Error when trying to install OS

[peedeefish]

Hello everyone. I have a Toshiba Portege 3500 that I bought online. When I got it, it didn't have a HD. The laptop does not carry a disk drive or floppy drive. I bought a HD for it, and connected my external DVD drive to it. I connected the HD to my desktop to make sure that it worked. It did.

When I try to boot the computer without the OS on it, I was getting an error. PXE-E61 media test failure. But I figured it has something to do with it not having an OS. So when I tried to install the OS, I was getting the same error.

I have no idea how to fix it. I've searched all over the internet looking for answers. Can't seem to find anything.

The HD is brand new, and the disk is bootable. In the bios, the boot priority is pre-selected. I can pick from

cd rom, lan, hdd, fdd

cd, lan, fdd, hdd

hdd, fdd, cd, lan

fdd, hdd, cd, lan

hdd, cd, lan, fdd

fdd, cd, lan, hdd.

When i pick the cd first, it says insert system disk in drive. press any key when ready. Disk is in the dvd drive, and it keeps coming up. When I pick the hd first, I get the pxe-e61 error.

I can hear the disk spinning and the hd spinning.

Please, if anyone can help, please help. Thanks

[Boris]

Think you may be out of luck ?

Read this :-
/>http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/toshiba3500_xp_tablet.htm

The 3505 model is identical to the 3500 model except that it has 512 megs of RAM rather than 256

From 3rd paragraph of "First Impressions"

The box and sticker on the wrist rest area of the 3505 state that an external DVD drive is included (reads CDs, CDRs and DVDs). Well guess what boys and girls: you won't find one in the box! Instead you'll get a coupon that you can mail in to get a Targus Noteworthy DVD drive that connects to the Toshiba via a PCMCIA card. This isn't good news if you don't have an external CD drive handy-- without one, there's no way to install software, read the manuals (supplied as .pdf files on the CD) or to use the included recovery disks. If you need to boot from the recovery disks to set your 3505 back to the factory install state, you must use the drive from Toshiba, the machine will not boot from any other CD drive (though you can use other CD drives for non-boot tasks).

[Seshomaru Samma]

take the HD out and hook it to another box

install the OS (make sure the computer is not hooked up to the internet and do not activate the install)

put it back in the toshiba

there's a good chance it will work, especially if you are using win7 and not XP (i use this method all the time with linux)

[Boris]

Also, read this :-

/>http://www.asklaptopfreak.com/laptop-notebook-help/2006/05/27/toshiba-portege-3500-notebook-help/

not all PCMCIA CD-ROMs will work with Toshiba Portege 3500 laptop. I just looked up for accessories listed for this model and found 3 different models:

Targus DVD; Part number NWDVD04

DVD-ROM; Part number PA3246-1DVD

DVD-ROM; Part number P000373470

if you cannot find a copy of Windows XP Tablet edition and the external DVD-ROM drive. If you have a copy of regular Windows XP, you can try next. Install the hard drive from your laptop into another laptop that has a DVD/CD-ROM drive and load generic Windows XP. After that install this hard drive into your laptop and start in. You have good chances that it will not blue screen on you and you would be able to use the operating system, after you load all drivers of course. Not sure if it will work 100% but it still worth trying.

- as Seshomaru Samma suggests

[peedeefish]

I took the HD out and put in another laptop I am working on. The OS is going on it now.

Seshomaru Samma, you think there is a good chance that it will work in the Toshiba now?

[peedeefish]

Well the OS installed on the HD, but when I put the HD back in the Toshiba it came up with a Windows Error Recovery. Asking to insert the installation disc, or start up in safe mode. But all it does it restart.

In the other laptop, the OS worked.

[Boris]

You must expect this as you have changed the hardware from that used in the original (new) install.

What OS are you installing ? XP Tablet Edition ?

[peedeefish]

No, just regular Win XP

[Boris]

Please confirm - is this the machine we are talking about ?
/>http://www.pencomputing.com/frames/tpc_toshiba.html

Official Toshiba support links :-
/>http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=DL&os=&category=&moid=263477&rpn=PP350U&modelFilter=3500+Tablet+PC&selCategory=3&selFamily=1073768662

Read the "Support Bulletin" called

Portege 3500: Reloading the Toshiba pre-installed software image, using USB DVD/CD-ROM drive and USB diskette drive

[peedeefish]

That is the computer I have, Boris. Got it off eBay for $30. Should have known something I knew nothing about was wrong with it. I was gonna buy another motherboard, but the picture of the motherboard I was looking at, was showing the SAME error on the screen.

I have ruled out the HD because I just installed an OS on it on another laptop. I am about to read the bulletin you posted. Thanks

Josh

[Seshomaru Samma]

this might work as well

[peedeefish]

this might work as well

So far so good, it is loading the files. Hope it works. Thanks.

And thank you as well, Boris.

I have been trying to fix this for about 2 months.

[peedeefish]

ok, I partitioned and formatted the hd like it said. I added the files from the cd to the hd. I put the hd back in the computer. Started it up, didn't go to DOS prompt. Went straight to loading files. Then the loading bar comes up and stays for about 5 min before shutting down.

What was Toshiba thinking about making a laptop without optical drives and no usb boot options?