Need help recommissioning old Laptop

[PC_FUBAR]

Hi - I am currently in the process of recommissioning a 1999 Laptop.

It seems to be working OK but only has a 4GB hard-drive.

My question is - Can I replace this with a 40GB hard-drive?

What limits the size - is it hardware or software?

Thanks.

[Force Flow]

What is the make and model of the laptop?

[glc]

The bios limits the size. What are the specs on this thing and what OS are you planning on using?

[PC_FUBAR]

I'm not sure what it is exactly.

It has Dolch Notepac II on the front but Getac A740 written on the back.

I also have another problem - I'm locked out of the BIOS with an unknown password.

I can't see how to flash it? If I pull the battery will this reset the BIOS?

battery / clock

Once I can access the BIOS I'm going to try and install XP. [ It has 64MB of RAM.]

Thanks.

[Masaki 7-11]

I definitely wouldn't try putting XP on there, while you might be able to install it, it will be horrible slow and you won't get much use out of it, if you insist on reusing the laptop, try a lightweight version of linux like dls (DSL information).

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by PC_FUBAR I'm not sure what it is exactly. It has Dolch Notepac II on the front but Getac A740 written on the back. I also have another problem - I'm locked out of the BIOS with an unknown password. I can't see how to flash it? If I pull the battery will this reset the BIOS? battery / clock Once I can access the BIOS I'm going to try and install XP. [ It has 64MB of RAM.] Thanks.

You are not going to install XP on that... or it is going to give you problems. Your biggest obstacle is the hard drive size at this point. Damn Small Linux (DSL) is the perfect recommendation for that hardware. Older versions of Slackware are good as well but there is a learning curve on the installation for new Linux users but very doable if you do not mind reading up on it.

If you pull the battery, it should clear the CMOS. You may also consider replacing it as well.

[glc]

With 64mb of ram the newest version of Windows I'd attempt to install is 98SE.

[pcdanman]

If I were you I would see if I could find a bit more ram. In Australia we have a thing called hard rubbish. It's when everyone just puts out all their old junk on the nature strip for free disposal. Anyone can just rummage through and collect whatever they want. A lot of older computers and unused older computer parts get thrown out there. I have found several 512mb sticks of SDRAM, both laptop and desktop this way (If you can get it free why not).

If you could get a decent amount of ram you may want to install Windows 2000 or XP, if not stick with Windows 98SE or ME. As for the hard drive size, Windows 98SE and ME only support FAT 32 filesystems, which can only be up to 32GB. Windows 2000 can support drives up to 137gb and windows XP (as far as I know), can create NTFS filesystems as big as 2TB. More than likely, as your computer is from 1999, the maximum supported hard disk size is likely to be 137GB. Once a larger disk reaches the 137GB+ mark it writes over from the beginning, destroying the file system.

Hope this can be of some help!

[glc]

Dan, that information is somewhat misleading.

The laptop chipset is going to have a maximum amount of supported ram. Something from that vintage could very possibly be only 64mb.

FAT32 supports up to 2 TB using a 48 bit LBA patch, but the maximum practical hard drive size with it in 98 is 137gb.

2000 SP4 and XP SP1 eliminated the 137gb limit.

From 1999, I think the maximum supported hard drive size in that bios is more likely 8gb or 32gb.

[PC_FUBAR]

Removing the DALLAS chip did not reset the BIOS.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...c/DSCF3317.jpg

[glc]

What is the exact number on that Dallas chip? All I can see in the pic is DS1288 and you need to know what's after that.

How to Reset a BIOS Password

[PC_FUBAR]

It's a DS12887A.

It has 64 bytes of general-purpose non-volatile RAM connected to a 10 year lithium battery. This must be where the password is being stored. ?

Disconnecting it has reset it's clock though to 22nd January 1999.

[ thanks for the link but non of the backdoor passwords worked ]

I've ordered a new chip and a 256MB RAM upgrade.

Will have another go next week.

[glc]

Are you SURE that ram upgrade will work?

According to that link, a DS12887A can be reset by shorting pins 3 and 21.

Even with the ram upgrade, your CPU may not meet minimum requirements for XP - you need 233 MHz minimum, 300 MHz recommended.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by glc What is the exact number on that Dallas chip? All I can see in the pic is DS1288 and you need to know what's after that. How to Reset a BIOS Password

Liking that link

[PC_FUBAR]

Happy New Year.

Thanks for the link but the information shown did not appear to be 100% correct as pin 3 does not physically exist on the chip I've got. So I used pin 21 to pin 12 (Ground) instead which worked.

Unfortunately I now face an even worse problem.

The BIOS does not recognise the CD drive. The CD drive will spin up and the LED flashes but there is no option to boot from it in the BIOS.

The CD drive is located in the slot original used for the FDD but there does not appear to be any allowance for this in the BIOS. Floppy disk drive options for both A and B drives are just :

360KB 5 1/4”
1.2MB 5 1/4”
720KB 3 1/2”
1.44MB 3 1/2”
NOT INSTALLED

I don't have the original FDD module.

How did this laptop ever work?

[Force Flow]

I remember seeing copies of Windows 3.1 and 95 loaded onto a stack of floppies. This was before the point when CDs/CD drives were so common.