Thinkpad 600E re-install

[Sidcup Silver Surfer]

Hi Forum. Can you possibly help me.
My nephew did something silly with his old laptop which has meant that I've just managed to re-install Windows 98SE on to the system with much help from a Forum Guru.

However, we do not have the original driver disk for the Thinkpad 600E and I wonder if anyone out there has a copy that they no longer require?

I have been on to Lenovo but there are so many downloads which may be applicable that I am out of my depth in knowing which to take.

Details of our Laptop are:
Spec: Thinkpad 600E PI 366
128mb 6.4 gb. Model 2645

Any help would be gratefully received.

Sidcup Silver Surfer

[whizkid]

Power on the machine holding F1. That will get you into EZSetup, and that should give you the complete machine type (2645-xxx).

Lenovo's support page of downloads is huge, but you really need only a few things. You only need the Win98 drivers. I'm the type who installs them all, though.

Looking at the page of what's available, here's what I'd recommend:
Configuration Utility - needed. Turns devices on and off. Turn the serial, parallel, modem, infrared off to save a little power.
TrackPoint Accessibility - sure
Hard drive firmware update - if you have an older drive, yes
Power management - yes
CD-ROM firmware update - not necessary, but I'd do it
TrackPoint driver - yes
OnScreen display - yes
BIOS update
Audio driver
UltraBay utility (low priority)
video driver!
Win98 supplement files (ideally before you install the OS)
acp modem patch (low priority)

I would not recommend these:
Remote CMOS update
personalization
mediamatics DVD player update
IBM data transfer

[Sidcup Silver Surfer]

Many thanks Whizkid. Twas just what I needed.

I have a query or two though

Is it still OK to install the supplemental 98 drivers even though the operating system is up and running?

The track pad seems to work OK. Should I still install? I've installed the Audio drivers and am just about to do likewise with the Video.
Its things like the BIOS I am always wary about (not understanding what might go wrong.....
Thanks again for your reply.
The what not to install was as helpful, of course, as the What To...

SSS

[whizkid]

The supplemental files... (wow, long time ago). Download it and read the documentation. IIRC, they are not drivers, but somehow help Windows install itself.

You should install the TrackPoint driver. It helps with middle button issues, and it just behaves better.

Keep in mind that Windows98 (and WindowsMe and Windows 2000) is past end-of-life and Microsoft is not promising to make any more security fixes for it. If a new vulnerability is discovered, they may not fix it.

The BIOS may not need to be changed. Depending on how old yours is, you may need it if you want to install 256MB memory modules, which you may want to do if you install XP, which will work fine on a 600E.

[Sidcup Silver Surfer]

Thanks again WhizKid.

It was because my nephew tried to upgrade to XP that the laptop did a wobbly. Mind you, he should have checked that the system had enough memory etc. to take the upgrade before going ahead. It did not have !!! Hence the re-installation of Win 98SE.

XP nearly made it but kept looping round from the welcome screen to shut down and so on!

At least with 98 he can still use a nice, lightweight laptop which works.

I'll take a looksee at the 98 supplementals so long as it isn't going to cause problems now the system is up.

SSS

[Sidcup Silver Surfer]

Hi WhizKid. Again!

I have just downloaded most of the files you suggested plus the USB memory key one.

However, I have a further query regarding the Firmware download. Do I have to download ALL the files listed on that page?

With all the downloads I have saved to desktop and will then burn them to a CD.

Thanks again
SSS

[whizkid]

If you're talking about hard drive firmware, you should download the file for your drive. You can determine the model using the Windows Hardware Manager.

[pkiff]

Is it still OK to install the supplemental 98 drivers even though the operating system is up and running?

Yes, this should not cause any problems.

Applying the APM2APM.REG registry patch is important for certain obscure power management functions to work correctly under Win98SE.

Applying the IBM LCD Color Profile is not really necessary, but if you are a graphic designer then it is important in order to achieve better color-matching on your LCD screen.

Installing MONITOR.INF will make it easier for your Thinkpad to figure out different screen resolutions and should you ever need to reinstall your Video driver (which I have had to do numerous times in 98SE on my 600/770 machines), then it will make recognition of your LCD panel more efficient.

Installing the APMINST.INF and APMINST.REG files are probably not necessary, but cannot hurt. I think that all these files do is control whether your computer installs or reinstalls Windows 98 in the correct "mode". But Windows 98SE should always do this automatically, regardless.

Phil.