Okay, I'm chickening out and breaking out in hives....

[frangelica]

I have been lurking around here for a while after I introduced myself, playing around with my 600 (2645-45u), updated the BIOS, installed 2 128 chips, and today, my 40gb Samsung hard drive got here.

I started to take this baby apart. And then I thought....wait! I've never actually changed out a hard drive before--just added to things. Here are some stupid questions that are going to have some of you rolling your eyes, but honestly, I've done a lot to various computers (usually desktops) but I've never just started from scratch with a drive. I've ADDED drives, but I've gone all this time and never learned ANYTHING about DOS....

When I plug in a virgin hard drive, what will be on it? Will I need to download some form of MSDOS from somewhere?

Do I just boot up from my Windows installation disk?

What the heck is a partition, and why do you need it and how is it done? Is this something that I should worry about?

I have no problem with taking things apart, and I can USUALLY get them put back together, but the DOS language has never shown up in my self-taught curriculum. And suddenly, I am getting cold feet. Will somebody out there have pity on me and educate me?

[joaomiguelxs]

A brand new hard drive is not accessible to your computer's Operating System (windows, linux, whatever...).

It's unpartitioned, there's no way of the computer reading or recognizing anything- even if it's just a huge blank...

partitioning is the process that conforms your hard drive to one of the data systems computers use to access files: the older FAT and FAT32 (older windows), Linux and NTFS (Win 2000, Win XP).

If you're installing Win XP and you have a cd drive connected, enter the BIOS setup and select the cd drive as your booting device. Restart the computer and you should see the XP install screen. Don't forget to place the XP cd in the drive!

The install cd will walk you through the entire install and hard drive partitioning / formatting process. You'll be asked to choose from a data system (choose NTFS if you're going to work with files 2GB+, like videos or dvds). It will also ask you to confirm and format the drive, if I recall correctly.

Good luck!

[Runner]

More about partitions... Your hard drive presently is one huge storeage container. You could leave it as one partition, but there are some reasons why you might want to "chop" it up into smaller units (partitions) -- think of a gigantic warehouse, which might work better if it had some separate rooms, say for offices, bathrooms, library, conference room.. OK, you get the drift. Some people think that to have a relatively small partition into which you install your OS, and then to have other partitions where you can store data, non-OS programs, backups, and so on, makes searching for what you want much easier, which seems true, and also if you have a failure of the harddrive in one partition, the others may be still useable. With most OS and File Systems (FAT, FAT32, NFTS, etc.) you can re-format just one partition rather than having to destroy data in other partitions. Also, disk cleanup chores are much quicker when you can do just one partition out of many (as it is smaller) than having to run a cleanup program which has to do the entire 40 GB (which will take quite a while if you only have the one partition)... what porportions to divvy up the hard drive really is up to you and depends on what you are going to use the computer for. I have my 120 GB harddrive partitioned into 5 partitions, with one holding only games, one holding only data produced by other programs (databases, word processors, etc.), one for downloads --sort of an isolation chamber until I can check for viruses -- and so on. Hope this helps!

Ed

[GomJabbar]

partitioning is the process that conforms your hard drive to one of the data systems computers use to access files: the older FAT and FAT32 (older windows), Linux and NTFS (Win 2000, Win XP).

Not technically correct. Partitioning lays out an area or areas on your hard disk. If you have one partition, it will show up as drive C: (after formatting). If you have three partitions, they will show up as drives C: D: E: (after formatting). A partition can be set up as a primary partition or as an extended partition. Extended partitions are divided up into logical disks. You can have only one primary partitition that is accessible at any one time. You can have more than one primary partition, but only one can be seen at a time. Logical disks are always visible as long as the file system is supported.

You could partition your hard drive as one primary partition, one extended partition, and one logical disk. That would show up as a C: and D: drives. You could set up one primary partition, one extended partition, and two logical disks. That would show up as a C: , D: , and E: drives. It is only necessary to set up one partition, and many people have their hard disk set up that way.

Windows 95 and I believe Windows 98 have to be installed on a primary partition. If I remember right, Windows 2000 and Windows XP can be installed on a primary partition, or on an logical disk in an extended partition.

After partitioning the hard disk, then you format it. Formatting involves setting up a file system on the hard disk. Examples of file systems are FAT, FAT32, NTFS, and there are others. A hard disk must be formatted before it can be seen and used by the operating system.

When you boot from a Windows install CD, it will take you through the steps of partitioning and formatting the hard disk. Generally, the NTFS file system is the preferred file system.

Well, that's my quick and dirty primer on partitioning and formatting. I hope it helps.

[frangelica]

You have ALL been extremely helpful. Even as I type, the computer is downstairs merrily formatting away.

I made a mountain out of a molehill, but I appreciate the quick and immediate help! It's not often that I doubt my own ability, but sheesh, when I do, it's a killer!

