Wiping HD to re-install OS; installing new screen; Cardbus

[lannybudd]

I have a 765XD and 380ED, the former with 3 gig HD, the latter with 2.1 gig HD. I'm thinking of wiping their hard drives with DBan, having used it successfully on a Windows XP in the past, and then reinstalling Windows 98SE or possibly Windows 2000. If I do this, will the drivers still be present so I can operate the CD-ROM and install the software or will I need a boot disk. Both machines now work fine, including with the PCMCIA wireless card I just bought on E-bay. I'm getting far superior running time with their old batteries than I ever got with my new XP computer (I haven't run the batteries down but it seems at least 2-3 hours).
Though old, the 765XD looks like new, including the LCD screen. But the 380ED's screen, though usable, has white on the sides and looks its age (I believe it's an FRSTN screen). Can this be replaced and, if so, by me? Would IBM/Lenovo do this service? I've gotten to love these old but very well constructed machines. I'd be embarrassed to say how little I paid for them, having bought the first to use while traveling, I then feeling freer to leave it in a hotel room unlike an expensive modern one, getting the second because I became too fond of the first to risk it being stolen. I guess that's how hobbies go. The only thing these models lack is USB ports or ways to add them.
One more question: can USB be added to ANY Thinkpad model with Cardbus architecture (via a PC card)? Enough questions. Thanks. Great forum!

[leoblob]

If I'm understanding your question about wiping the hard drive... there won't be any drivers left...

If those machines have BIOS's which support booting from the CD, there should be no problems. Otherwise a boot diskette is needed. (Actually WIN2K has 4 boot diskettes.)

[hrmcrm]

For USB in a 310ED running Win 98SE, I use an Adaptec DuoConnect AUA-1422 PCMCIA card. The card documents mention only Win 2000 and Win XP for setup. However, the Win 98SE hardware wizard was happy with the drivers on the installation CD, and used them. I have connected USB memory sticks and an external harddrive sucessfully. (All had to have Win 98SE drivers, though.) The only quirk is the OS will not tolerate having a USB device unplugged. That locks the system, requiring a power off reboot. The card has firewire too, but I have not tried it.
Regards,
Howard

[lannybudd]

Thanks. I'll get one and try it.