Thinkpads Forum

When i try to install windows 98 in my thinkpad laptop, it neither reads the hard drive nor CD ROM and gives me 19990305. What could be the problem and how can i solve this 19990305 (which means it cant see any bootable device) problem? Please i need help.

OK, first we need to know what model Thinkpad are you referring to. (ie. Thinkpad 600E 2645-4BU)

Second, you might need to go into the BIOS (EZ Setup) by pressing F1 at boot, and change your boot order to include the CD drive BEFORE the hard drive.

Is this a brand new hard drive? Was it from another system that used Win XP, therefore in NTFS format, instead of Fat32?

In addition to the above, what IS the boot device? Are you booting with a floppy or a CD?

NOT ALL Whendoz98 CD's are bootable. So far as I know, ONLY the "full" edition CD's that were marked something like "To be supplied only with a new PC" were bootable.

UPgrade cd's, as well as "full" RETAIL cd's were NOT bootable.

I got my 770ED to recognize the CD Drive by the method at the bottom of the thread here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=31635

I got that same error before I formated the hard drive. Seting the first boot device to the floppy drive in the EZ BIOS (hold the F1 key as you turn on the Thinkpad) allowed me to boot from the Windows 98 boot floppy and format the drive and copy the system files, which made the hard drive bootable.

Its a 600. I ve tried to install win XP profession, but on reaching installing devices, it stops and give a fatal error. On running the test, it tells me of system board error (replace the battery 90% or system board 10%)... could there be any other solution apart from replacing the the battery?

Try removing the battery and install XP again. If it works, install the Battery Maximizer program, then shut down. Reinsert the battery then reboot.

Sometimes on the 600 series, a dead battery can cause certain errors, until the utility is installed.