If you just got the computer you should wipe the harddrive, instead of upgrading. It sounds like you have an OEM Win98se CD. That version should boot from the CD. You can try to boot from it now by setting the options correectly in the BIOS before you do anything else. You don't really want to use that HDrive as is.

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How do I rename the file back to win.com? Remember, I dont have the origonal Win 98 boot cd, just a boot SE CD with no floppy drive on my think pad. Lojax

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Well presumably you did it from DOS. You find the file with whatever name you gave it then rename it back using the same procedure that you used to rename it. If thats a problem I can give you the command line. Note that OthHill is suggesting that you might be better off to wipe the HD and start afresh with the W98SE which should be bootable (without a floppy). He also suggested that you can confirm whether it is bootable before you go ahead. DerekW

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If you changed the win.com file to win.old (as most folk do) then here is the command you type in from a C prompt: ren c:\windows\win.old win.com You then hit the Return or Enter key. Note there is one space after ren and another after old. If you renamed win.com to something else then replace win.old in the above command with whatever you renamed it to. You have to be exact with DOS commands. DerekW

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the ren c:\windows\win.old win.com is giving me a file not found message. The win.com was changed in windows000, does that make a difference? Lojax

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Then it looks as if there has been some sort of reload sometime and Windows is now working from Windows.000 folder - which is not the usual choice. The previous reload might also still exist in c:\windows (which is the normal place). Yes, you have to direct the command to wherever win.com is working from, so in your case it goes like this: ren c:\windows.000\win.old win.com DerekW

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is the 000 zero's or O's? Either way, I get a file not found or a path not found. Any ideas? Lojax

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Just for your info (back to your original post), there is no official MS upgrade CD from W98FE to W98SE, although there are upgrade CD's from W95 to W98SE. The methods discussed earlier were a means of using a W98SE CD to update W98FE (renaming win.com etc). DerekW

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It's zero's. It seems odd that somehow you renamed it but can't rename it back again. If you are certain the rename was to win.old then one of these commands should find it: dir c:\windows\win.old or dir c:\windows.000\win.old If it finds it then it should show its size. If neither of these find it can you let us know exactly what command you entered to rename it in the first place. DerekW

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thank you so much for your help by the way, i really appreciate it that being said it is still not finding the file and im %100 i named it win.old. ANy more ideas or options? Lojax

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Have you now tried both commands in #15 (which were just to "find" it not fix it)? Can you remember exactly what you typed in to rename it in the first place - the whole thing not just the win.com bit? Even if it was something a bit weird it will still help us to track down where it has gone to. DerekW

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Yes I tried both in #15 now i tried dir c:\windows.000\win and it found the file (6,481 bytes and 0 dir (s)) what ever that means. the name change comands however havent helped Lojax

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Wipe the drive and start over.

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how do i do that? Lojax

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We need to be absolutely sure of this - DOS is "very" fussy. You are now saying that you found the file by typing in: c:\windows.000\win (rather than c:\windows.000\win.old) If you are quite sure of this then you must have renamed it from win.com to win In which case this should rename it back: ren c:\windows.000\win win.com DerekW

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Are you asking how to wipe the drive? Do you have a floppy drive on this computer?

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I overlapped with OtheHill. Well, it might be of interest to see if you can undo whatever you did but since this is proving difficult and knowing that the HD seems to be cluttered with two Windows installs anyway it would be far better to start over. DerekW

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... no floppy drive (#8). DerekW

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Derek you want to talk this poster through the process of formatting and installing SE. It appears the Win98CD is bootable from the first post.

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OtheHill Well, if it's OK by you I might take a breather if you have time to deal. If not then let me know and I'll bash on with it. DerekW

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Im sorry, but i would really like to get it done tonight after all the time i've put into it. I would really appreciate it, and please be specific, I dont know much about computers. Thanks Lojax

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lojax115 Let's just await OtheHill for a bit. I'm in the UK and it is already past midnight so I could end up having to back out mid-flight. If OtheHill is in a better time zone (or anyone else) then this would be more satisfactory. DerekW

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It looks like OtheHill has been called away. It's easy to re-install Windows from your CD but it doesn't contain any means to format the HD. There are lots of ways, such as formatting the HD on another machine, burning the appropriate DOS commands onto a CD or even using a Linux CD. None of the above are going to be easy if you are unsure about computers so it would make no sense at all for me to start this going at 12.35am If you want to just get the machine going again for now then go back to my #21 and I'll hang on for a bit with the hope we can achieve this before I have to nip off. The format/re-install could then wait until another time. DerekW

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I dont want to keep you up, I really appreciate what help you have offered. Is there already a forum for wiping hard drives and installing windows SE? Lojax

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Plenty of info about reformatting "using a floppy" and then installing W98SE, and if it was only that I'd hang on to see if I could at least get you started. Your situation is a lot more complex because you have no floppy drive. Otherwise you could just download a bootdisk and format the machine. It's the formatting (wiping) that is the tricky bit and may require some inventiveness too. Wrong end of the day here to start that lot going. DerekW

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I'm back, I am not sure what screens you may get when you have Win98FE installed and you boot to the Win98SE CD. When doing that did you get a screen asking if you wished to save your files? Try rebooting to the SE CD and post what it says on the screens. You should be able to format the drive. That is what you want to do. Do you have access to a computer with a CD writer drive?

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Thanks any ways, I'll look forward to your help tomorrow :) Lojax

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Your back, does this mean were still moving on? Yes i have a CD writing drive handy, but how can I try rebooting anything? im still at the black screne with the c:\>? I thought I was going ahead with a drive wipe. Lojax

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Assuming you can boot up with the 98 SE cd you have then do so. From its boot menu choose to start the computer with cdrom support. It should leave you at an a:\> prompt. Type format c: and enter. That will format the drive leaving it blank. When it's done it'll ask for a volume name. Just hit 'enter'. When it gets back to the prompt type setup and enter. Hopefully that will start the installation.

