Unable to load XP on Toshiba Portege 3500

[Guest]

Loading XP on this Laptop is difficult without the requisite 16 PCMCIA card
on the CDROM.
So far I have used the "Ultimate boot CD" to get to DOS. I change to the XP
disc, I reformat C as well as doing a DELTREE to remove i386nfrom HDD.
I then create directory by typing MD c:\i386 and then type in xcopy t:\i386
c:\i386 /e to copy to HDD.
Unfortunately I get "Unable to create directoryC:\i386\ dosapps\aida18\====.
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.
Very many thanks,(FYI I am using (e-mail address removed) as default email at this
time
Martin Morrow

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Loading XP on this Laptop is difficult without the requisite 16 PCMCIA card
on the CDROM.
So far I have used the "Ultimate boot CD" to get to DOS. I change to the XP
disc, I reformat C as well as doing a DELTREE to remove i386nfrom HDD.
I then create directory by typing MD c:\i386 and then type in xcopy t:\i386
c:\i386 /e to copy to HDD.
Unfortunately I get "Unable to create directoryC:\i386\ dosapps\aida18\====.
Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.
Very many thanks,(FYI I am using (e-mail address removed) as default email at this
time
Martin Morrow

There are a few strange things here.
- You write "I reformat C as well as doing a DELTREE to
remove i386nfrom HDD". How come the i386 folder survived
the format operation?
- You write "I type xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386 /e". The correct command
is actually xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386\ /s /e.
- What's the Aida folder doing on your WinXP installation CD? Is it
really a WinXP installation CD?
- What happens when you try to create the problem folder manually?
- If you can boot from the Ultimate Boot CD, why can't you boot
from your WinXP installation CD?

 

[Guest]

Dear Pegasus,

Not so strange when you understand my lack of knowledge.
Firstlyit is a valid XP disc. When loading straight from the CDROM, it gets
through the startup files but will not enter setup. This, I am told is
because it does not have all the requisite drivers on i386?
Yes, you are right about deltree and format, its just that I have attempted
verying ways to get it to load.
Most of the help I have had has ben from the Toshiba support forums who
taught me how to use the 'Ultimate" to get to DOS but this last bit has been
tough and I hoped someone such as yourself could help.
You have given meb a different entry to transfer i386 which I will now try,
Thank you for that
If it doesn'twork I will get back to you if that is ok
I may be a bit wrong on the dosapps line but will tell you what transpires
with the new entry.
Very many thanks,
Martin Morrow

 

[Guest]

Hi Pegasus,
Have just tried your new xcopy input but I may be getting it wrong.
Is it i386\ space/space s/space e?
Getting various responses to different variations from "Does E specify a
file name" etc
Appreciate your help.
Martin

 

[Guest]

Dear Pegasus,

I have now tried the following
xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386\space/s space/e
It comes up with
"Unable to create directory C\ I386\DOSAPPS\AIDA16\C^???

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

In this particular case it does not matter how many spaces
you enter. The command
xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386\ /s /e
will work just as well as the command
xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386\/s/e

I just checked my own WinXP CD. It definitely does not
have a folder \i386\dosapps. This makes my wonder what
CD you're dealing with.

I also wonder about your boot CD. There is something
wrong with it. Try booting with a Win98 boot disk from
here instead: www.bootdisk.com.

Lastly, the comment from the Toshiba people does not
make sense. Windows should load straight away although
it may lack some drivers later on. Installing it the way you
won't make any difference.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help. All I get after potting in the xcopy is "Does E specify
a file name or a directory name on target" or "invalid switch"which makes me
think the MD c is not making a directory.
The DOSAPPS may be a holdover from the "Ultimate boot disc" if it is not on
the CD,except it is still there after the Format C which it shouldn't be.
Because the Portege 3500 does not have a CDROM, it apparantly (from a lot of
info gleaned from others with this model) can only access access the setup
files (as opposed to the boot files) with a 16 bit PCMCIA card.
Thus I load the startup files from the XP CD and when it comes to the "set
up Wndows" at the end it comes up with the blue screen stating that an error
has occurred and Windows is shutting down. Same happens with the XP boot
files on floppy I got from the MS site.
You're probably right about this Boot CD since it doesn't allow download of
any files.
I'm lost on this matter and it is very frustrating but thanks for trying to
help.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

If you're confused then this makes two of us who are. After
reading your latest reply I don't have the faintest idea what
you're actually doing. Your statement "Because the Portege
3500 does not have a CDROM, it apparantly can only access
access the setup files (as opposed to the boot files) with a
16 bit PCMCIA card" does not mean anything to me. If you
wish to continue this discusssion then I suggest you state very
clearly the following things:
- What are you booting the laptop with? A floppy disk? A CD?
A PCMCIA card?
- What exactly is stored on your boot medium?
- Where do the WinXP installation files reside?
- What are you attempting to copy to the hard disk?

The reason why you got the prompt "Does E specify a file name
or a directory name" is that you were inaccurate with your
command. Below is what I wrote and what you typed:

xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386\ /s /e (this is what I typed)
xcopy t:\i386 c:\i386 /s /e (this is what you typed)

Spot the difference!

