TP600 Disc Format and install 98SE

[gkm24]

Hi, I am about to format my hard disk and re install Win 98SE. Would you reccommend partitioning the HDD. Also, I need to reinstall the drivers and be able to use a pcmcia wifi card. Can anyone tell me what drivers should be installed? It is a 2645510 model. The self test function shows everything to be healthy and a new battery has been fitted. I understand that one of the drivers is an update for the bios??? any help is greatly appreciated. Oh.. the hard drive is 4Gb. Thanks.

[pianowizard]

Would you reccommend partitioning the HDD.

Nope. Use all of the 4GB as the primary partition.

It is a 2645510 model.

What's the manufacturer? You go to the manufacturer's site or www.driverguide.com to download its driver for Win98SE.

[gkm24]

Maybe i,m doing it wrong but it keeps saying none found???

[pianowizard]

What's the manufacturer? I have used Driverguide many times and may have better luck.

[tfflivemb2]

Pianowizard...the gkm24 means that the TP600 is a 2645-510

Product: ThinkPad 600 2645-510 [change]

Operating system: All [change]

Original description: PII 266MHz (512KB) 32MB RAM 4GB 13.3 XGA TFT 24X 56K(ACP) Win95

gkm24, Pianowizard is looking to get the model number of the PCMCIA card that you are going to use.

[gkm24]

Thanks, the pcmcia card is a Safecom card. i have the drivers on a disc, so that is no problem. I just wondered if anyone had done a re format and had an idea how many drivers had to be re-installed as on the IBM site there are loads listed for it. Would I have to load the updates for DOS as well as the Bios update etc etc...It has been formatted before and the drivers were not saved so the screen is currently about 6" by 6" as opposed to the full 13" size screen. I know it works properly as I have seen it before. All I wanted was a full list of required drivers. I know it's a tall order...probably too tall.

[pkiff]

Would I have to load the updates for DOS as well as the Bios update etc etc. [...] All I wanted was a full list of required drivers.

No, you don't need to apply any of the DOS updates unless you are planning on running bare DOS, instead of running DOS from within Windows -- and if necessary you can always update the DOS drivers later, when you decide you need them.

Many people say that you shouldn't update your BIOS unless you are having a specific problem that a BIOS update is supposed to fix. My personal opinion is that you should always update these old machines to the latest BIOS that was issued for them so that you don't ever run into any of those issues. But I always complete a full hardware test and have a known, working battery and floppy drive for the machine before updating the BIOS.

Here is a list of the steps I take when installing Windows 98SE onto a bare hard drive in a 600X:
PKIFF - ThinkPad - 600X - Windows 98SE - Installation

The 600 drivers will not be the same as the 600X, but you will need drivers for each of the same items that appear in my list. Be careful in particular when installing the modem driver as the instructions and files are quite different for the 600 modem compared to the 600X. Also, you can ignore the Intel SpeedStep applet as the 600 does not come with SpeedStep. Some items, like the TrackPoint driver are optional, but recommended. All the drivers you need can be found here:
TP 600 - Software and Device Drivers

Lastly, although not listed on my page above, I strongly recommend the use of exuberant software's Unofficial Windows 98SE Service Pack. It makes updating Windows 98SE much, much easier and faster than any other method.

Phil.

[gkm24]

Thanks for the lengthy reply, its very useful. I shall commence on wednesday night UK time on my night shift. I will let you know how it goes.