T23 Boot problem

[Kev12372]

Hi there, I've just joined. Hope someone can shed some light on my T23 start up problem.

I think my T23 may have a virus. When I switch on, I get the message "Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINNT\System 32\Config\system". The message them tells me to install the windows 2000 disc. The only problem is that I cannot get the disc to boot from the drive. I select the drive as the primary boot source via the BIOS but the machine still tries to read from the hard drive. If I disable the hard drive (by using the insert key in BIOS), I then get the message that the operating system cannot be found. The light on the cd drive only lights momentarily on start up. If someone has any solutions I would be very grateful. However, as I am a real novice when it comes to computers, could any feedback be kept very simple.

Hope to hear from someone soon.

[truk]

Have you tried removing the cd rom from the ultrabay and putting it back in to make sure it's in there right? You also might want to try to boot from a different CD to see if you can. If your CD is scratched then it will not be recognized for booting and the computer will move on to the hard drive.

Hope this helps!
Truk

[Kev12372]

Trux,

thanks for the response. I've tried three different discs. An original 2000 pro disc, a copy and one of the "boot discs" you can buy on ebay. Nothing seems to work.

It's as if the T23 doesn't know to look for the disc. If I disable the hard drive, I just get the message that the OS cannot be found, this is after I have made the CD rom the priority boot source and placed the Windows disc correctly in the drive.

A friend of mine has offered (as a last resource) to remove the hard drive and wipe it clean in isolation but I am still not sure if, following this, I will be able to re-boot from CD. Has anybody tried this?????

I've only had the thing 6 months too!

[RealBlackStuff]

You could also have a faulty CD-drive.
Borrow one from a friend or pick one up cheap on eBay.

[hjulian]

Kev12372, are you still there?

I happen to have a similar problem. My CDRoms don't boot on a Panasonic M a t s u s h i t a UJ-815A DVD Ram drive. I can boot from a normal CDRom drive (LG CRN-8241B and another one from Teac) but not the DVD Ram drive.

Can you tell me exactly what kind of CDRom drive you have? Manufacturer and model number and, if possible, IDE setting (secondary master or secondary slave)?

Thanks.

[Kev12372]

Hi Julian,

thanks for the post. I don't know the answer to your questions at the moment. But will get a response to you shortly.

Since posting my problem I have bought an external CD drive from ebay. I can't boot from this either!

I will get back to you shortly.

Thanks again

Kev

[calkeith]

I seem to remember having this issue in the past w/ T23 & 600E.

Set bios to boot normally from HD, then attempt to get it to boot in safe mode...

Its some toggle of F5 or F8 during post. Others here may have better info on this.

It's def a corruption of Win2000, but there may be work around w/ sys
restore once booted. If not, you should be able to reinstall OS.

KC

[hjulian]

Kev,
Just want to make sure you have the basics up and running:
Do you have the latest BIOS upgrade in your ThinkPad?

If you don't, you should go to the Lenovo Support page and type in your ThinkPad type number and go to the Downloads page and download and insall the latest BIOS according to the instructions on the page.

I hope you have a ThinkPad diskette drive around to be able to do this. (Hoping your machine will boot from your diskette drive at least.)
A USB diskette drive will also do, I think. The BIOS will automatically assign it drive A:, it does in my ThinkPad T23 so I am hoping it will in yours too.

You should try booting again from your normal CD drive after doing the BIOS upgrade and see what happens.