Thinkpads Forum

O.K. I have a TP 600E and I recently had WinXP Pro. on it.
I did a low level format because I am selling it to my mother-in-law, so I just cleaned it out.
So she wanted WinXP Home w/sp2 so she paid around $100 so get it. When she brought it over it was the upgrade not the full version, but it said that it would upgrade from Win98se, so I reinstalled that on it.
When I tried to do the upgrade it wouldn't work. After messing with it for several hours, it finally started installing. Then when it was installing the "device something" it stopped and said that it had to shut down to prevent damage to the computer.
I am confused, I was already running WinXP Pro on it so why is it having problems now?

Please, I really need to get this up and running so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Do you have the latest BIOS version? (INET36WW (1.16) )

Usually (not always), you can format your drive and install the new system (in this case XP) directly. When it says it needs an upgrade path, hand it Windows 98SE in the CD drive, let it authenticate, remove and replace with the XP CD. I have done this very exercise with Windows 2000 (handing in the NT4 CD when required) and it worked fine.
... JDH

O.K. tfflivemb2,
I have read how to update the BIOS but I'm confused about how to do it.
I do not have a living battery so I need to update without a battery.
I found this:

I have found a working solution WOW on the other forum:

*** This is NOT a safe way to update the bios (disclaimer) ***

* First you need to make a BIOS update floppy disk (from the bios file from IBM - place disk in a: drive, run app and answer Y to the agreement) and then format another disk by right clicking on A: - format - make system bootdisk (assuming you have another machine spare)

* Copy all the files from the IBM Boot disk - in my case
$0029000.fl1
$0029000.fl2
FLASH2.EXE
PROD.DAT
UPDTFLSH.EXE
updtrom.exe
USERINT.EXE
UTILINFO.EXE
to the other clean bootdisk.

* Ensure that there is no config.sys and autoexec.bat so it just runs straight into DOS.

* Place the disk into the Laptop, reboot and allow the machine to load via the floppy

* At the command prompt, type "FLASH2.EXE /U" with no quotes then press enter.

The program will automatically search for the files *.FL1 & *.FL2 and load the bios first then the platform file.

The program will automatically update and perform erasing on the rom and then finish with "Update complete".

* Now reboot.

* Hold F1 down as you turn the laptop back on and go into Easy Setup under "Config" click on Initialize to ensure defaults and settings are error free.

* Save and exit...

I have a BIOS disk, spsdin36.exe.
but what do they mean "copy all the files from the IBM Boot disk to the other clean bootdisk"?
All I have on the BIOS disk is a white and blue box that goes into dos mode.
I have not found any config.sys or autoexec.bat files.
Where are they and how do I access them?
If you could walk me through it I would be very happy!!!

And jdhurst,
O.K. I format, put in the winxp disk then at upgrade path I take out the xp and put in 98se, after it authenticates I take out the 98se and put the xp back in?
Since I've never done that before, The computer doesn't mind you changing disks during a setup?

Thanks for the help!!!

SUSIEJO wrote:<snip>
And jdhurst,
O.K. I format, put in the winxp disk then at upgrade path I take out the xp and put in 98se, after it authenticates I take out the 98se and put the xp back in?
Since I've never done that before, The computer doesn't mind you changing disks during a setup?

Thanks for the help!!!

I hate doing these disk changes, but it does work. ... JDH