Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Reformatting Win XP Pro

0 helpful
7 replies

by minime1961

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I have an IBM Think Pad which was previously networked, I am having problems getting it to boot to the floppy, so I can boot to Win 98 & do an Fdisk. Any suggestions?
It keeps wanting to boot to Win XP where it wants the login/password. It is no longer active. My boss gave me the laptop & said it was mine, reformatting it is my problem! :)

7 replies

by thechas

I would get a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch hard drive adapter kit and install the drive in a desktop PC.

You can find the adapter kits at many PC stores. I get mine from www.compgeeks.com

Then, you can set up the drive as desired.

If you format the drive with the /s switch
format c: /s
The system files will be copied to the drive and it will be bootable.
Then, you can copy the Windows CD to the drive and install Windows directly from the hard drive.

While you have the drive in another PC, you might want to download and copy the drivers from IBM.

Chas

by bravelittletoaster

Free solutions:

What type of thinkpad do you have?

I have used an older thinkpad that had a key combination (like function + F-1) that allows you to choose the boot device to use, check up on IBMs web site, it should be listed in a downloadable user manual.

Another option, if you have not tried it is to enter the laptop's BIOS, this involves pressing a key repeatidly as the computer boots and this allows you to control some very basic functions of your laptop functions, including the device to boot off of. You can simply have the laptop boot from the CD to install the OS and save you the whole floppy disk headache. This information, if not displayed quickly on the screen as the laptop detects its devices (something like press xx to enter setup, or the like) it will also be included in the users manual on IBMs web site.

Best of luck!

by minime1961

Poster rated this answer.

Thanks, didn't really help I did the whole bios bit, I think I have figured it out on my own. I have gotten it to boot to the floppy finally where I was able to use my partition magic on it, hopefully I will find out soon if I am able to start from scratch! Thanks for trying to help.

by w2ktechman

Are you able to get into the system bios? If so you should be able to set it to boot to the floppy disk. Sometimes there are 2 places, under boot device setup and under security (allow external boot device) that needs to be changed.
I am unfamiliar with IBM laptops, but I beleive there is a security chip, that if it is activated, you would need to take the system to a shop to get into the bios again.

Also, can you boot to CD? This could save a lot of time and hassle.
If you cant get into the bios, and/or boot to floppy/cd, then The Chas has the best alternative, place the drive into another system and format it, and then sys the drive so that you can install the OS on the laptop.
If you put the drive onto a desktop system you will need to pick up an adapter (around here they cost between $8-$12.

by minime1961

Poster rated this answer.
Thanks, didn't really help I did the whole bios bit, I think I have figured it out on my own. I have gotten it to boot to the floppy finally where I was able to use my partition magic on it, hopefully I will find out soon if I am able to start from scratch! Thanks for trying to help.

This discussion is closed to new replies.