Go here; http://209.167.114.38/my_html/suppo... Download and burn one of the *3440.exe, *port.exe, or boot3440.exe files to make a bootable cd. If you read the file descriptions, you should be able to find a 2K set of CD's that'll get you in. You're using XP; right? You'll likely have to try more than just one of the files but one of them ought to work. Think that the laptop will see the cd rom as the A:\ drive and the working software will assign a drive letter so you can use it as a cd drive to install your OS. The alternative is using your serial port and laplink or interlnk/intersvr. That is a real pain in the butt and very slow. Skip

0

not a blank cd in the house! but surely if i could boot from the cd drive i could just reinstall? or am i missing something here? you say using the laplink is slow and a pain but i dont see i have any choice, as i cant boot from the cd drive.....

0

Let's try one last thing first... Hold down the ESC key Turn the laptop on Hope like hell you see a message like "Check System. Press the F1 key." Press the F1 key If this works, you're in "TSETUP" on a DOS partition. It's got the configuration settings for the laptop stored there. If that partition is there, aegis might be right in Response 6. If that partition is not there, you need to create one. That's where some of the files I pointed you to come into play. At any rate, I'm sure you'll need some blank cd's. Try the ESC key thing above first and see if it gets you anywhere. If the partition is there and if there's and option to restore something you might be able to boot from the USB cd or at least contact Toshiba for help. You're sure not gonna like what comes next. For laplink, you'll need to make, borrow, or buy a parallel or serial cable you can connect to another pc and have a copy of the laplink program. DOS interlnk and intersvr will require the same kind of cable (null modem) and you'll need a running DOS machine to read intersvr instructions and to connect to the serial port of your laptop and transfer DOS startup files to your laptop. To give you an idea of slow, you can install Win98se on a P133 laptop in just over 30 hours or copy the Win98 folder from the W98 cd in a little less than 6 hours. So to find a cable, learn how to do it, and make the laptop bootable can easily take all day. Then you still have to find a way to make the laptop see your cd rom drive. DOS doesn't do USB so you'll still need a Toshiba program with the drivers and configuration files to make the cd work. Finally, get a bunch of blank cd's so you can at least have a chance at this. Skip

0

To boot from the lan you need to have a system that supports it since you have no floppy. Not sure if you could put an OS on a pcmcia memory or even a pcmcia to cf or mmc/sd and then boot to it. If you have safe mode with network support and it is working then you might be able to just mount a networked CD and use that with a xp cd in as your installer or source for good files. Safe mode might also allow you to disable some services and msconfig startup issues. It would allow you to see event logs which you ought to do first before you go any farther. Might also be able to do checkdisk's and other file management. See event logs first before you do anything more. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

0

cheers skip, thanks for your advice. got in to sys setup ok, but dont see any partition. i have a crossover cable. i have been told i will have a better chance installing linux over the network. I can assure you ive spent more than a day on this blasted machine!! whats another one?! My attitude is to treat it all as a learning experiance, a 'crash' course! :-) . there is no possibility of usb booting anyhow. but according to freshdiagnose i should be able to boot from the PCMCIA. but i cant. i have loads of blank DVDs but not cds, so yes a stack will be purchased. but tell me this, when i copy these files[which i have downloaded] how would i boot from them? as i cant boot from the cd drive. I really appreciate your help here as i am stuck with my daughters useless laptop. i checked out laplink on the net. but to be honest, if i start chucking money at this thing i would be better off getting her another laptop on ebay! i have never worked in DOS, i first looked at a computer about 5yrs ago though my brother has worked in IT 20yrs. [hes in malaysia so i cant ask him! :-)

0

no safe mode at all anymore.... the system supports LAN booting. >>If you have safe mode with network support and it is working then you might be able to just mount a networked CD and use that with a xp cd in as your installer or source for good files.>> thats what i was hopeing when i could get in through safe mode.... but even thats gone now so... I just get; /WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM is missing or corrupt.

0

Might be easier to pull it and get an adapter for a normal computer ide. Install xp again and be sure to add in all the drivers for the laptop before you replace it. Still might be a headache. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

0

headache!! my head is acheing as it is ! I dont like to waste otherwise id a binned it by now! Trouble with that one is we all use laptops in the house. what about fitting it in an external bay, installing PCLOS as external then putting it back... would that work ?

0