"Compaq" partition?

[FZWG]

Appreciate some assistance.

Helping someone with a Compaq 7360 (OS: W98SE)

It has one hard drive, but partitioned into C:\, and a "Compaq Partition" D:\.

If corrupted files (affected by a virus, or otherwise) need to be restored, should one go to this "Compaq Partition" to restore them through SFC?

The guy also has a "Restore CD".

Not sure which one to use...

Not exactly versed on Compaq. Not my PC of choice!

[Markoman01027]

Hello FZWG,

The partition on the D drive has information on system restore. If you delete that, you will not be able to use system restore. Compaq has told me this. But I have heard from this forum that it has BIOS information.
You will be able to use SFC to replace only system files that need reside on the system for windows to boot up properly. I don't think there are files in that D partition except BIOS information. But you can check. Your best bet is to take your OS CD and reach the files from there.

[GaryRouth]

What symptoms on the affected PC? (Sounds like you are suspecting data corruption or virus activity?) Like Matt mentions, System File Checker (sfc from Start/Run) will do fine to restore system files to their original state (which might be a bit out-of-date now, but do in a pinch - until you can update with a more recent version).

I don't usually work on Compaq's - but just this week tuned up an old 5100. When that proprietary partition of Compaq's disappears, it can be difficult to re-create. (without sending Compaq $19 for a new Restore/Recovery disk set)... I don't remember which set does which, but one of them just uses information stored on that system partition to recover, and the other reformats/reinstalls the whole works to the original condition.

Just the devil to work on, but it does the job it was intended to: protect Compaq's "intellectual property".
. . . Gary

[FZWG]

Appreciate the info.

Trying to help a senior citizen whose PC has KLEZ. Ugh!!

Going to take the leap to get rid of the bugger.

Just wanted to know as much as possible about the Compaq indiosyncracies (or whatever you want to call them).

Thanks again.

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Sorry to hear it's Klez. Symantec has a fairly thorough removal procedure somewhere on it's website (I don't have the link handy at the moment, and I'm fading into sleeptime) - but on this one you might want to call Compaq and see if there are any additional steps to insure that Klez hasn't corrupted their proprietary partition (or even if Klez can do that or not).

Klez.H got into the mail server at the lab about a year ago - what a mess. No fun.
Best of luck
. . . Gary

[dldz]

Hi Gary & FZWG, you can get the KLEZ32 removal tool right
HERE at Symantecs site. If I remember correctly the CompaQs restore disk has three methods of restore you can do, Selective for individual drivers etc,Typical that restores the original Compaq drivers and apps,and then the ol' faithful Full restore that reformats and totally restores it. I hope everything works out for you FZWG, if you have trouble let us know.
Don

[SARGE]

Here's another joint with a KLEZ removal link (under downloads).

http://pyramidcs.com/

[Miz]

The Compaq "Recovery" CD requires the data on that D partition to re-image the C drive...and re-imaging has the same result as reformat/reinstall, everything will be lost.

The "Quick Restore" CD does not need the data on the D patition to re-image the drive but, of course, all data will be lost in the process.

However, you can avoid all that by reinstalling Windows without using their CDs by starting the setup.exe file in C:\Windows\Options\Cabs...if Compaq was nice enough to leave that folder on their image, that is. So far, all the Compaqs I've worked on (although one was plenty, people do insist on buying them) do have that cabs folder.

[dldz]

Actually I have had better luck using the \options\cab files for reinstalling windows than using the recovery CD.

[setfree]

compaqs and hp's have a recovery partition. To do a restore hold F10 when the computer is booting and it should bring up compaqs recovery program.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info.

Succeeded in removing KLEZ without having to reinstall anything, but thanks for all the info on the Compaq partition.

Was armed with plenty of ammunition, if needed.

Sure appreciate all the help.

[RayH]

I worked on a friend's Compaq once and this is the best I can figure it works:

Compaq uses a form of disk imaging to load the C:\ drive. It first writes the information from the CDs to the D:\, then it writes from the D:\ to the C:\.

If the owner does a Quick Save, it images the C:\ to D:\. This image can then be used to restore the Compaq to as it was when the imaged was Quick Saved, instead of as when it left the factory. This only allows for the saving of one image.

Note that if you ever load a Compaq from a source other than its original CDs (like using a full copy of Windows), the thing will hang up on shutdown.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info, RayH.

What if one wipes out the hard drive entirely and loads up, lets say, a full copy of W98SE?

Do you think it will hang up on shutdown then?

[dldz]

You will have problems, I did that last week thinking I would skip all the extra CompaQ 'stuff' And that was on a Presario 5020 with Win98. It got real mad and I ended up just doing a full restore.

[FZWG]

Thanks for the info. Don't want this thing to get 'mad'!!

[dldz]

Let us know how it goes,every CompaQ is an experiance so it is nice to find out what will work and what won't.
Don

[FZWG]

No problems experienced after removing KLEZ, and a Backdoor Trojan.

Was just arming up for a worst case scenario.

After all the info provided, not about to plunge into doing a 'Format' on the drive!!

Cheers!