760EL--why doesn't it like to boot Windows? [98se]

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telegpaghMelts
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760EL--why doesn't it like to boot Windows? [98se]

#1 Post by telegpaghMelts » Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:54 pm

Okay. So i've got the above, DOS 6.22 installed at present (which it likes fine), FAT16. No floppy (hooked drive to my PC for DOS install), but the CD's working, and i can--and have--run the win98 setup. Everything's great until it goes to reboot and config the hardware. Then it just sits there, blinky-blinky. Blinky. BIOS is older, like 1997, which likely isn't ideal. But it's quite boring to take the drive out, remove the casing, hook it up, re-install DOS (since that seems to be the only way it'll boot in the laptop), etc. everytime i mess things up. Rather not mess things up, least for a few days. (Need a break....)

i don't really know what i'm asking here. Just what's with win98? Is it normal that it doesn't wanna boot? (Also the floppy indicator comes on and stays on for quite a while. Doesn't in DOS.)

Hmm. Well, anything you folks might know off-hand, or a better solution (ie. buy a floppy) would help. And much thanks in advance.


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SeanM
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#2 Post by SeanM » Tue Jun 22, 2004 10:14 pm

Update to a bios that supports Windows 98.

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Re: 760EL--why doesn't it like to boot Windows? [98se]

#3 Post by G-Man » Tue Jun 22, 2004 10:17 pm


telegpaghMelts
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#4 Post by telegpaghMelts » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:59 pm

It's really just that simple, huh? Will i be able to do this without a floppy? (Or restore if i cook it....) Well, guess i'll find out.

Thanks for the link. Let'cha know. (Hate the thot of intalling win98 a 3rd time.... Shiver.)


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#5 Post by G-Man » Wed Jun 23, 2004 1:42 am

You need a blank floppy disk to do the BIOS update. Once you start the exe file, it will create a boot disk.

Regards,
G-Man

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#6 Post by telegpaghMelts » Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:52 am

i've already made the boot floppy, and copied the 5 or 6 files onto a CD. What i'm wondering is can i just run the .exe, or even copy the files from the bootfloppy to hdd. i just don't want the flash-program to start looking for my A: drive half-way thru when i haven't got one. (And i don't want to screw up the system with half a bios flash.)

Sorry about all the questions. (i'm thankful for answers.)


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#7 Post by G-Man » Wed Jun 23, 2004 8:50 pm

The BIOS update won’t work without a 3.5" 1.44MB floppy. You start the exe BIOS update file, and it will ask you to insert a blank 1.44MB floppy, then the exe file will create a bootable disk with all the necessary files for the BIOS update. It doesn't have any relation with Windows 98 CD. That will be the next step. Your current BIOS is not ready for Windows 98, but once you upgrade it, Windows 98 should work without problem.

Here is a link that might help you installing Windows 98:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... SHY-3VGPMA

Regards,
G-Man

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#8 Post by telegpaghMelts » Thu Jun 24, 2004 2:54 pm

Guess maybe i need to work on my diction. :oops:

What i meant:

"... create a bootable disk with all the necessary files for the BIOS update"--did that. Meaning i ran the--erm--"sps...73.exe" file from IBM site, which in-turn created the bios disk (which i called bootdisk, for no real reason other than command.com and config.sys were on it), and copied the contents of said floppy onto a cd. There are 10 files total. i just wondered if i could then copy (what was once) the bios upgrade disk on the HDD and run it. That's all. Or are there "a:" references inside these files that'll screw it up?

Anyway, none of this really matters now because i think the [censored] HDD died on me. It's making this clunk-clunk-grind! sound and won't boot. Totally out-of-the-blue. (Side-note: Are there viruses that could cause the drive to physically choke/get stuck? It was really strange/almost fishy timing.)

Well, thanks for all the help. Guess unless the drive starts working again, i'll just be twiddling my thumbs for the next few months....


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#9 Post by JHEM » Thu Jun 24, 2004 4:58 pm

Copying the files to a CD is useless, none of the 760 series machines has the ability to BOOT from the CD drive!

You must BOOT from the floppy you've made and you must have a charged battery for the BIOS update to run and complete.

Regards,

James
James at thinkpads dot com
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#10 Post by telegpaghMelts » Thu Jun 24, 2004 11:02 pm

Okay okay! No need to bold me! :lol: i was only curious about running the update from the HDD 'cause i thot i remembered reading that it was possible. Well, guess i'll just have to invest in a FDD before i put win98 on this thing. (And a "new" HDD, as i said earlier.)

Promise no more idiotic questions for this thread.


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