Restore Question

NUBIE Question
I Bought a CF-29HTM50BM off lease from tiger direct, the restore is a hidden partition on the hard drive, The 40GB is not enough, so I have a 250GB on the way, I know I can buy cloning software, buy is there any way to copy the hidden partition, Disk manager shows it as an unlettered drive ?
or should I just get a set of restore discs ?

 

Use Acronis True Image.

Go here for more info.

Good luck!

 

yes, acronis works perfect for the job (the hidden partition is also copied on your new disk)

 

This only applies to the two brands though right not Hitachi?

 

Cool, Thanks guys
downloaded Acronis,
will see if my hard drive enclosure will recognize the drive, It would not my last 100GB drive i put in my other laptop, but it was a cheapie from flebay and may be a fake.....

 

Yes I used Acronos, great program and user friendly. By the way could not help but notice your avatar, I am a fan of Top Gear and they have a driver on there called The Stig....looks just like your avatar.

 

Get both Acronis AND Recovery Disks.... Always nice to have a Factory Set....

 

Well I am sure that the demo would work with Hitachi, but the MaxBlast and Seatools versions are supposed to require there respective HHDs in a system to work, even if it is one of their drives in a USB enclosure.

But the truth is, I don't know for sure that it won't work with any drive! Try and let us know!

 

Yes that is him,
Love top gear, At least we are only 1 season behind......
I got Season 14 but have not had time to watch yet

Hard drive is here, now to get some time.

 

OK, put new hard drive in external USB enclosure, Windows recognizes it , install acronis, run clone hard drive, gets to the end after I make all my selections, resized partitions the way I want them, press proceed, briefly flashes a box that says working or something, then nothing, removed and reinstalled, no different, created boot disc, go through all the same re-size partitions, then at the end it says I must buy the product before it will work
Dont trust the average free ware programmes,

SO.. Who has a set of recovery discs for sale....

 

It might not be as easy as restore disks for your model
I think that the standard mk-3 restore disks do not work with that ***SBC ONLY*** model
You might need to use an oem xp pro disk c/w your windows key and load the drivers manualy
Cloning looks easy at this point

Alex

 

Hmmm, What is the difference with the SBC models ?
I Have an XP pro disc so I might have to think about it.

Thanks

 

Download the drivers from panasonic for your mark
You might have to unzip them to install them. A good dell restore disk will work just use your COA key on the bottom.

 

There may be a difference
It was reported to me that there was, from a member here a year ago
You need an oem disk,a retail or upgrade disk will not work or a dell disk as is reported, to work with your key


Alex

 

I bought the restore disks( mark 3) from an ebay seller name mark_hawkins for $35, and I was able to restore my cf-29 SBC version. I don't remember that it even ask for the COA key during the restoring process.

 

I just saw another ebay seller- lvikaci- have the mk3 disks for $24.99.

 

Cool I might go that way, Thanks for the leads,
I will let you know what the end result is ...

 

I stand corrected on this
I must be thinking of a different model
Looks like there will be no issues


Alex

 

Got a set of restore discs, installed my 250GB hard drive and recovered with discs, working brilliantly
Thanks for the help and advice,
Now on to the keyboard install....

 

Did anybody ever find out the truth to whether or not there is a limit to how many times you can use the restore discs? I thought I rea something about there being a limit. I know on the Vista restore discs I have usedd them at least 5 times on my MK2. I just used the XP disc on my MK3 the other day. It's like going back in time!

 

Why would there be a limit and how could it be accomplished without hardware? I can see a limit if you were have to phone in for authentication using your COA key, but otherwise it would be an impossibility without some kind of MicroP/PROM in the machine doing the record keeping.

I have used OEM copies of OS restore CDs. not Panasonic, as much as a hundred times when working on Customer's machines back when I tried to earn an honest living as part-owner of a computer shop.

I would not worry about it.

As to the going back in time part, you are 100% correct. The machine is nice and snappy and new again! This is why I love Ghost or Acronis True Image, that way I restore the OS and all my software, updates, eMail settings and other customizations.

I can usually get it all on one DVD or better a 8GB Flash Drive!

 

Azrial..You mean to say a self destruct computer? j/k Nah!! they would never do that. If the consumer know that it has, they will stay away such kind of a product.



ohlip

 

There is no limit on how many times you can use a restore disk. At least that is what the " know it all's " at Panasonic tells me. ( Panasonic Computer Solutions Company Technical Support Center (USA) As long as its in good shape you should have no problems.
Blair

 

Their is NO WAY their would be a limit on how many times you can use the restore discs!! How would they keep track of it?!?!?! Think about it!

w00t!

 

The CPU "unique Identifier" was certainly a step in that direction. Sooner or later, they will try again.