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ownload a utility called Dilldisk. Find Killdisk here: http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfre... When at the first screen of that download page there is a user guide explaining how to make a bootable Killdisk CD. Follow the instructions. After you wipe the drive you simply reboot with the Win98SE CD and select install Win98SE.

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I made the CD and the directions tell me to type in FORMAT A: (and then some symbol i dont recognize, it looks like a B or 13). What is that? Otherwise, my computor tells me Checkinf existing disk format not ready Format another (Y/N)? Now what? Lojax

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What directions? Did you create a bootable CD?

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The Killdisk directions. I made the CD and it says what I said in response #37 when I try running it. The Killdisk directions offer no help. Lojax

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If you don't have a floppy drive there's no need to format a floppy disk. Using killdisk will do the job but it's probably not necessary. Just boot with the 98 cd and format the c: drive.

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Did you download the the bootable ISO image of Killdisk to burn CD?

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You want to format C:. You will get an error when trying to format A:, due to there is no floppy drive. Note: I have never used Killdisk Have you verified that the Win98 CD is bootable ?

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It's an OEM 98 cd so it should be bootable. I assume the thinkpad bios has the option to boot from cd.

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The poster has booted from the Win98SE CD before. I am trying to use the easiest way to remove the Win98FE installation. Doesn't seem that Killdisk is working. Thought it would be easier than a boot disk image. Maybe delpart?

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Okay, YOU GUYS ROCK! I typed Format C: instead of format A: and wiped the drive. Now it says Volume Serial Number 2D3D-08E7 and lists the C:\> Now what? Lojax

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I tried rebooting it and now it says Invalid System Disk Replace the disk, and then press any key Lojax

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Boot to the Win98SE CD and select install Win98.

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How do I boot it (remember, im a novice)? I started the computor with SE Disk in it and got the same message as in #46. How do i boot the CD? Or do I have the wrong CD? Lojax

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Go into cmos/bios setup and make sure the cdrom is the first boot device. Then reboot with the 98 cd in the cdrom.

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I cant go into cmos/bios the screene just says Invalid System Disk Replace the disk, and then press any key and doesnt let me type anything. How do I go into cmos/bios setup? Lojax

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Did you change the boot order in the BIOS or something? In your first post you indicated yoou had booted to the CD then, or am I mistaken? One of two things is happening. ONE the boot order is not set to boot from the CD drive. TWO, your Win98SE CD is not bootable. Watch the screens at startup to see what keystroke/s are used to enter the BIOS. Someone else following this thread may know the key for a thinkpad. Maybe F2 or F10. Anyway you need to enter the BIOS screens and set the boot order to boot to the CD prior to the harddrive. When booting with the Win98CD in the drive watch for a screen that says "boot from the CD" Hit enter at that time.

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Yeah, I think the IBM should be F1 or F2. Whichever key it is, you have to start tapping it before it tries to load an OS.

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I think my CD might not be a boot CD. I do have a boot floppy disk, but no floppy dive. Can I copy it to a CD and use it? Or something like that? Lojax

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Your CD may not be bootable but that is what you will determine by following the instructions in response #51. If that doesn't work then make a bootable CD. Copy all the files from the floppy to a CD. You need to make the CD bootable, just like the Killdisk CD.

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I dont quite understand all of the instructions on #51. Like I said, I've never done this before, so I have no idea what BIOS is. I hit F1 during the start up and then got an Easy-Setup box. My choices are Config Date/Time Password Start up Test Restart Start up has a few choices too, I just dont know what to hit. How do I make a disk bootable? Lojax

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Try config and startup from the menu. See what options they give.

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Config offers : Memory, System board and initalize Start up offers: (They include 8 bit pics that I will describe) FDD-1 (looks like a drive of some sort) HDD-1 (A cylinder shape) Network FDD-2 (just like #1) HDD-2 (just like #2) HDD-3 (just like #2) HDD-4 (just like #2) PCMCIA (a pic of one) What do you think? Lojax

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Your doing fine. Use the same procedure you used to make the Killdisk CD except instead of putting Killdisk on the CD copy all the files from the boot floppy. If you would rather, you can use Nero or Roxio Easy CD creator to "make disk bootable". I'm not sure if you said wheather you had access to either of those programs. I should ask now, is the boot floppy you have for Win98SE?

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In #45 above, after formatting you were left at a c:\> prompt. That's odd unless you managed to format from the c: drive, instead of a: or d: I think perhaps you've been booting from c: all this time and not realizing it.

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No cdrom as a startup device? See if you can determine if you can change the order of the devices showing in 'startup'. Try FDD-1 as the first one. What is the specific model of your thinkpad?

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OtheHill: the disk is for SE DAVEINCAPS: I cant realize what I dont know. I tried running the killdisk by typing "Format A:" and had no luck, thats when one of the replies got me to try Format C:. Should I have typed D? Lojax

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lojax Try booting from the Win98SE CD once more. This time watch the screens for messages. If you see a message saying boot from CD hit enter. If that message doesn't appear then you will need to make the boot CD from the boot floppy. What CD burning program do you have available? Does the computer with the burning drive in it also have a floppy drive?

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No, you did that right. It's just that if you're at an a:\> prompt or d:\> prompt or whatever and type format c:, when it's done you should be at the previous prompt--a:\> or d:\>--and not c:\>. And usually that prompt indicates the drive you booted from as it takes a second dos command to change to a different drive. So when it left you at c:\> I thought you must have somehow booted from c: and done the format.

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lojax I is getting late and my mind isn't working 100%. Your boot order must be correct because you booted to the Killdisk CD. That means your Win98SE CD disk isn't bootable and you need to make a bootable startup disk as discussed above. I assumed from your first post that your CD WAS bootable but evidently you MUST have been trying to upgrade from within Win98FE.

