Hi, I recently got a IBM thinkpad in a sale and there is no OS loaded right now ( not even DOS ). It has an external cdrom and floopy device. I just want to load simplest OS like DOS just to start things. Could you please tell me how to go about it. You can assume that I have with me the DOS cdrom/floopy. Please help !!! You can assume that i have the dos in crdom/floopy.

i can ass-ume u r redundant!!!

What model is it, or at least the processor. There is a TON (A Kilo of Kilograms?) of stuff at www.ibm.com. Be prepared to spend some time there, looking around. There is a LOT of stuff. Drivers for video, sound, whatever, pcmcia, etc. THINKPADS (and other laptops) often use "special" drivers and setup routines, not like the typical PC Desktop. Make sure you look carefully at the thinkpad, there should be a number like 360c, 770, 380xd, whatever, and ALSO a 4 digit number and suffix to denote the exact "model" You can search ibm.com to find files for it, and helpful pages to get you going.

Hi, Thanks a lot for taking time and replying. Actually its thinkpad-560. Actually my basic doubt was if put a installable DOS floopy in the floopy drive, will it recognize the floopy and start loading from floopy. I already have the DOS installable in a floopy. Can i just load the floopy and expect the processor to read from the floopy ? Thanks once again

If you have a bootable floppy disc, then the machine should be able to boot from this IF the bios settings are correct. THIS machine may have a setting that changes whether or not the CD or the floppy drive boots, and the quickest way, is just to stick the floppy in there and turn it on and find out. If it will not, either the disc is defective, and you can check this by trying it in another machine, or the BIOS is not set to boot from the floppy drive, or the machine is not capable of doing so--which I doubt. You don't hae the owner's manual? If not, you REALLY need to search out ibm.com. Again, all kinds of info, there.

hi, i got a message this time I9990305. the explanation given for this error in the user manual is "computer cannot find start up drive". is it because i have not put bootfloopy and started the computer.

Make sure the floppy drive is properly seated. You have to open the ThinkPad and push the drive firmly into the slot. I experienced the I9990305 -problem and solved it in this way. fewel free to email me if you have more problems.