As a matter of fact, I'd like to thank everyone who has answered any and all of my goofy posts. This is a great bunch of people.

[frangelica]

well, dam**t. After the drive finished formatting, I installed XP (Home, not Pro) and restarted as requested. It will only go in a vicious circle, booting only from CD and then going to the install/repair/quit page. I've done all three.

I went into the BIOS and checked bootcfg/scan. While looking at the boot start and the autostart, it said that my system registry might be corrupted. Any suggestions?

I have gone back in, deleted the first installation and am re-installing. ANY ideas would be helpful!

[GomJabbar]

To upgrade a model 600 to XP, you need to flash the BIOS to the latest version, and install the Supplemental Files. See first link for Supplemental Files, and second link will take you to the driver matrix page, where you can download the BIOS update file. You need a floppy drive to update the BIOS. Read accompaning text file for instructions.

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-40062

http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... date=false

[GomJabbar]

You need to first flash the BIOS, then I would reformat and reinstall Windows XP. Next you need to install the necessary supplemental files, and then the latest drivers available on the ThinkPad driver matrix page. Finally you should go to Windows Update and update Windows with any updated service packs, and all critical updates.

[frangelica]

ah, see, there's the phrase that's freakin' me out....

Could you define "flash the BIOS" for me?

(I told you all that some of you would be rolling your eyes...)

I had already upgraded the BIOS to the lastest with the spsd54 file, but apparently, this particular upgrade had slipped right by me. While looking at the README file for this file http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-40062 it appears that you need to have XP actually OPEN to use it. And there's the problem.

[GomJabbar]

To flash the BIOS, you download the BIOS update file from the site I mentioned previously. There is a text file you can download at the same time that explains the procedure.

I would tell you the exact procedure if I remembered, but basically, you create a bootable floppy disk with the above download. Boot up the laptop with the floppy disk. If it doesn't boot, you probably need to enter the BIOS setup and make the floppy drive as the first bootable drive. Press F1 at the beginning of the boot sequence to enter the BIOS setup menu. The BIOS on the model 600 is quite simple.

When you boot up with the floppy disk, you will be given some warning messages, and you just follow the instructions on screen. Your battery needs to be fully charged before you flash the BIOS, and the AC adapter needs to be plugged in. What you are doing is copying software from the floppy disk to a special memory chip on the system board. This memory chip is non-volatile read only memory or EEPROM (electrically eraseable programmable read only memory). If memory serves.

Flashing the BIOS is not without its risks. If for some reason, you lose power (the reason for the charged battery), or the floppy disk fails, you might have to replace the system board. Generally, all goes well however. I flashed the BIOS on two different computers without incident.

EDIT: I see I got a little carried away writing the above. I should have read your previous post a little more carefully. You already have the latest BIOS update.

[GomJabbar]

Before you do the following in the next paragraph, you should probably run system diagnostics from the EZSetup menu in the BIOS. If you have some sort of hardware problem, that may prevent Windows from installing properly. Press F1 at the beginning of the boot sequence to enter the BIOS.

You might try reinstalling Windows XP again. If that doesn't work, you can create setup floppy disks for use when your CD won't boot. It requires (6) floppy disks. I know you said your CD did boot, and there is no guarantee this will work, but it's worth a try. See link below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

I once was installing OS2 from a CD, and had the same problem you are having. I had to install from floppy disks to have a successful install. I suspect this may be due to your CD drive being too old to be fully supported by Windows.

[frangelica]

hahahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahahahaha....sorry, I was just in hysterics....

I went ahead and installed 98, having given up on XP. The discs didn't work either, but thank you---I didn't even know that option existed!

And NOW (and here's where the laughter just comes bubbling up uncontrollably), when I boot up, it only shows 228mb memory available. When I installed the 2 sticks of 128mb a week ago, it all showed up! Now, I'm missing 60mbs or so....

I'm also showing problems in the device manager, too. When I tracked them down in System Info, this is what I got:
Unknown Device
Unknown
This Device Has a Problem: Code=28 (0x1C)
The drivers for this device are not installed correctly. To install the driver
for this device, click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\BIOS\*IBM3760\12
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
hdc
This Device Has a Problem: Code=15 (0xF)
This device is causing a resource conflict. To resolve the conflict, use the
Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter in Help.
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7111&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_01\BUS_00&DEV_07&FUNC_01
Alloc resources: None
Forced resources: None
Boot resources: Logical Configuration 0

I have done all the updates and driver installation imaginable on this baby (and it's kinda hard to install a driver when you don't know what the device is). The Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter is no help either. I just cannot figure out what the heck is going on here. However, she's running again, so maybe I should just count my blessings and hush up.