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DAVEINCAPS: I tried starting in HDD-1 and in FDD-1 and got the same result, it says Invalid System Disk Replace the disk, and then press any key OTheHill: Again, how do I "Boot" the CD. I tried restarting the computer with the SE CD I have and I tried using the CD copy I made of the floppy on my XP using Roxio (i selected disc at once when i burned it). So I used both CD's, but just restarted the computer with them. Is there something else I should be doing to "Boot" them? Lojax

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Looking at my lap top, it looks like it was a 95 upgraded to a 98, can I still make it a SE? IF so how do I make a bootable SE CD? IF not, how do I make a bootable 98 CD? Lojax

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I think my mind is also lagging. But I think it's possible he's never booted from the cdrom. When he renamed win.com and couldn't correct it, he forced the hard drive to boot to dos. He made the killdisk boot cd but it never ran as it never booted from there. The only screen results he gave were from using the format command. So he managed to format the hard drive after booting from the hard drive and now doesn't have a boot drive because apparently there's no cmos option to boot from the cd.

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Okay, so what do i do, Im all ears????? Lojax

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Lojax, post back the model number and maybe we can find info on setting the boot devices. Yes you can install 98 on it as long as it's got the minimum requirements. For SE that'd be 24 meg of ram and a 486 DX-66. But even if you had less than that, that's not what is causing the problems as we're not even getting to the installation phase.

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When you have CD Creator open there are three choices in the middle of the screen for the typr of disk to create. DATA, Music, Other. Choose Other and there is a chioce for bootable CD or disk. Use that choice and copy the entire contents of the boot floppy to the lower screen area.

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lojax Is that working for you. It is getting late and past my bedtime. Trying to see you to the end.

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I appreciate it, Im about done too, I'd just like to see some progress before I call it a night. As for the bootable CD, My choices are Music, DVD, and Data CD. Other isnt a choice. Lojax

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never mind, i got it Lojax

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The back of the computor says it is a Windows 95 Think Pad 760 ED 596-3864-0 If you need more info on it, you need to tell me where to look cuz like I said, I come from a long line of village idiots! OtheHill, just about done with the CD Lojax

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Burned the boot disk, no dice. Im praying for help. Any ideas? Lojax

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Are you saying the computer won't boot from the CD you just made? Did you hit enter when you were asked if you wanted to boot from the CD? Do you have ANY CDs that you know are bootable? Games or whatever? Need to find out for sure is the computer is set to boot from a CD or if you burned the CD wrong. DAVINCAPS may have been correct back in #60. The ONLY way that could be is if the harddrive was partitioned and had TWO installs of Win98. You can't format the drive that 98 is on when inside 98. Do you understand about the need to hit ENTER key when asked if you want to boot from the CD. If you don't do that the computer will bypass the CD, even if it IS bootable. I'm pretty sure you did boot to a CD when using Killdisk. Maybe you did something wrong when creating the boot CD. You can use the same utility you used to create the Killdisk CD to make one for the boot files. I am going to call it a night. It is 12:45 AM here in Michigan. IF you get the boot disk to work here is what you need to do. Select start without CD support. When the A: comes up type D: hit enter. Then type DIR> enter. Look for Fdisk and Format to be sure they are present. Hit enter again and type Fdisk> enter. When Fdisk opens choose option#4 to verify that there are no partitions on the harddrive. If that is correct hit ESC and choose to create partition, primary use all possible space and make active. Hit ESC and reboot. Repeat the steps to get to D: This time type format C: Choose Y for large disk and format. Shutdown and insert Win98SE CD and boot. Choose Install Win98. Good Luck. I will check back in the morning.

