Reformatting HD of a T21

[tdredi]

OK, so before i left my previous employeer, I had been fortunate to obtain a t21 - oh and still have it.

I've tried to reformat the HD and install win xp. I have installed xp, but would like to reformat and start from scratch. How do I do this if I don't have a floppy? Can a bootable cd be made instead so it boots from there and from the c/prompt, I use the format command to zap all contents of the hd?

Also, note that I had not done this until recently and some of the functions don't work (i.e. wireless 802.11b wireless card).

If my 'backup-personal' copy of winxp doesn't have all the drivers, where can i d'l the needed drivers/software so i can xfer these files to the laptop via a burned cd?

Sorry for the ?'s, as I am a newbie to this discussion board. TIA, all!

[MadeInJapan]

What I would do is:
If you have a floppy drive, insert a Windows98 Startup disc in it (or if you don't have one, look it up on line...you can download the files, no problem...best ones are the ones that don't use any of your HDD for the boot process and enable your CDrom at the same time), then Fdisk and delete the partition(s) and format to the largest capacity. Next, shut your laptop down and put your WindowsXP bootable CD in and let it do its stuff. It will also re-format, but this time in NTFS or FAT32 (if you prefer). This is a for-sure way that the XP CD uses all of your HD and doesn't try to make a separate partition, but if there was a service partition on your HD it will probably delete it.

After you install Windows, go into your Device Manager and you'll see what drivers are missing. Then, go to Bill's page (www.thinkpads.com), not this forum and find the Drivers Matrix link about 3/4 way down on the right, double click on it to get to IBM's site where you'll find all of the drivers and update files you'll need. I recommend you do this with a broadband connection and not a dial-up, as it will take some time otherwise.

You'll also want to do Windows Update (but if any drivers are listed to update their, ignore them...you only want to update drivers from IBM itself). Also, don't forget to put Antivirus and Anti-spam/adware program on your Thinkpad...to me, these are essential.

[tdredi]

MadeInJapan,

Is it safe to say that I can make a bootup floppy in the format of a CD? I have a floppy from a 600e, but no docking station, so I'm unable to use the floppy.

If so, yes, I am a newbie....how do I make a bootable cd in this case?


TIA,
Neil [/quote]

[JHEM]

The XP CD is bootable. Go into EZSetup and set the CD as the first BOOT device, then restart with the XP CD in the drive.

Regards,

James