old notebook

[jes]

I have an old IBM Thinkpad 365XD. My dad purchased it back when Win98 was a new thing and now I think that I can make use of it and he doesn't need it.
The problem is that the only people to ever use that laptop don't know the first thing about computers. It has never been maintained very well and I think that it could run much better than it does.
I would like to repartition and format the drive but am worried that I might cause more problems in doing this because the components may not all be plug and play and I may not be able to find the drivers because it is sometimes difficult to find old drivers. What do you think I should do? Is there a way to tell if everything is plug and play?

[david eaton]

One way to start is to look in device manager, and check what hardware is installed - graphics/sound/modem etc. Then go to Driverguide.com and see if you can download appropriate drivers. Some of the devices may not need drivers as windows default drivers will probably be OK for the graphics, if the screen is 640 X 480.

Another thing to check would be the makers site, and see if there are any "useful" downloads there.

There is a little freeware program somewhere that will save all the driver files in a separate folder, but I cannot remember where it may be found. A Google search will probably find it.

Hope that helps a bit

David

[Fruss Tray Ted]

You may be able to d/l a manual for it but another way to see if it is plug and 'pray' is in the BIOS.

I would doubt any partitions are used in it as it probably has a small drive and is only using one.

[Budfred]

There is a program on this site that will copy your drivers so that you can reinstall them later.

[mjc]

Actually, if you are willing to spend the time and do the searching on the IBM site you should be able to find almost everything you need. IBM has one of the most extensive databases and download libraries I have ever seen.....I can still download drivers/files for my orignal IBM ps/2! They will have stuff for a 5 yr old laptop......

[jes]

My dad had sent the laptop to me via bus frieght. I just tried to use it and there seems to be a larger problem than the drivers not working. It won't even turn on now. The battery is shot so it has to be plugged in, the power converter works..it gets warm. The power button on the laptop is just completely unresponsive.

[david eaton]

Jes, have you tried operating the laptop without the battery inserted?

The fact that the mains unit is getting warm suggests that it is delivering power, but the power is obviously not reaching the computer. The "dead" battery may be just shorting out the supply.

Worth a try.

David

[john5211]

Hey Jes,

As MJC mentioned, IBM has a very comprehensive download library. In addition to drivers, you can also download pdf's of many different publications. For example, if you go <a href='http://www-3.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=RJJR-3PDMQ7'>here</a> you can download the Hardware Maintenance Manual for your ThinkPad. This might be helpful with your current problem, as the HMMs generally have a bunch of troubleshooting procedures relating to various problems.

Good Luck!

John

[Fruss Tray Ted]

David,
Very good perception!

One rule of electricity. Current = Heat!
Absolutely NO way around it. PERIOD!

'Shorting' is one thing, but accepting a charge is another. I'm more familiar with lead/ acid batteries but NiCad's and so on are somewhat similar I suppose...

Is there a (I assume) Mobo/BIOS battery in Laptops as well? (Sorry, don't have one... yet... looking for one though... )

Just by chance, I've been fortunate enough to have an IBM or 2 as well. But they're not the Epitome either. By now I'm beginning to look at all of 'em as used cars...

[jes]

I think that I have found the problem. I had opened the clips on the side and lifted the keyboard yesterday. I don't know why, I just did. There is a connector under the keyboard so if the keyboard is lifted, the computer will not transmit the signal from the power button the the mobo. That connector seems to be bent. I think that the only way to fix this will be to solder the connector together.

[jes]

There are three metal pins that connect to what looks like an aluminum foil tab. I'm not entirly sure that I should solder it now because the aluminum-foil-looking tab might melt. They wouldn't use aluminum foil in making a computer, would they?

[david eaton]

Fruss, I suggested the dead battery, as I have experienced a similar problem with other ni-cad powered devices (radio control) The mains power unit was working, but the transmitter would not work with the batteries in. The battery was not a "dead" short, but enough to drop the voltage to unworkable levels. Removed the battery, and away it went.

David

[jes]

I'm not sure how to remove the battery. It is probably under the keyboard. It is worth a try.

[Budfred]

It is probably not under the keyboard. Batteries are usually designed to be pretty easy to remove since they may need to be replaced, so check the outside and back of the case carefully. If you look in the IBM manual, it should tell you how to do it.

[jes]

I don't know what is wrong with this notebook. It is an intermitant problem. Sometime is starts up with no problems and other time nothing happens when I hit the power switch.
Last week I took the computer to Compusmart to have it looked at. Of coarse, it started up without problems for the tech there. What should I do? (aside from just buying a new laptop)