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Holy Cow! You guys are always having a blast over on this forum - 75+ posts. In the likelihood that you do have a '98 disc that isn't bootable & you seem to already have a boot diskette - this here or steps below should help you out. You don't have to reformat again since you've already gotten that done. But you can proceed with the steps after that part as outlined in the guide below. This method involves copying the Windows 98 installation files to your HDD & running "setup" from the HDD. "Insert the Windows 98 CD or the boot floppy, and turn on the PC, it should boot from the CD,[or floppy] If the PC insists in booting from its own hard drive, then go to the SETUP as it boots (look for the on-screen message at bootup) Search the setup for boot options and make sure that the boot order is; first CD-ROM / floppy second Hard disk This enables you to boot from CD-ROM to DOS Start the PC with the Win 98 CD-rom in the drive It should boot to a black and white text screen, You will have 3 choices on the screen; 1. Start Windows setup from CD-ROM 2. Boot to DOS with CD-ROM support 3. Boot to DOS without CD-ROM support Always select option 2, the PC will boot up to the A:\ prompt for a complete rebuild, delete and rebuild the partition(S) with FDISK However, if you are not confidient using FDISK and your hard disk is OK Skip the bit about fdisk between the asterisks* and go straight to Formatting the Hard drive ****************************************************************************** A:type FDISK Fdisk is a DOS based utility that enables you to manage hard disk partitions Typing FDISK brings up a long boring screen that warns that your Hard rive is larger than 512MB !!! answering Yes to this will ensure that your disk will be formatted in FAT 32 rather than FAT 16, So type [Y] to enable large hard disk support and use FAT 32 This brings you to the main menu choose one of the following; 1.Create a DOS Partition or Logical DOS drive 2.Set active Partition 3.Delete partition or logical DOS drive 4.Display Partition Info 5.Change current fixed disk drive CHOOSE 4 to display current partition(s) You should see a single partition, [if there is more than one partition see below] something like this will be displayed; C: 1 A Primary DOS FAT 32 100% (This tells you that there is one Active primary partition using 100% of the Hard disk) press ESC to return to the first menu Choose 3 to delete partition Choose option 1 from the next screen (Delete primary DOS partition) Warning; DATA IN THE DELETED PARTITION WILL BE LOST WHAT PARTITION DO YOU WANT TO DELETE? Type 1, for partition 1 Press enter, you will have to type in the Volume label, if there is no volume label, just press enter, and answer yes again PRIMARY PARTITION DELETED Press escape..this will bring you back to the main screen, if you display the partition info again you will see that no partitions exist If you are deleting a NTFS partition, it will be listed as a "Non-DOS Partition" see below... Now rebuild your partition, from the main menu accept the defaults by hitting enter 1. Create a DOS partition or Logical Drive [enter] Answer Yes when asked if you want to use all of the disk for this partition and make it active............ Fdisk will check the disk and rebuild the partition, this takes a minute or two, when you reboot from the CD again you will have one large FAT32 primary partition C:\ If your Disk was formatted with NTFS.. In the delete menu look for ["Delete non-dos partition..] If you have more than one Partition to begin with..deleting is done in stages Delete the logical drive(s) first then delete the extended DOS partition finally delete the primary partition as above Practice with fdisk, it is a very powerful tool, if you are repartitioning anyway, you will not do any damage, you can build and tear down partitions at will ****************************************************************************** Formatting the Hard Drive After rebooting from the CD you will have to Format the new partition, each new partition , or drive letter, needs to be formatted on it own If you have only one large partition, the C drive, then you only need to format C: The basic rule of the format command is that you cannot format the drive that you are currently in, so format the C: drive from the D: \prompt The Format command is found on the Win98 folder on the Win98 CD ROM Go to D:\Win98 [where d: is the CD-ROM drive] and type format c: ignore the warning that "all data will be lost" press Yes Proceeding with Formatting Depending on the size of Hard Drive, formatting will take awhile, an 80 GB drive might take an hour, reboot again from the Windows CD boot to DOS with CD-ROM support **The next step is to copy the windows 98 Cab files to the hard disk*** You could install from the CD-ROM now, but a better option is to copy the CAB files from the Install CD to the hard drive, and install from there Make a folder on c: called Win98 from the C: prompt type this; md Win98 [md= make Directory, and call it Win98] Then go to the Win98 folder on the CD and copy everything to C:\Win98 d: cd win98 [cd=Change Directory to] this will bring you to the prompt D:\Win98 then type; copy *.* c:\win98 (Copy star-dot-star [everything] in this folder to c:\Win98) do not forget the space in front of C:\Win98 there are about 74 cab files in this folder as well other files ***Now Run the Windows Setup from your hard drive*** remove the Windows CD-ROM and go to the Win98 folder on your hard drive; c:cd win98 from the C:\Win98 prompt, type SETUP This will launch the familiar Windows setup, the difference here will be a faster setup because of the higher access speed of the hard drive as opposed to the slow CD-ROM, A typical install will take 20 minutes" http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fi... Give it up for MC Rove

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The problem is that he appears to have no boot device. It's one of those swappable floppy/cdrom setups and he only has the cdrom and the bios doesn't seem to have a cdrom boot option. I've been trying to download a manual but the only site I could find has been jacking me around and I'm not getting it to download. It's a P-133 so you'd expect it to boot from the cdrom but it's an IBM so who knows.

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For sure - you really can't buy this kind of fun Were you concerned that he wouldn't be able to click on the link? Just wondering I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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Well, given the level of inexperience I thought if I could download it and have a look it may be quicker. But you've got to sign up, login and then try the download. It's a .pdf file but acrobat doesn't accept it. Here's the link: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic....

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"Were you concerned that he wouldn't be able to click on the link? Just wondering" When you encounter a Windows 98 install thread that manages to span well over 70 responses, leaving too much to the imagination can have undesired effects. Give it up for MC Rove

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There's a hardware maintenance manual for that model you can download here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s... Also you can buy the user guide here: http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docvie... But we just need to know if there's some way to set the cdrom as the first boot device. Maybe someone has that model and can tell us?

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I've had a lot of posts since I ran the killdisk, but nothing has changed, sine I hit this error Invalid system disk Replace the disk, and then press any key i've been stuck here for hours and burned half a dozen bootable disks with no luck Lojax

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lojax Try booting to the Killdisk CD and see if it will boot. When you were attempting to upgrade to 98SE were you in Win98FE at the time?

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Good morning OtheHill, good to see you again I put the Killdisk in, re-started the computer (is that what you mean when you ask me to boot the disk?), and i'm still getting Invalid system disk Replace the disk, and then press any key Lojax

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I tried booting other disks too, no luck. Is anyone still out there? The manuel isnt helping either. Then again, I have no idea what im looking for. Lojax

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During the boot process with the Killdisk CD inserted, do you see a screen saying "boot to CD", or something like that?

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Nope. I put the CD in, the computor sounds like its reading it and the Invalid system disk message appears. No options or input. Just invalid system disk. Lojax

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This really doesn't make any sense at all. You MUST have booted to the Killdisk CD in order to perform the wipe. Can you post the exact model of the computer?

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IBM Think Pad 760 EZ, I was origonally on Win 95, but on 98 when i got it. I was in DOS mode with the c:\> I put in the Killdisk and typed "Format a:" Nothing happened in # 42 someone said "You want to format C:. You will get an error when trying to format A:, due to there is no floppy drive." So then I typed in "Format c:" and the Kill disk did something big for a while telling me what percent was done. It finished with Volume Serial Number 2D3D-08E7 and listed the C:\> After that I restarted the computer and got the Invalid system disk message that I have been wrestling with since then. Lojax

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I meant Think pad 760 ED not EZ, sorry Lojax

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I saw where you posted the model above. I believe your CD drive is removable. If so, try removing and re-inserting. Maybe the contacts are dirty.

