Fresh XP install ... cannot install drivers

[jrumohr]

Hello,

I have searched the forums (and google) and have not found my answer, so I apologize if this has been run over like a dead horse.

T40 1.2gb ram, fresh install of XP Pro SP2. I have no recovery CDs. When I then install drivers from Lenovo's site for my specific machine, the drivers don't work. I first installed the Intel chipset drivers, Intel PRO 1000 lan card, then the ATI driver. After each install (I installed all 3 before a reboot) it just said click "finish", which I did. It never prompted for a reboot, which I found strange. Also the first reboot, the computer hanged at the startup IBM logo for about 30 seconds before starting Windows.

Is there a specific protocol to follow to install the correct IBM/Thinkpad/Lenovo software/drivers when doing a fresh XP install with no recovery partition or CD's?

Thanks,
Jason

[GomJabbar]

Look in the subfolders of C:\Drivers\. Find the files named setup.exe and run them. There should be a setup.exe for each driver you want to install. You can double click on the .xml file in each folder to see which driver that folder applies to.

I had thought the latest drivers from Lenovo performed the complete installation, but maybe they don't. I know in the past anyway, you had to run the download then setup.exe to install the ThinkPad drivers - unless you use the System Update utility.

ThinkVantage System Update 3.14

[jrumohr]

No setup.exe under my c:\drivers\ subfolders. I have installed the System Update Utility, but it says "an error occurred while downloading packages". Does the System Update include drivers for the NIC network card...maybe that is why the error is occuring?

Look in the subfolders of C:\Drivers\. Find the files named setup.exe and run them. There should be a setup.exe for each driver you want to install. You can double click on the .xml file in each folder to see which driver that folder applies to.

I had thought the latest drivers from Lenovo performed the complete installation, but maybe they don't. I know in the past anyway, you had to run the download then setup.exe to install the ThinkPad drivers - unless you use the System Update utility.

ThinkVantage System Update 3.14

[Neil]

Is there a specific protocol to follow to install the correct IBM/Thinkpad/Lenovo software/drivers

Yes there is. I don't think you have yet installed any of the drivers. When you download a driver package and run the executable, it basically extracts the package to a "drivers" folder, and does not install them. You will have to either find the drivers your looking for and run setup from there, or go into "Device Manager" and find the hardware that is missing drivers, and run "Driver Update" and point it to the subfolder of "drivers" that was created earlier. None of this is as complex as it sounds, it's just not what you were expecting.

[jrumohr]

Hey guys, thanks for all the tips. I've tried the suggestions. There is no setup.exe under the DRIVERS folder. I did find some .INF files, but when I point Device Manger to them, it says the files do not contain any info regarding my hardware. Wow, I am really scratching my head here...never had such a chore getting XP running before! My guess is once I can get the NIC working, then I can use the ThinkVantage System Update for the rest...

So, I must be missing something here. Any other suggestions?

Yes there is. I don't think you have yet installed any of the drivers. When you download a driver package and run the executable, it basically extracts the package to a "drivers" folder, and does not install them. You will have to either find the drivers your looking for and run setup from there, or go into "Device Manager" and find the hardware that is missing drivers, and run "Driver Update" and point it to the subfolder of "drivers" that was created earlier. None of this is as complex as it sounds, it's just not what you were expecting.

[jrumohr]

So I figured it out...here is what I did wrong and hopefully this will help someone else:

I downloaded the wrong drivers. On the Lenovo site, they do not list T40 as an option for the INtel Pro 1000 MT Mobile NIC. I downloaded the Pro 100 version, seeing it does list the T40, and I had misread the 100 as 1000. Problem solved! Thanks for the tips guys, why does IBM not have a self-installer?!?

[Neil]

So I figured it out...why does IBM not have a self-installer?!?

Congrates on getting it working! And, IBM does have a self-installer, so to speak. That is what System Update does, downloads, installs, all by itself, the user doesn't have to do much at all. Besides, it was all designed with the purchaser of a new system in mind. They didn't set up their update system for those of us trying to revive legacy hardware.

[fefrie]

Figuring out which ethernet or wireless driver is a bit of a crap shoot, but if you can guess right, the installation of drivers with System Update is a breeze.

If you buy used computers all the time. Thinkpads are the only way to go. Hours are no longer wasted searching for the right drivers to install.