Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

the hard disk in my Transnote died. I replaced it, and have re-installed Win2000 Pro (SP1), all drivers and applications from the original CD that came with my Transnote.
My question is: what's the recommended sequence to proceed?

Microsoft's updates first?
Or download all drivers/software for the Transnote from Lenovo's website first and install them?
If so, in which sequence?
And will they all work under Win2000 SP1 or only under SP4?

Other problem is the following: I now have Internet Explorer v5.5 installed. I already found out that Windows Update doesn't work with Internet Explorer 5.5. I downloaded IE 6, installed it and Windows Update could download the updates. However, during installation of the updates, the computer "hangs".
Do I did another full re-install from the original CD's and hope some-one can has advice how to proceed here.

Kind regards,

emeu1

Wow that's vintage equipment! LOL
First, I highly recommend installing Windows XP on this machine if at all possible - looks like it could handle that, though I'm not sure about driver support so check before you do this. It has huge advantages in terms of functionality, stability and security.

Here's the list of steps I recommend:
1. Install Windows, make sure you completely format the hard drive
2. Install chipset, IDE and such "central" drivers
3. Install all other drivers and double check in device manager no "unknown" devices remain
4. Install the latest Windows service pack using a standalone installer you could download at the Microsoft site
5. Update Internet explorer, again using a standalone installer
6. Connect to the internet (for security and stability don't connect to the internet before this step, download everything on another computer)
7. Try running Windows update and install all updates

The precise order in which you install drivers and updates shouldn't matter that much, but it does matter to be patient and reboot after the installation of every driver if prompted. Trying to finish quickly and e.g. run driver and update installations in parallel can easily get you into trouble on older Windows versions.

I have seen Windows Update lock up like this in the old days, and that could be very hard to fix, though if your Windows 2000 is not yet at the latest service pack it might work after you installed this from a standalone installer. I don't have other suggestions here except maybe reset your browser, a Google search could yield possible solutions. But maybe starting over with the patient and systematic approach I describe is better here, and don't forget to make an image if you ever need to reinstall again - installing such old machines correctly takes a lot of time.

If you stick with Windows 2000, install a firewall and a virus scanner before you connect to the internet.

If you are going to use XP, turn on its firewall with the "Don't allow exceptions" option selected, and also install a virus scanner before connecting to the internet.

Do some deep digging on the web, and install Windows FLP.
That's a skinny version of XP with great hardware support.
I had that on my Transnote before I sold it.

Hello,

thanks for all the tips!
In the meanwhile I managed to get everything installed.
Downloading (on another computer) and installing IE 6 SP1 solved the Windows Update problem.
All IBM/Lenovo updates installed without problems.
A virusscanner and firewall are installed and the wireless PCMCIA card is also operational again.
The handwriting recognition software is also installed and operational again so I can start using the Transnote again.

Thanks again for all the tips.

Kind regards,

Erik