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I took it out, looks fine, still no dice. Im screwed arent I? Isnt ther some sure fire way to get it to boot? Lojax

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You need to enter the startup screens you were in way back and look through all the options. Somehow you need to set the CD to boot first. Can you see an access panel on the computer that shows the BIOS battery. If you locate it removing it for a few minutes while shutdown and unplugged may reset to defaults and allow booting to the CD. I regret advising you to use Killdisk, although DAVINCAPS isn't sure you even used it. Your particular model came with a floppy drive also, I believe. I can't fathom IBM designing a computer that won't boot to the removable drives. Referring back to #55 above: Easy-Setup box. My choices are Config Date/Time Password Start up Test Restart Look at all these options for choices on boot devices. You could try the floppy option referred to in #57. Is there a port to connect a network cable (looks like a phone plug)?

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I tried taking the battery out, no change I also tried reconfiguring the options in #57 so I boot the computer with each different option first. None of them have made a difference. Yes I have the port to connect to a network Lojax

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Looking at the support files for this laptop I am coming to the conclusion that your CD drive is not a boot device. I STILL don't understand how the Killdisk CD booted, if it did. However, if the CD drive is in fact not bootable then you have only two options available. One is to get a floppy drive. Two is to remove the harddrive and slave to another computer and install files that way. The second option isn't very good because there would be hardware issues to resolve when the drive was reinstalled in the thinkpad. I Googled for a floppy drive and got at least one hit for $35. Be sure any floppy you buy is compatible with your model and serial#. You are looking for and internal drive. Here is one link. http://www.westworldcomputers.com/i...

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Is slaving hard? I was just reading another forum where they mentioned hooking up to the desk top computor. I think i even have the cord needed. (im a little hesatant to spend any more money on this lap top.) Im sure you understand. Lojax

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ANother question, If i havc to put the floppy in, does that mean that I have to remove the CD drive? Wold I reinstall it after the windows program is loaded? I actually have to get going to work, please post ideas so I can check them tonight. THANKS Lojax

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If you refer to a network cable there are TWO types. a straight thru and a crossover. A straight through is for connecting to a hub, switch or router. The crossover is to connect directly to another computer. You can't really tell the difference by looking but the most common cable by far is the straight thru. If you are you thinking of removing the HD? There is an adapter needed to connect 2.5" drives to a normal IDE cable. I am not sure if connecting the network cable to a network or connecting directly to another computer using a crossover cable would show anything. You could certainly try it. Set to boot to network. As I said before, I regret advising you to wipe the drive. In my defense I did advise that you verify the ability to boot to CD drive. That said I hope I and hopefully others here can get you up and running with Win98SE.

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Yeah, I doubt he booted from the killdisk cd. He says he booted from it but it left him at a c:\> prompt, indicating he must have booted from c: instead. Then the only command he ran was format. Maybe the cdrom isn't reading cd-r disks? Some older ones don't. Of course he should be able to boot from the 98 cd as I'm certain it's bootable. Although, Lojax you may want to use it to boot up another computer to make sure. Otherwise, you indicate you've got a manual. Somewhere in there it should tell you about assigning boot order or booting from the cdrom.

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Lojax, if you can network it to a second PC and have it see the laptop hard drive then you can copy the necessary installation files to it. Once they're copied to the laptop hard drive you can run the installation there. Post back if a network connection is successful and we can go into more details.

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DAVINCAPS I searched through the support files for that laptop and I don't think it does support booting to the CD drive. There is some mention of booting to a floppy first in order to access a recovery CD. That, plus the boot order posted in #57 indicates there is no option to boot to the CD drive, unfortunately. What I don't understand is how a format was performed. You can't format the partition you are in. Where did the format file come from. From every indication it appears this laptop originally came with a floppy disk and the CDdrive. I don't know if booting to network will work without an OS being installed.

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Here is an Ebay listing for an internal floppy drive. Buy now price $4.95 with $4.75 shipping. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...

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Lojax If you are still with us, duplicate posts often get zapped so if that happens just continue on here. Don't worry about the number of posts - record is over 200. FWIW that drive from ebay sounds to me like the neatest solution for you. It's then a doddle to load W98SE (or even format C if necessary) once you have a working floppy. You just set the boot order in BIOS to A, C, D and away you go. DerekW

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OtheHill, I haven't tried it, but from occasional past references I think when booting to dos you can format the current drive. Kind of like sawing off the branch you're sitting on. At the point he did the format the files were intact. It was just the renamed win.com that was preventing windows from loading. So the c:\windows;c:\windows\command path was there as was the format command. Lojax, no one would have recommended formatting the drive if you hadn't indicated you could boot from the cdrom.

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Hey guys, Im still around. I took OtheHill's advice and got the floppy off of ebay. Thanks for finding it, I really appreciate everything. I totally understand that my lack of computer experience adn lingo have hindered things a bit. When the floppy comes in, if I have any problems, can I just reach you guys by posting here? Not that you havent already given me enough of your time, but I'd just like to be sure I can Get R Done! Thanks again Lojax

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You may be buying the floppy drive that came with that laptop, for all you know. Ebay sellers maximize value by separating stuff. We were beginning to wonder what happened to you. A floppy drive is a necessity with any computer, despite what some may say. I NEVER assemble a system without one. Once you get the floppy drive set it up as the first boot device. Boot to the Windows boot floppy and read the screens. Good luck with it. BTW, out of curiousity, how much did you pay for the laptop?

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$35. Hardly worth the trouble its been. I just watned something i could use Word and the internet on so i wasnt picky. My bad Lojax

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I hope you didn't buy the $35 floppy. post #103 is for a much cheaper one.

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After you get the floppy, use the guide at http://www.mesich.com/framed.html?p...

