Updating a 600X

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derke92 · #31 Post by **derke92** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:30 pm

I had the idea that if I took the hard drive out of my 600e and put it in my 600x it would run.

I did this and it won't run.

I am getting a blue screen telling me I have no pages available and a load of options.
It tells me to restart the computer and the only way I can do this is to disconnect all power sources. Is this right?

I have tried this several times and still get this blue screen.
Is this the BSOD I keep reading about in the forums?

Any ideas what I can do next please?

Regards,
Derek.

BillP · #32 Post by **BillP** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:55 pm

Seems to me the 600X should at least try to boot Windows with the 600e drive. It would find lots of new devices to install that reflect the differences between the two machines but it should try to work at least. I wonder if the 600x has a system board problem. Put the Fujitsu drive in the 600e and try to format it. If that works with reasonable speed, the 600x may have system board problems.

derke92 · #33 Post by **derke92** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:11 pm

I put the drive into the 600E and got it to the format stage and it was taking as long to format as it did in the 600x so I think the systemboard in the 600x is probably OK. It was doing everything that it did in the e and the x exactly the same.

I think the drive is banjaxed as I got a message at the format stage, in the X, that the drive either unformatted or damaged.

Guess what? The seller of the drive is suddenly no longer a registered seller on ebay so I can't go chasing them for an exchange or refund.

YOU WIN SOME-----YOU LOSE SOME!!!!

That's life.

Regards,
Derek.

derke92 · #34 Post by **derke92** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:35 pm

Had some luck today.
I kept on trying to load XP Pro and was succesful, but when it went to reboot from the set up I got a message telling me that I had a

\windows\system32\ config\system error message.

I have looked the error up on google but to me it is gobbledegook.
Can any one explain in plain english what I can do to get over this problem.

I thought for a second that I had got the XP installed, which I suppose I did, but cannot get it to run. When I go into the recovery console I get the message that asks which installation I would like to go into but when I press 1 nothing happens so can't get any further with that.

HELP PLEASE!

Regards,
Derek.

derke92 · #35 Post by **derke92** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:20 am

Hi BillP,

Hope you are out there.

I got my floppy drive today and I went on to the Fujitsu site and Bootdisk site and I have got what you told me to get but cannot work out how I use it.

Can you help me please, in easy terms, as I am no computer person.?

Many thanks,

Regards,
Derek.

#36 Post by **pkiff** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:51 pm

Derek,

Seems like you're having lots of troubles getting your machine up and running!

I am not familiar with Fujitsu's drive testing software, but I think I'll be able to help you with it nonetheless.

First off, you need to have a boot disk that will boot your machine into DOS. You said you got the file from bootdisk already. Have you created a disk with it? Can you boot your Thinkpad with it yet?

Second, once you get that working, then you can move on to trying to use it to test your harddrive.

Thrid, I would recommend also running a set of diagnostic tests on your Thinkpad using yet another disk. This one is called: PC Doctor diagnostic II diskette.

Fourth, as BillP suggested earlier, you may need to upgrade the BIOS. Only the latest version of the Thinkpad 600X BIOS is fully compatible with XP. To upgrade the BIOS (if necessary), you need a fully charged, functioning battery and yet another floppy disk:
BIOS Update (Diskette) - ThinkPad 600X version 1.11 (ITET55WW)

Fifth, after checking the integrity of your hard drive and your Thinkpad, then I would recommend starting from scratch, using fdisk to delete all partitions on your disk. Then try to install XP again.

Phil.

derke92 · #37 Post by **derke92** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:26 pm

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I have got the information from bootdisk but I haven't got a clue how to use it to make a boot disc (computer thick I'm afraid!).
Any chance you could run me through it please.

To cut a long story short I have got hold of another HDD and when it arrives I can put it in the 600x and try it .
I will then find out if the TP has got a problem before I come back to ask how to run the diagnostic you suggested.
I will keep you posted.

What is the fdisk you mentioned? I have never heard of it.

I got a program from the downloads.com site to erase the hard drive but have not had the time to sit down and try and work out what to do.

If there is any chance you could put what you said into 'idiot proof' language I will have a go and see what I come up with.

Again, very many thanks for your help.

Regards,
Derek.

#38 Post by **pkiff** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:53 pm

We'll start with the boot disk, since you may eventually find other reasons that you will need this, and it will make everything easier to have one.

