OS/2 is a greatly different operating system for PC (ArcaOS, eComStation, IBM OS/2 Warp)
Applications, news, reviews, support of users, hardware, questions and answers.
This simple tutorial shows you to use eComStation(eCS) 2.1 on Lenovo
Ideapad S206. And shows you to get "dual boot environment" which can use
pre-installed OS(Windows). Also, this tutorial may apply to other
computer system.
At first, you need some utility softwares and tools.
HDD disk dump editor
HDD parition editor
Backup software
Backup media
For example, I use "Acronis Disk Director Suite" as HDD disk dump
editor and HDD partition editor, "Acronis True Image Home" as backup
software, and also USB HDD as backup media.
Also, you need USB DVD drive. DVD Drive have to have a "write" function. Read-only drive(e.g.:DVD-ROM drive) is no use.
make a recovery media
At first, you must make a recovery media. Start Windows OS and create recovery DVD.
planning HDD partition
why planning HDD partition?
The eCS installer can not recognize default HDD partition. So you have to re-create it again.
planning!
The default HDD partition is as follows.
SYSTEM_DRV (use by Windows7)
Windows7_OS (system and user drive)
No label (on S206, drivers included on this drive)
LENOVO_PART (recovery image)
notes
Primary partition
Extended partition (Logical volume)
I do not want to change the default HDD partition. I hope to add a eCS volume to this partition.
Accordingly, my HDD partition planning is as follows.
eComStation
USER (user data)
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
No label
LENOVO_PART
On eCS, a drive letter is assigned as follows.
eComStation E:
USER F:
SYSTEM_DRV C:
Windows7_OS D:
No label G:
LENOVO_PART
note:
A young drive letter is assigned to primary partition.
A partition named "LENOVO_PART" is OEM partition(hidden partition). The drive letter is not assigned to it.
A drive letter which assigned to logical volume is after primary partition.
Finally, you should decide volume space used by eCS and data partition.
e.g. My partitioning is as follows.
eComStation 1000MB
USER 2000MB
SYSTEM_DRV Default size
Windows7_OS Resized
No label Default size
LENOVO_PART Default size
install eCS
about partition table
During installing eCS, you have to take a note of partition table and
edit it. You can view the partition table in Master Boot Record(MBR)
using HDD disk dump editor. The MBR appears at first 512 sectors on HDD.
The partition table starts at 446 bytes on MBR. There are 4 partition
tables in MBR.
Partition table shows us that where the partition is allocated on
HDD. After the 4th partition table, there are 2 bytes of data called
"magic number". It shows to system where MBR is end. Do not change the
magic number. It makes starting of a system go wrong. If you want to
learn more about boot sector, you should search it on the internet.
There are a lot of informations about it.
e.g. On "Acronis Disk Director Suite", boot from bootable cd and select [Edit Disk] on the menu.
At first, you must create partition to install eCS. Use HDD partition
editor and create free space at start of HDD. The HDD partition looks
as follows after you created the partition.
free space
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
No label
LENOVO_PART
note:
The free space which you should create needs more than space for eCS and user data.
To create free space, resize "Windows_7" partition. Don't touch to any other partition.
take a note of partition table
After installation partition is created, you must take a note of partition table.
Use backup software and make a backup of "No label" partition.
install eCS
Set eCS bootable media to USB DVD drive and boot from the media.
To install eCS from USB DVD Drive, you must select "Boot with menu for own value" from menu.
In the boot option menu, select "CD-ROM/-R(W) drives attached" and check a "Install from USB CD device".
Continue the installation process. A warning message will appear.
Select [Disk]-[Wipe disk information]-[MBR and partition table] from menu bar.
note:
After this operation, the partition on the computer is all removed but the data still exist there.
Click a [OK] button.
Continue...
Click a [Close] button.
Reboot computer. Then you restart installation process. At this time, no warning message will appear.
Enter to volume manager.
Select [Volume]-[Create new...] from menu bar.
"Create volume" wizard will start. Select "Standard(bootable) volume" and click [Next] button.
Select "E" from "Letter" pull down menu. "Name" is optional.
Click a [Next] button.
Enter "volume size". Un-check "Use primary partition" and click a [Finish] button.
A volume "E" is created. Also a free space which used 7MB HDD space is created too.
note:
I don't know why a partition called "free space" is created at first
area of HDD. I think this is remains of "Boot Manager" used by legacy
OS/2 system. Anyway, the partition takes no impact on using system. So I
recommend "don't touch" for this partition.
Choose free space and select [Volume]-[Create new] from menu bar.
Select "Standard(bootable) volume" and click [Next] button.
Select "F" from "Letter" pull down menu. "Name" is optional.
Click a [Next] button.
Enter "volume size". Un-check "Use primary partition" and click a [Finish] button.
A volume "F" is created.
Select [System]-[Boot Menu]-[Install/Update] from menu bar.
Click a [Yes] button.
Select [System]-[Exit] from menu bar.
Installable volume is created. Continue the installation process.
Continue...
Don't choose "ACPI" option at this time. It causes system stop in boot progress.
note:
If you want to use "ACPI", install the latest driver after eCS installed.
Select "Universal Audio Driver" for audio device.
Ideapad S206 has Ralink 3090 wifi adapter. It is not currently
supported under eCS, but I install network support option for the reason
that I expect it will be supported later.
No network adaptor is detected. Click [Add adapter...] button.
At this time, I installed "IBM NULL MAC Driver".
Continue...
If the dialog as follows appear, select USB DVD device. Then installer will continue and all will be done correctly.
After installation is completed, the system partition looks as follows.
Free Space (7MB)
eCS
USER
Free Space (include Windows7_OS and other volumes)
note: why windows parition disappeared?
Remember that you cleared partition table at installation process
step 4 . After this operation, the partition table is "Zero cleared".
This is why the system dismissed Windows partition after recovery eCS.
Here are sample of my partion table.
Edit parition table. re-input the value which you took a note before.
00 00 01 01 05 fe 7f 7f c1 3e 00 00 bf e2 5d 00 <- don't edit!
00 aa f3 f8 07 6a 18 12 00 48 e5 04 00 40 06 00 <- input value (a)
00 6a 19 12 07 c4 76 0e 00 88 eb 04 00 58 b7 1a <- input value (b)
00 fe ff ff 12 fe ff ff 00 e0 d1 22 b0 0a 71 02 <- input value (c)
After done this operation, the Windows partition appears again.
Free Space
eCS
USER
Free Space
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
Free Space
LENOVO_PART
recovery "No label" partition
Recover "No label" partition to third free space on HDD.
Free Space
eCS
USER
Free Space
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
Free Space <<recovery to here>>
LENOVO_PART
Now, you should have partition as follows.
Free Space
eCS
USER
Free Space
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
No label
LENOVO_PART
resize Windows7_OS partition
Finally, use partition editor and resize "Windows7_OS" partition. The
second "Free Space" partition shall be take in to "Windows7_OS"
partition. The existent "Free Space" on start of HDD is not used. Maybe
it can take in to any partition, but I don't touch it. Anyway, its used
space is only 7 MB and not of care.
Free Space
eCS
USER
SYSTEM_DRV
Windows7_OS
No label
LENOVO_PART
end of installaton
At now, all of installation proccess is done. Enjoy your computer life!