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Quite an exercise! I solved this problem by getting an external floppy that connects to the rear of the Thinkpad, so you have the CD and floppy available.

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jhollis That would be the easy way, if the laptop in question was capable. Remember this laptop won't even boot from the CD drive, let alone an external USB drive. That capability didn't exist when that laptop was built.

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I doesnt even have a USB. I have to get a PCMCIA card that adapts to a usb for that (and to access high speed internet too). Lojax

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U need not wipeout ur hard disk or data. Please do the following. 1. made a directory such as (98se or 98 etc.)on your hard disk. 2. Copy all the contents of the Windows 98Se Cd to this directory. 3. Give the shutdown command and select "restart with command Prompt" or restart and press F8 while computer is booting up. Here opt for command prompt only 4. go the newly created directory 5. type smartdrv /v You should see a message stating that smartdrv is loaded. (step 4 & 5 is not necessary; but it will help u to speed up the following process) 6. type cd\windows\command 7. type deltree c:\windows\system Since u have another windows folder names "windows000" do steps 6 & 7 there too. (deltree c:\windows000\system) 8. go to the newly created directory where u have copied all the files from the cd. 9. type setup and enter all your problems will be solved.

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Alas, if only it wasn't already formatted (post #45).

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IM BACK!!! I have the floppy drive and installed it. Then I turned it on with the bootdisk and it started to run, but I think is back to DOS. It has the A:\> Now what????? Lojax

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You should have the "A" prompt when booting with a floppy. Now, insert the installation CD and type "setup".

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Remwmber, I had to remove the CD drive to plug in the floppy drive. Do I just swap them out while the computer is still on? Lojax

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Read #110

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If you like I can email you a bootdisk file you can use to boot it up. The disk will copy the necessary files to the hard drive. Then you turn off the laptop, replace the floppy drive with cdrom, start it up again and start the 98 installation. Post back your email address if you want to do it that way.

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That would be great. lojax115@yahoo.com. I tried following the directions in #110 and had issues. The first st of directions told me to typ Format C: /S and when I did the computer said "Bad comand or file name." When i tried downloading the zipboot for the other set of directions there wasnt enough room on the disk.

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Okay, Im back to booting with a windows screne into DOS. It tells me Microsoft (R)Windows 98 (C) COpyright Microsoft COrp 1981-1999 C:\> On of the tutorials told me to put the CD in and type D:. but it keeps saying Invalid drive specification. Any ideas? Lojax

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During the setup process a ram disk is created. This is a virtual partitions to be used fro the installation files. That ram drive is probably using D: so I suggest you try E:.

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It says "Invalid drive specification" Lojax

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Watch the screen when booting for CD drive letter assignment. Many boot discs assign letter "R", "S", or "T".

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It doesnt assign. It goes right from black, to windows, to Microsoft (R)Windows 98 (C) COpyright Microsoft COrp 1981-1999 C:\> Lojax

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If I hit B: it tells me to "insert diskett for drive B: and hit any key when ready" Then when I hit a key it tells me "Not ready, reading deive B: Abort, Retry, Fail?" If I hit A: it just tells me "Not ready, reading deive A: Abort, Retry, Fail?" Then I tried every other letter of the alphabet and it said "Invalid drive specification." Lojax

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Have you installed anything to the C: drive as of yet? Are you booting with the floppy in place or the CD?

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Boot off the boot floppy. At the A:\> prompt, type C:\ & hit ENTER. That will take you to the C:\> prompt. Type DIR & hit ENTER...what happens?

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I booted with the Bootdisk, Typed SYS C:, it said "system transfered," I typed Install, It said :Bad comand," I turned it off, then took out the floppy and put in the CD drive, and then restarted it with the Win 98 CD in it. What would I install and how? Lojax

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In Response to #129 It says Volume in Drive C has no label Volume Serial Number is 2D3D-08EZ Directory of C:\ Comand Com 93,890 04-23-99 10:22p 1 File(s) 93,890 bytes 0 Dir(s) 1,079,177,216 byes Free c:\> Lojax

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OK, that's a start. Now you have to copy the 4 files needed for the CD-ROM from the boot floppy to the HDD. Are you following the 1st method or 2nd method from the link in #110?

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I just sent the file to create the disk. If you haven't gotten things straightened out yet go ahead and use it.

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I tried both with no avail. Specifically, I was following the second method last, but it wasnt working. When I hit Install it didnt tell me files ere transfering. Plus after I swaped out the CD drive, the files didnt transfer. How do I copy the files you mentioned. Lojax

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OK, you unzipped the file I sent and then ran it. It told you to insert a floppy disk. When it was done you used it to boot up the laptop. When it was done you shut off the laptop and swapped the floppy drive with the cdrom and booted up again. What happened? What shows on the screen? At the c:\> do a DIR and enter. Post back what it says. Or are you responding to Jam?

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I was talking to Jam, but since I have a familar face thats handy right now, Im doing it your way. Thanks for the download by the way. It showed me a picture of a floppy drive with an arrow pointing to a CD drive and told me to hit F1. I assumed it meant to hit F1 to switch drives. So I hit it and now it is a black screan that says I9990305 in the top left corner. Lojax

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That's a 'no bootable device' message. Put the floppy drive in with no disk in it and start up the laptop. See if it goes to a c:\> prompt.

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It does, now what? Lojax

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Do a DIR and enter. Post back what it says. Assuming there's an FDISK.exe file there type FDISK and enter. Y to large disk support. Does it say something about the partition not being active?

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Oh, well it's going to be active otherwise it wouldn't have booted. Are you saying with the cdrom in instead of the floppy drive you get that 'no boot device' error? Try it again.