Visit bootdisk.com here:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Download the "Windows Me Custom, No Ramdrive" boot disk from one of the three locations:
http://files.frashii.com/~bootdisk/tenn ... ootmec.exe
http://1gighost.com/ed/ta/bootmec.exe
http://mirror.dedicados.com.mx/bootdisk.com/bootmec.exe

Then follow the instructions on that page for how to create the disk:
"DOCS:
1. Most of the files above are disk images. Download the file to your C: drive, put a fresh disk in your A: drive, then click on the file to create the bootdisk."

Tell me how you do getting that far, and let me know if you run into a problem.

Phil.

derke92 · #39 Post by **derke92** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:26 pm

Thanks Phil.

I have only just seen your message and I will try what you have said tomorrow as I am quite tired tonight, had a busy weekend.
I will let you know how I get on when I have attempted download etc..

Regards,
Derek.

u.mac · #40 Post by **u.mac** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:11 am

derke92 wrote:Hi All,
I have my eyes on a 7200rpm drive on ebay and would like your opinion on it's suitability.

The transferrate from the IDE-Bus in your 600x is <30MB/s - you'll not need a hot and noisy hdd with 7200rpm. Look for good 5400rpm drives or take a look to CF-cards and IDE-adapters, if you want "highest performance" without any noise... CF-cards <30MB/s are not sooo expencive if you don't need more than 16 or 32GB.

derke92 · #41 Post by **derke92** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 2:22 pm

Hi UMac,

Thanks for your thoughts.

I took The advice from other forum members and bought a 5400 drive but I cannot get it to take an OS or format it even. The people I bought it from have deregistered from ebay so I stand about as much chance of getting a refund as getting a pig to fly.

I was then offered a 7200 drive which I got cheap from a friend of a friend and that makes enough noise to give you migraine.

So I am going to look for a small 5400 drive that will hopefully run and see where I go from there.

I appreciate your advice, which is the same as I have been getting all along from the other forum members, so I guess it must be the right way to go if I can get one that works!!!
All I want to do is get the 600x up and running, not too much to ask is it?

Regards,
Derek.

ohthinker · #42 Post by **ohthinker** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:16 pm

Derek, I suggest you go for a new drive. They're not that expensive.

Can I name a company here? I guess the mod will clip it if no. This is NOT a recommendation, just a company I've traded with and happened to have bookmarked. No idea whether they trade in the UK. It's Directron.

A quick check for notebook IDEs on their website shows a 20g Seagate for US$30, a Hitachi 80g for US$50, both 5400 rpm, and a few others. Most people seem to recommend the Hitachi drives. I have a Samsung in my T22 (might have gotten it from them, I don't recall) and it works great.

Then download the OS pre-intallation files from the IBM website, and follow the textfile directions with them *exactly*.

I use Win98SE on my 600 (so far) and other than refusing to speak DMA to the drive, probably my fault for not taking my own advice and following the directions in the IBM pre-inst file, it's working OK.

Yeah, Win98 doesn't support new software but a lot of the newer stuff is too bloated and turgid for such a relatively slow machine anyway. Others here would probably recommend Windows 2000. There also seems to be a HUGE amount of web support for various Linux distros on the 600, which is piquing my interest.

HTH.

derke92 · #43 Post by **derke92** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:55 pm

Hi ohthinker,

Thanks for the advice and suggestions.

I took your advice before you gave it to me and I have now purchased a brand new drive from ebay. It is still wrapped in the original bag and the seller reckons he has sold about 50 of these and never had one complaint.

The drive is 40Gb Fujitsu 5400 and it should be here thursday or friday this week, depending on the post, so I will keep all of you out there, who are watching to see if the 600x ever gets going, an update when I have got it in and set up (I hope!).

As for the OS I have got XP on my 600e and it seems to be working quite well, not as slow as I expected, and I have also left the W2K on it as well in case of problems. It just needs a new battery, which is the next purchase, to get it up to scratch.

I will keep you all posted soon.

Regards,
Derek.

derke92 · #44 Post by **derke92** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:38 pm

Hi All,

Now for some good news.

My brand new hard drive came today, I unwrapped it, installed it and then loaded W2K and it is working a treat.

I repeat ------''it is working a treat''

Thanks to everyone who contributed with suggestions and ideas I really appreciate all your help and advice. Doubtless I will be back looking for more help in the future but, for now, I seem to have it under control thanks to you all.

Regards,
Derek.

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