[GomJabbar]

I'm also showing problems in the device manager, too. When I tracked them down in System Info, this is what I got:
Unknown Device
Unknown
This Device Has a Problem: Code=28 (0x1C)
The drivers for this device are not installed correctly. To install the driver
for this device, click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\BIOS\*IBM3760\12
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
hdc
This Device Has a Problem: Code=15 (0xF)
This device is causing a resource conflict. To resolve the conflict, use the
Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter in Help.
Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7111&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_01\BUS_00&DEV_07&FUNC_01
Alloc resources: None
Forced resources: None
Boot resources: Logical Configuration 0

First of all, you should go into the EZSetup BIOS, and run system diagnostics. Press F1 at the start of the boot up sequence to enter the EZSetup BIOS. It's fairly simple - just navigate until you get to system diagnostics, and then run it. It will probably appear to hang while it's checking the memory, but this is normal. Just be patient. The test will take some minutes to run, but I believe it should be done in under an hour. Note and write down if you get any error messages.

The 600 series is particular about memory. I don't remember the details, but JHEM seems to be an expert in knowing what will work.

If you are not showing any errors by running system diagnostics, then boot up in Windows. Try first going into device manager. Right click on any devices that indicate an error, and choose to uninstall the device. Reboot and see if device manager is still showing errors. Windows should reinstall device drivers for any hardware that you have. If it can't find the right driver, then you need to track one down- usually from the hardware manufacturer.

FYI the IDE controller controls the hard disk and the CD reader. There shouldn't be any problem uninstalling it, as Windows will reinstall the driver on boot up.

[frangelica]

thanks, I'll try that! I've actually deleted the Unknown Device before (I have this mental image of a Device wearing a paper bag over its little head), and it always shows back up in boot---so I have no idea what's up with it.

I've also run the diagnostics, and noticed that it got hung up on Memory....I'd done every other component separately because of this and got a big OK---so now that I know that it'll hang up (and it stuck for over 20 minutes last night), I'll just walk away from it and let it do its thing.

Keep your toes crossed. I'm goin' in.

[GomJabbar]

thanks, I'll try that! I've actually deleted the Unknown Device before (I have this mental image of a Device wearing a paper bag over its little head), and it always shows back up in boot---so I have no idea what's up with it.

If the device keeps showing up, you need to try and determine which device it is. Once Windows installs a device improperly, sometimes it can be the devil to get rid of the unknown device. I have had some success by uninstalling the device, then before rebooting, install the device again using the Add Hardware Wizard. It's not always easy though. Other times, I went into the registry and deleted any references to the device, as well as deleting any folders or files that I knew were related to the device.

It is important to follow the manufacturers instructions explicitly when installing new hardware, to avoid the Unknown Device problem. The sad thing though, is that I've often found mistakes in the instructions for installing new hardware. What's one to do?

[carbon_unit]

seems to me that you have to go to the 600 driver matrix and get the supplemental files for win98 and they will have the driver for that device.

[frangelica]

yes, it seems like that would have solved the problem but.....nope!

Say, when I'm in the Diagnostic, it's been said that it will hang will scanning the memory. How long is TOO long? It's been quite a while....

[sickofit]

TP 770 series and 600 series,both give unknown IDE errors on a fresh install,and the supplemental files WILL fix them,but you have to be EXACT in the way you install them...it can be tricky...but it does work....i've done it too many times to count...on both series of comps....

Greg St.L

[frangelica]

Well, the diagnostic finally quit running after a veeeeeeeerrrrrrry long time and everything came back "ok".

I am now wondering if it IS the speed of the drive, or its compatibility. I am running a DVD drive in the 600---maybe I should invest in a CD Rom drive as well.

[GomJabbar]

I have been.......playing around with my 600 (2645-45u), updated the BIOS, installed 2 128 chips, and today, my 40gb Samsung hard drive got here.

Could you please post the all the specs., manufacturer, part #'s etc. from the memory you just installed? Also, exactly how long did it take for the diagnostic test to finish? As I stated earlier, the 600 series can be particular about the type of memory installed, and I was just wondering if you have a memory issue.

[frangelica]

Here's the link for the eBay auction that I used to buy it. It has all the specs on it....

The diagnostics test probably took about 45 minutes. It ran quickly thru everything but memory, but then gave me an OK on everything.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1

[GomJabbar]

I am still trying to find information. I've read some posts regarding compatible memory and the model 600. I am still not clear if you have a problem with memory compatibility or not. Perhaps someone that has gone through this memory merry-go-round before will chime in.

[GomJabbar]

From what I have found out, the model 600 comes with PC66 RAM installed. You ordered PC100. It is best if all the RAM is the same, either PC66 or PC100. That does not necessarily mean that the RAM cannot work together, just that it's possible that it could cause problems.

