hellraiser357

Hey folks-

I am trying to do a clean install of W2K on an older panasonic toughbook. It has PhoenixBIOB ver v2.00l20. This, I believe is an older version of the BIOS and needs to be updated. Unfortunately, I did not find this out until after the HDD was reformatted, and the setup was taking 48-72 HOURS to try to complete and error messages came up. I have found two different BIOS flashes for this laptop, and cannot figure out which to use. The floppy drive doesn't work, so I will burn a clean DOS bootable CD with the BIOS flash on it also. According to panasonic's website http://tcc.toughbook.com, there are two different models of the CF-47 toughbook, and I do not know which I have. There is the CF-47M4 mark III, and the CF-47KY/K4/LY mark II. Specifics: CPU is Intel Mobile PIII 450 MHz, 64mb RAM, previously running Win 98 SE. Model number on bottom plate of laptop says only CF-47.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Houndog777

Hi,
Firstly you should enter the bios set-up and reset it to it's default settings.
After that, try reinstalling windows. It should not take hours and should not be giving errors.
If your bios is failing to retain information, replace the cmos battery on the motherboard.
Is she giving you any on-screen warnings or beeps during boot?

hellraiser357

All of the CMOS settings are being retained, at least the ones I can see in the BIOS settings screen. No sounds or warnings during boot up at first, but read on.

I updated the BIOS today and resarted the install. Same symptoms as before. It has been stuck on the installing devices screen for about 4 hours now, making very very very slow progress. I have done a little more research, and may have stumbled on a possible solution. When trying to boot from the CD with w2k on it, I got an error message that said 'the system memory manager (EMM386.exe) found an error. Exception code 6. Invalid opcode.' Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this generally point to failing memory? I think I need to go to the computer shop down the street and pick up a 128 meg stick of RAM.

Is there anything else that may cause this snafu?

Will the memory from my Compaq armada E500 (old a$$ laptop too) work? I may pull it to try it out. I know the RAM stick is under the keyboard on the compaq, but what about the toughbook?

Houndog777

Hi, I think your right with the memory.
It was going to be my next suggestion.......honestly!

Houndog777

https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pc/...n/cf47refm.zip
You'll get a manual here, tells you how to install/remove parts.

hellraiser357

Do you think the memory from the compaq armada e500 will work in the panasonic?

hellraiser357

Oh...

..thanks for the link to the manual.

Houndog777

Yes, it should.
Look at that manual to see how to install it. It fits in at an angle.

hellraiser357

logging off to try...back in a bit

hellraiser357

Replaced the memory, booted up, RAM check good at 192 meg (64 on board, 128 added), still will not boot to the w2k CD; it comes up with the same error and exception code as before. I have booted normally to the installing devices screen, but it is still taking way way too long to install the software. In fact, the progress bar has not moved in about 15-20 minutes, just like before. I wish the floppy drive worked...I could just boot to the floppies and start over again.

Is there any way to burn the boot floppies to CD and use it that way?
Unfortunately, after some more freakin research, I find that I cannot use just any boot image to install w2k from. My CD is a burn I made from the original I bought in 2001 or 2002. (I always copy all of my software to a storage HDD on my PC in case I lose the CD, or mess it up, and in case I need to reinstall it later on). I think I am way beyond help at this point, but keep it coming...

Much obliged to all...

hellraiser357

I found a way to build a bootable install cd from my HD copy. I won't post the link here unless people really want me too, and only if the mods will let me(I don't know if this is infringment on microsofts territory or not.) You still have to have an original CD or at least a copy of the original CD like in my case where I chose to store a copy on a hard drive. I am currently attempting the install, and so far, so good. I will lwt you know how it turns out...

hellraiser357

I am still having the same issue as before with the super slow installing devices...ie: the marker hasn't moved in about 25 minutes...

Can i get this post moved to the win 2k pro forum or do i need to repost in that forum?

gopan123

thanks

hellraiser357

for what?!?!?

I did go ahead and post in the win2k pro forum about the software install itself. See http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-2000-pro-nt-workstation-support/159654-w2k-pro-not-installing-well.html for further details...