dean20007

Hi Folks

I wasn't too sure of the most appropriate section to post so if this is incorrect please direct and I'll post somewhere more suitable.

My problem is this. My wifes manager asked me to format an old work PC that wasn't needed. No Problem I thought. So after wiping the current installation of Windows XP I installed a a new copy of XP. This went absolutely fine however for the installation I had to use my license key which I realized was pretty dumb so without activating I decided to install xubuntu. I left this installing overnight but observed the first 50% of the installation and everything seemed fine. However on booting up in the morning I received a Error Loading Operating System message.

Again i thought no problem. Re-install XP/Xubuntu however the thinkpad now doesn't seem to want to boot up from CD. There is no floppy drive and I can't get access to the now forgotten password protected bios. Am I doomed?

Any help greatly appreciated

dai

reset the cmos
check it is set to boot from cd first

dean20007

Hi

Can you please explain "resetting the cmos" I can't get access to the BIOS as the password protection is in place and he can't remember the password. Is there a way to do this on the motherboard (i.e removing the on board battery)?

Thanks

Terrister

There is a small battery inside that keeps the cmos info current when there is no ac or battery power to the laptop.
If this battery is removed it resets the cmos. You must have it unplugged and the laptop battery removed 1st.

Post make and model of the laptop and we can help you find this battery.

TheMatt

Hi Dean,

Check under the keyboard and all along the bottom of the laptop for the CMOS battery. It will either be held in by a clip that you have to bend slightly upward or in some rubber that is connected to the motherboard by two wires and a connector.

dean20007

Thanks guys,

The Thinkpad model is a R31.

dean20007

I have still not had any luck locating this. Can anyone help

TheMatt

Where have you looked? If you can open up the laptop and take a few pictures if you have a digital camera, I can help point it out.

laboye

Hi. Unfortunately, IBM's "30" model machines and above do not rely on an EEPROM to store the BIOS password, but instead in an encrypted flash chip dubbed the "IBM Security Chip". It cannot be simply reset. Try holding F12 while the system is powering up to enter the boot menu. The "operating system not found" error indicates that the MBR of your hard drive is either corrupt or the hard drive did not format properly. It can also indicate a bad hard drive under certain circumstances.

-Eddie

dean20007

Yip I suspected a format issue. But when I do get to the boot menu via F12 and select CD ROM it doesnt seem to recognise the drive. I ahve also tried a USB drive made bootable. Do you think an external floppy may work?

From what I have read on other forums Resetting the CMOS may not be the best as I do not have the supervisor password and other forums seem to suggest that a new board is the only to correct this.

laboye

I don't think that model is new enough to support USB or Mass Storage booting. If you cannot go to IBM or Lenovo to have the chip replaced, a new board is the only option. Try removing the CD Drive itself and shoving it back in there firmly. Sometimes those swappable bays do that...

-Eddie

dean20007

Success!!!!

I got a external floppy and was able to boot from that. Used sfdisk from the UltimateBootCD to blitz the linux partition. Formatted the drive. The only other problem I faced was that I had to use Microsofts Windows XP 6 disk floppy installation to start with then complete the installation with the CD.

Everything back up and running with the correct XP license key(found the Microsoft label on the underside of the laptop .....doh!).

Just wanted to thank everyone for the help.

TheMatt

Glad you got it working.

laboye

Excellent! It may have been an old BIOS that's unable to read the boot sector of the CD-ROM. Since you got it working, we don't have to try that. Enjoy!

-Eddie