Thinkpads Forum

The CD drive won't open,it makes noise but just will not open.I don't know if there is a disk in it or not.My sister mailed it to me and said I could have it if I could get it to work.I can't figure out how to get to the drive.I took every screw out of the back and it won't open either.I need to get the drive to work because someone formatted the hard drive so I need the CD drive to reload Windows.Can someone please help me?

What model laptop is this?

Is there a little tiny hole near the release button? If so, inserting the end of a paper clip might release it for you.

It says Type 2626.This is the first laptop I have had.I am confused on a lot of stuff.I didn't get a manual.Thanks for the info I will try that.

I disabled IBM DLA. I think you right click on D: and uncheck "DLA."

Google tells me that the 2626 is a ThinkPad 390, FWIW.

I can't right click because the hard drive is formatted.I need to get the CD drive open so I can reload Windows.The paper clip didn't work.Anything else I can do?Thank you

You could remove the optical drive from the drive bay and see if you can do anything with it then. Usually the paper clip method works. Is this drive showing up in Device Manager without any yellow exclaimation marks or red X's? Go to: Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager to view.

Here is the Hardware Maintenance Manual for the 390. Note, the Hardware Maintenance Manuals for the 390E and 390X are different.

I can't go to control panel or start.The HD is formatted and it will only load as far as the Windows screen.

As I posted before, have you tried using a paper clip in the little hole next blue CD release button?

This method will open the CDrom, regardless of whether or not the laptop is on.

If you exhaust all options, just buy a new or used CD drive on e-bay.

Thanks for all the help.I got the CD drive open but now I have another problem.I can hear the drive working but nothing comes up on the screen.How do I get the Windows CD to boot when the hard drive has been formatted.On my desktop it boots automatically when I put it in but it don't do that on this thinkpad.

With the laptop turned off, press the start button, then press the F1 button about once per second until you get into the BIOS setup menu. Change the boot order there, so that the CD boots before the hard drive. Save changes and exit.

I got to BIOS setup but what exactly do I do from there.I've never done this before.I have loaded Windows on a desktop and it booted as soon as I turned on the computer.This is my first laptop and I am confused.Thank you

As I am not familiar directly with the 390 BIOS, you might post this question on the ThinkPad Legacy Hardware forum. But basically, somewhere in the BIOS menu should be a page that allows you to choose which device is searched first for boot, then which device is searched second, then which device is searched third, etc. Normally if you choose floppy drive first, CD drive second, and hard disc drive third, this will work for almost all situations.

To answer the question in a general sense (I'm not familiar with that particular BIOS either), there should be something to the effect of "Boot options" where you can change the boot order.

The manual for your model is available for download here: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mo ... 0usrgd.pdf

In there, it should tell you how to change your boot order.

Thanks for the download manual.I read a lot in there but I still can't figure out how to set the boot order.I went into BIOS and the more I tried the more confused I got.Can someone tell me step by step?Thank you

1. Turn on the computer; then press F1 while the IBM ThinkPad logo is being displayed.
2. Press the down arrow three times to go to Startup, and press Enter.
3. Scroll down using the down arrow key to go to "ATAPI CD-ROM Drive", and press the spacebar until it is above "Hard Drive".
4. Put your CD in the drive.
5. Press F10, then press Enter to exit setup.

I still am confused.When I went to statup there were 2 chioces.Power and Network.Which one do I go into?Thanks

There should have been several options - the manual I have lists the following:

IBM ThinkPad 390 User's Guide wrote:Your computer provides a BIOS Setup Utility which allows you to select various setup parameters:
Config: Set the configuration of your computer.
Date/Time: Set date and time.
Password: Set a password.
Startup: Set the startup device.
Restart: Restart the system.

(my bolding)

Man I feel stupid.I still can't get it.There are two choices on mine.When I go into startup there is Power and below that it has Network.I tried what you said in both and still it loads the Windows screen.Thanks anyway

Ah, the bastages!

I was doing further digging, and found something out... the i1700 and the 390 share a type number.

Also, the 390E and 390X are the same type.

(Interestingly, I also found out that the i1600 is simply an Acer-manufactured X20... it's also Type 2662...)

I'm firing in the dark here, but let's try this...

Go to Power. Tell me what it says in there.

Thank you for the help.I got it going last night.I loaded Widows98SE and it works good.