HELP! Can't reformat!

I have an IBM Thinkpad T23.

I need to reformat it terribly bad, when I bought it from a friend... it was in dire need then.

I can't reformat tho. It recognizes the DVD-RW/CD-RW drive as removable hardware, as it would a flash drive.

Since it recognizes this drive as such, it doesn't send power to it until windows loads. Thus is the problem.

I can't boot to the CD-ROM with my windows CD in to reformat. Someone please help. No idea how I can reformat.

Thanks again!

 

The first thing that comes to mind is the "boot sequence" in the bios.

Press the start button for the PC then while it is starting continually press "F8" untill you get into the bios, then select "boot" and set your CD drive to be the first to boot.

Put your recovery cd in and re-boot, it should the start from the cd.

 

I've tried going through the BIOS and changing boot order, as well as hitting F5 for the temporary boot order.


Since the CD-ROM doesn't come on until windows is loaded (since it is removable hardware), it just boots to the harddrive anyways and loads windows.

 

Is the CD a USB device? Can't you direct the boot to boot from USB? Then the USB buss should become "alive" and the BIOS will search for a bootable USB device.

 

The CD Rom isn't a USB device. It is just recognizing it as removable as if it were.

 

Do you have a blue "Access IBM" button on the machine? If so, press it when you start the machine.

 

I don't have any buttons like that.

 

Please tell us how it is connected and what type of connection it uses. Tht way, we can figure out if your computer can boot from it.

 

Well, there is a slot on the side of the computer that it fits into. It just slides into there and its in, ready to go. I'm not real sure the type of connection it is in there, thats all I know.

 

Is it flat and kinda like a card? Probably a PCMCIA device. Check the bios if you can boot from this device.

 

I couldn't tell you what it looks like, I've never removed it. In bios it gives me the option to boot to the CD ROM.

 

You mentioned it just slides in and go there. Does your dvdrom have a thick wire with a metal card next to it? If so, tell us what kind of devices does your computer support for booting. (entries in your boot order)

Or is it an embedded dvdrom that you just slides on the side. If so, this is an internal dvdrom but I doubt it since you mentioned it is recognized as removable hardware. Check the bios if it can detect any cdroms at startup.

 

WhenI purchased this laptop from a friend, there was no cdrom.

He found the original DVD/CD-RW that went with it and brought it to me.

There were no cords, wires, plugs or anything for that matter hanging from it. He slid it into the open slot until itwouldn't go any further, rebooted and it was recognized.

Thats where I stand.

In myboot order I have the DVD/CD-RW & The Hard drive.

When I tell it to go to the DVD/CD-RW, it just acts as if I didn't tell it to do anything and boots straight to windows.

 

Only two options for your boot order? Well, it would seem that your DVD/CD-RW is an internal device. Is it working properly? When was the last time you've used it?

If its still okay, check all you bios pages/settings if you can read a CD/DVD device detected.

If there is one and still fails, there might be a problem with your CD on your CD-Boot.

If you cant see any CD/DVD device in your bios, there might be a setting in you bios that prevents it to load.

 

There is no issue with the functionality of the drive.

There isn't any setting preventing it.

In a nutshell, I need to know if there is a way around the issue.

Let me give you an example.

Say I wanted to boot to aflash drive for example, but the USB port doesn't power up until the OS loads... Theres a problem there, because you have to boot to it BEFORE the OS loads...

That is the issue I'm having with the dvd drive, except it isn't USB... it's just being treated as such.

 

What if you dump the boot drive in ''Exclude from Boot order" . *X* key after selecting the drive. Can you get your hands on a Linux Live CD and see if that boots?
Cheers..

 

I am still convinced this is a bios problem????

there is somthing in the bios that is blocking the DVD from being recognised and it is difficult to give specific help.

if you have the diskette.

Install the ThinkPad hardware maintenance diskette
version 1.62, and restart the computer.

From the main menu, select 1. Set System
Identification.

Select 2. Read S/N data from EEPROM

Install the ThinkPad hardware maintenance diskette
version 1.62 and restart the computer.
2. From the main menu, select 1. Set System
Identification.
3. Select 1. Add S/N data from EEPROM.

Follow the instructions on the screen

Also remove the DVD drive and re-seat it as shown below.

i also do not understand why you do not have a blue enter IBM button but pressing "F1" continually at boot should take you into the bis where you can find the boot menu.