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The DIR says a lot, including "Volume in C has no lable Volume Serial Number is 2D3D-08E7 Directory of C:\ Command Com Size date and time Config Sys Size date and time Autoexec Bat Size date and time Himem Sys Size date and time Mscdex EXE Size date and time Oakcdrom Sys Size date and time 6 File(s) 194,029 Bytes 0 Dir(s) 1,079,054,336 bytes free I tried FDISK and it said "bad command or file name" Lojax

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That's OK. My disk didn't put fdisk on but I thought the other one you used may have. It looks like it's just got the files my disk loaded. It should be OK now. Put the cdrom in and boot up again. Post back what happens.

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Was I supose to start it with the CD in it? I started it without the CD and I have a C:\ prompt. Lojax

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Put the 98 cd in and type D:\SETUP and enter. 98 should start installing.

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At the C:\ prompt (with the Win98 CD in the drive), change to D:\, then type SETUP & hit ENTER. The Win98 installation *should* begin. You do know how to change from the C:\ prompt to the D:\ prompt, right??

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WINDOWS 98 HAS BEGUN SET UP!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!! I thought this would ever happen!!!! I was thinking that it was a lost cause. IF we were at a bar I'd be buying beers all around. Just in time too, because I am hitting the sack. To thanks everyone for the 144 posts. You guys ROCK!!! Lojax

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You're welcome. After the installation is complete you may want to delete the config.sys and autoexec.bat files as they were only needed to load the dos cdrom drivers.

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Also, we may need to hunt down some drivers but that should be easy compared to what it's taken so far.

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Maybe it was too soon to celebrate. I do have windows now, but when I start the computer I get a message saying that it can’t find a device file that may b needed, vnetbios.vxd. What is this, why do I need it and how do I get rid of the message? Then I press any key to continue. After that I get a couple installation wizards (one for an unknown device, one for a PCI Multimedia video device,) prompting me to put in the windows 98 SE CD. When I do that, the computer acts like it isn’t there and keeps prompting me to put it in. Then it tells me it needs to search for new drivers in the data base and asks me to choose the floppy or CD drive. I choose the CD and it says that “windows was unable to locate a drive for this divice.” SO I just cancel out. How do I get rid of that? The screen is also much smaller than the rest of the monitor. When I follow the directions to use the control panel, display, and settings to change it, it doesn’t let me. I can see what Im suppose to hit, but the computer wont let me click on it. How do I get my full screen back? Please help, again! Lojax

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As was pointed out above you need some drivers. Go to the IMB site and DLoad all the drivers available for your laptop. Once you get them, archive them so next time you need them they will be handy.

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See if you can find what you need here: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/s...

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The files it needs aren't there. That's why it couldn't find anything when you did the search. From Jam's link, it looks like you need to download the modem drivers to set up the modem and audio and then download the video drivers. The other downloads may not be necessary. If the vnetbios.vxd message still comes up after you install the drivers you can install it by running SFC and choosing to extract that file.

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Whats SFC? Lojax

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System File Checker. You can use it to scan for altered files or to extract and install a particular file. Just type SFC in the START--RUN box. You'll want to extract it from the 98 cd.

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"Maybe it was too soon to celebrate. I do have windows now, but when I start the computer I get a message saying that it can’t find a device file that may b needed, vnetbios.vxd. What is this, why do I need it and how do I get rid of the message?" Vnetbios.vxd relates to a network device driver & a simple manual editing of the registry should take care of that error message. You do this by using the Registry Editor to delete the StaticVxD value in the Vnetbios subkey under the following registry entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlset\Services\VxD\vnetbios Click >> Start >> Run >> & type regedit & navigate to the appropriate key as listed from above. When you are done shutdown & restart the system normally. Another method is described here, use any of these two method if you are still having the message come up as of this post.

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That worked, but now what about my "A required .DLL file, ICMP.DLL was not found." message? My screen still wont enlarge either, it's really anoying! Lojax

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If your screen isn't right you need graphics drivers. Did you use the link that jam gave you?

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I tried. In order to download them I need to put a diskett in. Does that mean I have to do It with my floppy drive in? Remember, I can only use either my floppy or my cd, they wont both run at the same time. What abour .DLL? Lojax

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Download the stuff with a different computer and burn to CD. If your laptop is woking good enough you download to a folder on the harddrive.

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"In order to download them I need to put a diskett in" No you don't. Just save them on the HDD. I suggest you create a folder called "IBM drivers" & save the drivers (modem/audio, video, etc) in that folder, then install them from there

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Icmp.dll is another file you can extract with SFC. Do the 'readme' files on the download page help with installing the drivers?

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I downloaded the first modem/audio file. It looks like it'll only extract to a floppy disk. You'll have to do that and either use the floppy drive to install the drivers or extract them to floppy disks and then copy the disks to a PC with a burner. I think it'd be easier to just use the laptop's floppy drive. It looks like you'd just put the disk in and open the a: drive from MY COMPUTER and run SETUP. The setup process should request the insertion of the subsequent disks when needed.

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Where do I extract the .DLL from and where do I extract it too? I was having issues with that. Lojax

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I downloaded all the files for Win 98 with a 760 SE on the page that Jam sent. My screen still wont give me the option to use more than 16 bit colors or be the full size of the monitor. Any ideas on what program I need specifically? Was I supose to download more stuf than just what was listed for Win 98? I tried doing the SFC for the .DLL files and had no luck. I dont have anywhere to extract them from. I tried extracing from 2 different boot disks, no luck. I also tried extracting from 2 differendt Windows 98 SE CD's, no luck. It keeps telling me it cant find the file. WHere do I get it from? Lojax

