseline Security Analyzer

About a year ago, we first discussed Microsoft's free "Baseline Security Analyzer (  http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-04-11.htm#2 ), a tool that backstops Windows Update and verifies that your system actually has all the security updates it's supposed to. Well, the tool's been updated:

Fred,  New version of the Baseline Security Analyzer is now on the Microsoft Website: http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/5/7/e57f498f-2468-4905-aa5f-369252f8b15c/mbsasetup.msi 

It now provides more detail on its display screen. ---Jerry Whaley

Thanks, Jerry! If the URL above is too long for your email reader or browser, try this TinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/5eiz .

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6) Want $10,000 To Spend This Season?

The Recommend-It site gives away up to $10,000 as an incentive to use their service to recommend newsletters like this one!

If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win $10,000 or other prizes from the folks at "Recommend-It:"
http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182

Or, win a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... and more. (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm

Either way, thank you, and good luck!

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7) Dusting Off An Old Tip

Hi, Fred --- A shame the 'PrintScreen' key has been virtually useless since the advent of any Windows OS.  This must be an issue with more than a few Win users who have occasional need to print monitor screen frames. And this without calling up something like HyperSnap or other utility. Is there any 'trick' code to make the Prt/Screen key do what its name implies? Much appreciate your Plus Newsletter. --- Don M

Actually, it's worked all long--- but in a non-obvious way. (Ah, Windows....) On its own, the PrintScreen key (or PrintScr or Print Screen or whatever it's called on your system) triggers a little routine that captures the current screen--- your desktop--- to the clipboard. But here's the weird part: It does so invisibly, with no indication that anything actually happened. However, you can then paste the stored image into any graphics-capable program and print it from there; or print direct from the clipboard if you have a clipboard utility running.

Try it: Hit your PrintScr  key now, then open a tool like Paint--- or even Word, or any graphics-capable editing tool--- and then click Paste: an image of your current screen will be pasted into the open application. It's that simple--- and that non-obvious!

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8) They Loaded The Code

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt )

Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm

Nobel PC (Western Massachusetts)
http://www.noblepc.us/

Metro Trucks
http://www.metrotrucksales.com

James and Margaret Skinner
http://www.geocities.com/jamaskinner/

"KawboyBob" Nugent's Racing
http://www.kawboybob.dragbikecentral.com/index.html

TecLogicNY.com
http://www.teclogicny.com/pages/1/index.htm

Lt. Alexander Pearson Modeleers
http://www.angelfire.com/wa3/ipmspearsonmodeleers/

New Marketer Ezine
http://www.kenleonardjr.com/

Stan Lee
http://stanthemanlee.ourmisc.com/

Des Moines Iowa Bicycle Shops 1889 - 2001
http://www.homestead.com/tapleyanthony/dmbikeshops.html

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9) Boy, Do I Feel Dumb...

I'm apologizing a lot lately--- and I must do so again. The last issue's "Defrag Tricks" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-02-03.htm#5 ) referred to "... the attached file (configReport.cmd)." That's fine--- except I neglected to include the file. Doh.

My apologies: The file is available in text form (for cutting-and-pasting into a text editor) here: http://www.langa.com/extras/contigReport.htm

... or in native .cmd format here: http://www.langa.com/extras/contigReport.cmd

... or in a zip file here: http://www.langa.com/extras/contigReport.zip

Personal note: I mentioned previously that a family member has been ill. That same person took a turn for the worse and had to be re-admitted to the hospital on an emergency basis. As a result, I composed the last newsletter almost entirely on a laptop PC during stretches of enforced inactivity while waiting in emergency rooms and intensive care units. Because I was offline--- and perhaps a bit distracted--- I simply forgot to add  the above links.

Again, my apologies for the rough spots in the last couple issues. With luck, things will soon return to what passes for normal around here. <g>

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10) Just For Grins

Reader Bob Crawford was the first to send along this groaner, which is making the rounds in several variations:

Once there was a mad scientist who worked by himself in his laboratory. He was so lonely that one day, he decided to clone himself. Everything worked perfectly, except that the clone had a very foul mouth. The scientist worked with the clone, but alas, he could not make the clone clean up his language. He got so tired of the clone's language that one day he pushed him off the end of a cliff. A policeman rushed up to him, and yelled "You are under arrest! You are under arrest!"

"What for?" the mad scientist asked. "Murder? Or would it be suicide?"

And the policeman's answer was, "Neither. It's for making an obscene clone fall."

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• More Easy, Powerful Snoop-Proofing Tools
  (puts you in total control of your data!)
   

• Other Ways To Create Boot CDs With Patches Preinstalled
  (save time and effort when you have to reinstall your OS!)
   

• Free MP3 Bookmark Player
  (handy way to resume playback!)

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: Additional tools for high flexibility in deciding what, when, where, and how securely you want your data encrypted; additional great resources on building Bootable setup CDs with everything on them--- even with service packs preinstalled; and a free reader-recommended tool for MP3 aficionados.

There's almost zero risk--- the Plus! Edition comes with a MONEY-BACK satisfaction guarantee. Full info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm

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See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I)

An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://www.langa.com.  (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site.

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This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 2003 Fred Langa / Langa Consulting LLC. All worldwide rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156

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