BootUp Problem

[DJoe]

I was going to try to put WinXP on a IBM Thinkpad, but first I was going to set it so, it would look for the CD.

But, now I somehow set it so, it wants a disk, and now it won't boot normally, just wants a disk.

I don't currently have Paint, so, I'll try and explain whats on the screen,

The whole screen is black background and white outlines of a Floppy Disk, and a arrow pointing upwards towards a Floppy Drive. At the bottom of that, shows all F keys across, but wants me to press F1, when I press that it says I9990305 and can't go any further.

I just wanted the silly thing to read an ISO at Startup.

I was able to install windows98, but, when it restarted it wanted a floppy disk again.

I've been trying every key to get into bios, but, uhh, what combo to get there? and when is it appropriate to press any of the right keys to get to bios.

[Murray S.]

Originally Posted by DJoe

But, now I somehow set it so, it wants a disk, and now it won't boot normally, just wants a disk.

Howdy:

So what did you do or where did you go to have it go like this?

I just wanted the silly thing to read an ISO at Startup.

You can't boot a system from an .iso cd.

Murray

[DJoe]

I know I was trying to set for CD in BIOS, but, when I went to restart, it wanted a disk, instead of starting windows 98 as it normally should do.

Heres whats happens when it wants the disk:
- Computer starts up with logo
- Black screen and white outlines of a Floppy Disk, and a arrow pointing upwards towards a Floppy Drive. At the bottom of that, shows all F keys across the screen, but wants me to press F1, none of the F keys take me anywhere else.
- When I press F1 it says I9990305 and can't go any further.

The computer I'm talking to you from allows CD ISO's, maybe the older ones don't know how XP does the full process only from CD.

[Murray S.]

An .iso cd has to be extracted and burned before it can be used.

Where did you get an XP .iso cd from anyway?

Murray

[DJoe]

Sorry if I made it sound like a burned version, no its a legit XP CD. I thought legit versions were also ISO.

Anyway the startup problem has to be looked at before any Operating System works. "As shown above"

[Murray S.]

You said you were trying to set the cd up in BIOS but got something else instead.

So, how did you get into BIOS?

How old is this IBM and what did it originally come with for an operating system?

Can it even handle XP - min 512 megs of ram, appropriate processor, etc?

Also, is this the same XP cd you were complaining about earlier not letting you activate it on your system just because you already activated it on your Dad's?

Murray

[DJoe]

When I first got into bios, I just pressed F1 at startup. Went into the startup section of bios and clicked on 2 disk symbols, saved the setting and restarted the system and thats when it wanted a disk instead of starting up Windows98.

2GB of HardDrive
32MB of RAM
Pentium MMX
YEAR: 1997 or 1981

In the future I'll probably get 2 better LapTops, but for now I'd like to just get this one working for now.

Although according this site Windows2000 might fit better.
http://www.computerhope.com/win2000.htm

[Murray S.]

Well, you can forget about XP on that system.

Start pressing the F1 key as soon as you start the computer.

Should get you back into BIOS.

From there, make the hdd the first boot device.

Murray

[DJoe]

QUOTE: "Start pressing the F1 key as soon as you start the computer."

Thats what I did, doesn't want to go to bios.

Its stuck on wanting a floppy disk. Unless the 98 boot disk can do something magical.

This is similar to what I see after the startup logo:

[Murray S.]

Did you use a French version boot disk?

Have you tried using a Win98 bott floppy to boot the system with?

Murray

[DJoe]

English Of Course,

but doesn't show any french on my screen, thats just a image from a french site I guess. "Google Image"

I can tell you the BootDisk works and is English.

Even if I re-partition, re-format, re-install Windows98, after Win98 completes installation and restarts, it still want a disk.
In simple words the bootdisk does work.

I9990305 seems to have something to do with it, lots of the people on other sites don't seem to know the root cause.

[Murray S.]

Have you checked the IBM site for instructions?

Murray

[DJoe]

According to TechTV Lenovo bought IBM ThinkPad.

It doesn't give alot of information.

IBM I9990305

1. Check that the operating system is installed in the hard disk drive. If not, install the operating system.
2. Reseat the boot device.
3. Check the startup sequence for the correct boot device.
4. Check that the operating system has no failure and is installed correctly.

I was thinking of asking a tech store person and bringing the LapTop, I'll post the solution when the problem is fixed, but if you still have ideas it would save me the trip.

Hmm, I wonder if scandisk would fix it. But, than this is a bios issue.

[Murray S.]

I would take it in. I have never seen anything like you are describing.

I also have an old Thinkpad and it doesn't come close to looking like yours at boot.

Murray

[DJoe]

Alright, well thanks for the help Murray, regardless.

I know a tech place that doesn't push sales on people and their very helpful, they closed shop in Saskatchewan, I think.

My former Highschool had lots of IBM PC's and one of them had the same problem, thats why it started to make more sense.
I feel bad for schools that still stick with Windows98.

As I said before, I'll post back the solution, as soon as possible, after all someone is bound to deal with the same silly issue.