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This is really getting to be pathetic. There really were only two drivers that you needed to download from the link I provided, the video & the modem/sound. The video download is fairly straight-forward...you simply download it, then double-click on it to extract the driver. After that, there are numerous steps that you need to go thru to actually install the driver. I'm guessing that you didn't bother to read the "readme" file? "Installation Guide ------------------ For Windows 98 User 1. Install Windows 98 standard VGA. 2. Start Windows 98. 3. Extract the drivers onto the hard disk. 4. Click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Display. 5. Click the 'Setting' tab. 6. Click the 'Advanced...' button. 7. Click the 'Adapter' tab. 8. Click the 'Change...' button. Then Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box appears. 9. Click on 'Next>' button. 10. Select 'Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want'. 11. Click on 'Next>' button. 12. Click on 'Have Disk' button. 13. Specify the directory where the driver files are extracted. Default path is C:\DRIVERS\W9X\DISPLAY. Then click on 'OK' button. Then device list appears. 12. Confirm 'IBM ThinkPad(Cyberxxxx) PCI' is shown as the selection. Then click on 'OK' button. 13. Click on 'Yes' button if 'Update Driver Warning' dialog is appeared. 14. Click on 'Next' button. 15. Click on 'Finish' button. 16. Click on 'Close' button. 17. Click on 'Close' button in Display Properties dialog. 18. Windows 98 prompts you to restart the computer to make the display driver change effective." The modem/sound installation is more complicated...one thing at a time. Concentrate on the video.

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Now when you say “This is really getting to be pathetic.” By “This” do you mean my total ignorance when it comes to computers or my IBM’s stubbornness? Either way, JAM IS THE MAN!!! Because I do have my full graphics back. Thank you so much!!!! Now, what do I do about the missing or damaged .DLL? Lojax

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What are the file names?

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If you use SFC to extract a file from the 98 cd you want to extract it from D:\WIN98. Generally windows will know where to put the file and will default to that location. Usually that will be C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.

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So Jam, how about those modem instructions you promised me? The monitor ones were right on! Lojax

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I think Jam's comment "this is pathetic" is right on. Almost 170 posts for a problem in which the solution is described in the "howtos" section in great detail. Many experts have devoted alot of time for a relatively simple issue. I applaud DAVEINCAPS for his patience.

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"how about those modem instructions you promised me?" Geez dude...can't you do anything on your own? Everything you need to know is on the website that I linked to in #151. Where do you think I got the instructions for the video? ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/mwavew95.txt

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Look guys, I’m sorry I’m so useless, but I’m really trying to figure this thing out on my own. I just wasn’t putting one and one together with the web site. I have the modem running now after the past week of trouble shooting (the modem didn’t install the way the directions on the web site said, but I figured it out). The issue is I still can’t get online. The dial up worked before we reloaded the computer, but not now. I’m trying to connect with dial up and I’ve spent hours each day for the past 4 day’s trouble shooting and looking on websites and still haven’t been able to figure it out. I used the test option and the modem seems to work fine, but when I use the internet connection wizard, I can’t connect with anyone. It dials, but no connection is established. Any ideas or websites you recommend? Lojax

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Verify the phone line you are using is functional and the cabling is good.

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I have. Like I said, I was able to connect before we rant he kill disk and reinstalled the Win 98 SE, but not since then. I even created a new DUN since I had no present. It will dial and say it's connected, but when I hit the internet explorer, the page cannot establish the connection. Lojax

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Can you connect using a different computer and the same line/ISP?

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Yes I can Lojax

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Go to START--RUN and type in DIALER. Call a number you can hear ringing like your cell phone or a phone a second line. If the other one rings your modem should be setup OK. The easiest way to establish an internet connection with a modem in 98 is to use an ISP (like AOL, netzero, earthlink, etc.) installation disk. Don't use the 'internet connection wizard'. Dial up AOL is only $10 a month now.

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Find an independent ISP in which you can set up an account without installing any software. Just make a new connection with dial-up networking. Upgrade DUN to version 1.3 or 1.4.

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"The easiest way to establish an internet connection with a modem in 98 is to use an ISP (like AOL, netzero, earthlink, etc.) installation disk. Don't use the 'internet connection wizard'. Dial up AOL is only $10 a month now." If the OP has a valid access # for which dial & authenticate his log on credential, I don't really see how the above could make things any easier. Or has dial-up protocol changed since I left it?

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I know there were some threads about people having a hard time getting connected until they just installed the ISP software. I kept track of this one: http://computing.net/windows95/wwwb... But it looks like he was using a network card. I wouldn't say it's impossible to get connected without ISP software, just that in many cases it's easier doing it that way.

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With dial-up it's usually easier the other way around & many a times the user is spared the unsolicited bloatware ;-)

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I thought I was all set. I had the dial-up working through AOL and was ready to try installing my wireless G card. Then I kept getting the IRQ Steering is not enabled message. For the life of me, I tried everything and couldnt get it enabeled. So from there i tried running a Disk doctor (the advice of a IBM tech) and some how my CD rom was deleted. Now I cant use any CD's. I tried taking it out and putting it back in and no new hardware prompts come up. I tried doing it thropugh the controll pannels, and nothing works. I even downloaded the correct driver and read the readme, and when it comes time to install the driver is says that it is already running. When I try viewing the CD Drive however, there is nothing there. Any one know how I can reinstall it? Lojax

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Boot to dos prompt or exit to dos and at the prompt type scanreg/restore and enter. Choose a registry to restore with a date that precedes the cdrom disappearing.

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It only gave me a few date to choose from. The earliest was 2 weeks ago, not preceeding the issue. Any other options? Lojax

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Right click on 'my computer', choose 'properties' and then 'performance'. Is the cdrom in msdos compatibility mode? If so, run regedit and do a search for NOIDE. Delete any references you find. If that doesn't do it, open device manager and see if any yellow ! or ? are associated with the HD controllers. If so, open the HD master controller there and click the 'settings' tab. Normally it's set to 'default'. You might try changing that to 'both IDE channels enabled'. If that doesn't do it, delete the master HD controller in device manager, reboot and let windows set it up again.

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