TurboDSM Posted October 17, 2006 Report Share Posted October 17, 2006 First I want to start by saying that I am nearly computer illeterate so please be patient with me while trying to help.Ok now for the story. I bought a Thinkpad 600x on eBay for $121, great deal I think to myself. Turns out when the previous owner upgraded to Windows 2000 from Windows 98, most if not all of the devices are now undetected. I can't use the modem or the CD-ROM drive and I think it affected the battery because it doesn't even try to hold a charge so its like it isn't being charged. Maybe I'm wrong about the battery, but I know the CD-ROM drive and the modem aren't detected. They can't be found in My Computer or in the Device Manager list.My question is how can I get Windows 2000 to detect these devices? Or how can I format the harddrive and put a different version of Windows on that would detect them? Perhaps I am having this problem because the previous owner put a Dell version of Windows 2000 on an IBM laptop?Thanks in advance for all your help!PS: If it is a lost cause now, I would sell it for $121 with free shipping! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Since it's new, and you probably do not have any files on it, why not format it, and install fresh. Your bios should still detect the CD-ROM, so you should be able to boot from CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 There are so many possibilities why this laptop is not working.I think your last suggestion is best:If it is a lost cause now, I would sell it for $121 with free shipping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDSM Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Thanks for your help. I tried to format the harddrive but I kept getting a message saying that I cannot format it because Windows is on it. I believe I tried to format it a different way and I got a message saying I cannot format when the drive is in use.Can you please tell me how I can format the harddrive?Thanks.Pops does that mean you would be interested in buying if I can't get this working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Pops does that mean you would be interested in buying if I can't get this working?I have no use for a laptop machine. Being partially disabled, my travelling around is very limited so it is pointless for me to have a portable computer - working or otherwise.Is the CD drive seen in the BIOS? If not then there is little point in pursuing your quest to install another operating system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDSM Posted October 18, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Just to be clear, to enter the BIOS I hold down F1 and power on? If so then I believe so because I can choose a CD in one of the options but I really had no idea what I was doing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gagaman Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Can this be of any help? http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss...cid=MIGR-4GXL5NTo boot from cdrom:Boot MenuWhen this option is enabled a startup Boot Menu will appear allowing you to choose the bootable device. This function is enabled or disabled via the Easy Setup option in BIOS. Enabling or disabling the Boot Menu:Power off the system.Press and hold the F1 on the ThinkPad keyboard, and power on the system. This will bring up the Easy Setup menu screen.Click the Config icon.Click the Boot Menu F12 icon.Select enable or disable and click OK .Click Exit to leave the Config menu.Click Startup , then click Power-on .If any items are selected, these are the items that will appear in the Startup Menu. If no items are selected, all startable items will appear in the menu.Click OK to close the Startup devices selection list.Click Exit to close the startup mode selection list.Click Restart then OK to restart the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDSM Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I appreciate the help but that is the problem, I can't boot from the cd or download anything because Windows 2000 doesn't see those devices. My IBM has a Dell background... Perhaps the wrong version was installed and that's why I am having this trouble?Is there anyway to erase Windows? If so can it be done without any additional programs since I have no was to transfer files onto it?Do magnets really erase the harddrive? If so is that the way for me to go?Thanks again for all the help everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Magnets will not reliably erase a hard drive such that you will be able to use it again.What you need is to be able to do a "low level format". The utility for doing this is usually obtainable from the drive manufacturer but, in the situation you have, it may not be. There are independent sources that can be found on Google.I can't find anywhere if you've answered the question: is the CD ROM recognised in the BIOS? If it isn't then there is little or no point in continuing trying to make the machine work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDSM Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Yes the CD ROM is detected by the BIOS. So how can I format the harddrive with no additional programs? Is there a way to override Windows and delete it?Thannks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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