Docking port wiped out windows?

[ajkula66]

Well, try booting a "live" Linux CD and see where that gets you, Crunchbang or something light like that.

I suspect a hardware failure. You may want to run memtest 86 on your RAM, one stick at the time while swapping slots, and then both slots together, overnight or longer.

Good luck.

[ran23]

I was using the same 1 GB MB in both machines, becasue the 1.8 is missing one slot.   Took that out, still will not boot.  in BIOS, I think I set CD first (it's not like most PC BIOS).  

[ran23]

In BIOS Boot order I have CD Rom first with ! before it.   nothing happening. 

[ran23]

How about starting with a clean HD in the HOST machine or 1.8 and at least get one of them working again?

[ajkula66]

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@ran23 wrote:

How about starting with a clean HD in the HOST machine or 1.8 and at least get one of them working again?

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Why not. I don't see that you've got much to lose at this point...

[ran23]

I have a 130 GB HD in a T-30 already.  what is the largest HD I can run (under Win XP).  Still pricing 80 & 120 GB HD.

[ran23]

I  finally got it to load Windows XP up to SP-3.   Just noticed it loaded as FAT32.   In Computer Management, I thought I could change it back.    or how?      what a morning!

[goretsky · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Under Microsoft Windows XP, I believe you can use the Convert (filename: CONVERT.EXE) to change a FAT32 volume to NTFS by issuing a "CONVERT C: /FS:NTFS" command from a Command Prompt (filename: CMD.EXE).  Replace C: with whatever the correct drive letter is if Windows XP is installed to a different volume.

Two things to keep in mind are that the process is one way, i.e., the Convert command will not change an NTFS volume to FAT32; and also that the process might take some time to complete, so it's a good idea to make the laptop has a fully-charged battery and is plugged in, just like when performing a BIOS upgrade.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[ran23]

Thanks, I figured that out, but I powered down/up, and booted to 'time/date'  New CMOS batts ordered. 

[ran23]

New CMOS battery, switched to NTFS (this is stock 30 GB HD).    This is a good host machine, too bad  it is 1.6 GHz.  I may put a 1.8 from a damaged T-30 or a 2.0 from my good T-30 (and fan) and switch my 130 GB HD in to it. 

    thanks for all the help, now to look for videos on changing cpus.