Thinking it over, it brought to mind something that happened to me some years back. I was trying to install the OS2 operating system on a desktop PC. I was having problems kind of like you. I would get partway into the installation, but I could never finish. I did some research at the time, and discovered that IBM (the supplier of OS2) recommended disabling the cache memory in the BIOS prior to installation. Then after finishing the installation of OS2, you could reenable the cache in the BIOS. When I did that, OS2 installed fine.

What I am thinking here, is that the different memory speeds may be causing your installation problems. I suggest removing the RAM you bought, then try installing Windows. If you get a successful installation, then try putting your RAM back in. Perhaps it will work then.

Another thing is that I have read that high density 256MB chips do not work in a model 600. I am not sure if this applies to the 128MB chips or not. See if you received high-density 128MB chips. For the low-density memory you should see 8 chips on each module. See the following I copied off of one site:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A high-density SIMM is one which has been designed with 64Mbit DRAM chips and a low-density chip is one which has been designed with 16Mbit DRAM chips. A SIMM designed with 64Mbit chips will have fewer chips than a SIMM designed with 16Mbit DRAM chips.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In looking up the memory recommended for your model laptop, I ran across the following web page:

http://www.oempcworld.com/Merchant2/mer ... D45U%2F85U

[JHEM]

Here's the link for the eBay auction that I used to buy it. It has all the specs on it....

That's the wrong memory for a TP600! You need to use PC66 memory, not PC100.

As to installing W98SE on your new HD, read and follow these instructions:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... WIK-3VGKTZ

Regards,

James

[whizkid]

PC100 memory can work. Before yanking it out, I would download and run memtest86. It is a VERY punishing memory workout and will stress your memory and data bus to their limits.

http://www.memtest86.com

You can make a bootable floppy or CD. Let it run overnight or over a weekend and if you get no errors, I'd say your memory is just fine.

[JHEM]

PC100 memory can work.

Not reliably in a 2645-45U! I've got the same machine (2645-850, same machine but with NT installed and a UK keyboard) sitting here and it was my daily driver for quite a while.

See: http://www-306.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... IGR-4E4RG3 for a list of 600 series machines that are known to be PC100 memory compliant. You'll notice that TP600 machines are conspicuous by their absence.

Years ago I tested almost every type of memory available at that time in my 600, 600E and 600X and posted the results in the old Thinkpads.com forum and to the Thinkpad mail list. Both of my TP600 machines choked on PC100 memory and would only report 228MB RAM on startup. If you wanted to max the RAM at 288MB, you HAD to use PC66 memory. This was the result in both the 2645-850 and 2645-51U I had at the time.

Regards,

James

[frangelica]

well, piffle.

Still it's a great deal better than 32mb....

I'm going to shoot over to the old forum and look at your post.

Everyone has been so patient and helpful---again, thanks to you all.

This little notebook isn't problem-free yet, but it's still one of the smoothest I've ever used! Man, I DO love this keyboard.

[GomJabbar]

Did you ever get Windows XP Home or Windows 98 installed on your new hard drive?

[frangelica]

98 is now safely installed, with all the updates etc.---it's running very well. If I just didn't know that the "Unknown Device" and the IDE were still showing as problematical, and that I've got the wrong memory in it, I'd be happy as a clam!

It's true that ignorance is bliss....

Thanks for your help. I was truly concerned that I was going to end up having to mess with DOS, and that is one thing that I am not well-versed in. Now that THAT particular hurdle is behind me, I feel like everything is conquerable. I'd really like to get XP on this baby----but I'll settle for 98 if need be.

[GomJabbar]

If I just didn't know that the "Unknown Device" and the IDE were still showing as problematical, and that I've got the wrong memory in it, I'd be happy as a clam!

Maybe the following will help you achieve Nirvana.

Regarding the first error problem, notice that you posted the following, copied from the error message: This device is causing a resource conflict. To resolve the conflict, use the Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter in Help.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding the second error problem:
From the following page, I determined that the *IBM3760 is your modem and sound dsp

http://tuxmobil.org/pnp_ids.html

IBM3760 IBM Thinkpad Mwave DSP
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are (2) available drivers that you can use. Follow the instructions in the txt files on these pages for installing the drivers. You probably need to uninstall the device in device manager by right clicking on it and choosing uninstall, before you install the appropriate drivers.

ACP modem driver for Windows 95/98 - ThinkPad 600, 770/ED

http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... SHY-3TTL7Y
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACP modem driver II for Windows 95/98/Me/2000/NT - ThinkPad 600/E, 770/E/ED/X/Z

http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... SHY-3ZBVUV
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, if I remember accurately, there is a shortage of IRQ's available in the 600 model series. On my 600E I could use the internal modem or the infrared port, but not both at the same time. To use the modem, I had to disable the infrared port. In fact, maybe this is causing your resource conflict in the first error message.

Finally, in case you don't have it already, here is the device driver matrix page, where I found the above two pages:

http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.ws ... SHY-3TLQ2L