 

[Guest]

Yes, I have not been clear so let me attempt to be:
1)I am using an external CDROM which is connected to the computer through a
PCMCIA card. In the first attempts to load XP I used the XP CD which
downloaded the setup files but when it came to the start up of Windows, I
received the blue screen staing that an error in Windows had occurred and it
had to shut down.
2)At this point I went to the Portege Community Forrum who told me that I
needed to use the Ultimate boot disk to get to a stage where I had access to
both the CD and HDD, then I should insert the XP CD
3) I downloaded the Ultimate Boot Disk for which they had given me the URL
and followed the instructions given to me. This lead to the last screen which
had
T as UBCDDRIVE ?
Q as RAMDRV
A is BOOTDRV then at the bottom Q:\> blinking cursor.
4) It was at this point I was instructed to copy files from the XP CD to the
HDD which would allow the necessary files to be loaded to the HDD and for the
Windows setup process to begin (after typing in C:\i386\winnt
5)To copy the files I was told I had to write xcopy T:\i386 c:\i386 /e.
This I did with no success. I was told this might be because I had the files
already on the HDD and that I should use deltree to erase files and then to
create a directory by inputting MD c:i286 etc.
When this did not work I was instructed to reformat and try again. This did
not work
6) After this I realized I was going nowhere and came to the MS site.
7)Apparantly I am trying to copy the I386 files to the HDD in order that the
XP CD has drivers? to allow it to commence setup
After two days of all this I also am a bit testy but appreciate that you are
trying to help

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

This makes it a lot clearer.

I am not familiar with the Ultimate Boot CD, hence I need to
ask some questions:
- What operating system does the CD run? Type the command
ver
at the DOS prompt to find out.
- Can you read the WinXP installation CD after booting with
this CD? The command
dir X:\ /s
will tell you (X: is the CD's drive letter).
- Does the CD have the following commands?
sys
fdisk
format
xcopy
- Do you have a working floppy disk drive?
- How easy is it to remove the hard disk?

Have you explored the existence of an inbuilt factory recovery
process? Your manual will tell you.

I question the wisdom of manufacturers to design notebooks
that do not have a CD drive that works outside Windows, for
obvious reasons. They force you to return the notebook to a
repair centre if something goes wrong.

 

[Guest]

Thank Goodness!
1) I put in VER:Response: Freecom Version 8.84 pre XMS_swap. 1 jan 06.
15-17-351
2) Use A as prefix for bootdrv (I have now switched CD to the XP)
A lot of files run by followed by:
41 files
794642 Kbytes?
Then: 120 files,38 dir(s)
All files are CAB files that I can see, such as PNPOSI
Tried T...Invalid
Tried Q
Lot of files pass by
then:
total files listed 246 3,615,753bytes
39 dir(s)
All files seem to have a TBL at end
Also there is one heading between file lists
Directory of Q:\UC\CP866

Hope this helps.
The HDD easy to take out
Have a Toshiba floppy which for some reason will not download the 6 XP boot
files as it states there is not enough room on the disk (diskette 1)
diskettes are formattedTDK MF-2HD. They are empty.

Martin

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

We're getting somewhere!

It seems your boot CD may be called the "Ultimate Boot CD"
but it looks as if it is not suitable as a primer for a WinXP
installation. I can think of four options to resolve your problem:

a) Use the inbuilt factory restore option.

b) Get it fixed by a competent repair shop.

c) Create the six WinXP installation disks from
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310994,
then boot the machine and pray that it will recognise your
CD drive. I have never tried this myself.

d) Install the hard disk in a $15.00 USB case and connect it to
some Wim9x PC. This gives you the opportunity to do two things:
- Format it and make it bootable.
- Copy the WinXP CD to its i386 folder.
If you do not have access to a Win9x PC then you can get a 2.5"
to IDE ribbon cable adapter instead of the USB case so that you
can turn the disk into a slave disk on any DOS-booted PC. Be
very, very careful with this adapter: If you connect it back to fron
then you will fry your disk.

Post again if you require more details for option d).

 

[Guest]

Pegasus,

Thanks for all that, pity the Bootdisk is not very good
Two more questions and we are done.
1) I already have a 5gg HDD with XP on it which was loaded on the offending
Toshiba laptop (Funnily enough by the IT guy at MS Germany in Munich. He had
the correct CDROM plus PCMCIA 16 bit cable). If I get another USB case I
could put them both on my laptop (normal, sensible one) and transfer I386
that way or does it only work on a 9x OS?
2) Format no problem but how do I make it bootable and how do I transfer I386?
Do I use MD X:\ etc where X is the drive and than use your formula?
Very many thanks for all your help and I will sign off after your response
(no matter what it is !)

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Your most recent post raises more questions than it answers -
see below.

Pegasus,

Thanks for all that, pity the Bootdisk is not very good
Two more questions and we are done.
1) I already have a 5gg HDD with XP on it which was loaded on the offending
Toshiba laptop (Funnily enough by the IT guy at MS Germany in Munich. He had
the correct CDROM plus PCMCIA 16 bit cable). If I get another USB case I
could put them both on my laptop (normal, sensible one) and transfer I386
that way or does it only work on a 9x OS?

Are you now saying that you have laptop disk with a fully operational
installation of WinXP? That you just wish to clone this installation onto
another disk? If so then you should have said so at the very beginning!
Furthermore, while Windows is up and running (any version!), you
cannot copy it to another disks, because some of its files are locked.

If my understanding is incorrect then you should supply further details.

2) Format no problem but how do I make it bootable and how do I transfer I386?
Do I use MD X:\ etc where X is the drive and than use your formula?

It depends on the method you use: with a USB case in some
Win9x machine or with the slave disk method in a WinXP
machine.

Very many thanks for all your help and I will sign off after your response
(no matter what it is !)

I doubt it very much . . .