Laptop OS install

[b1tchm4gn3t]

I ordered an old laptop (IBM 350C) from Ebay, and it will be arriving soon. What I need to know is how to install an OS on it if it ONLY has a floppy drive? I have tried to search for an answer but I cant even find out any specs on this laptop whatsoever. The only reason I got this old laptop was to load ALOT of pictures on it, that and it was cheap. Any links or info on this would be much appreciated!

[indolikaa]

Here's what I'd do...

I'd remove the hard drive and install it into my desktop computer, use a WinME bootup floppy, and then install the OS to the hard disk from one of my optical drives.

I have an IDE/IDE patch cable that let's me connect 2.5" HDD drives into my main system when needed. A very useful item, I must say.

[Ripper2860]

Chances are it has a 2.5" IDE hard drive. You could try using an adapter to attach a 40pin 2.5" HDD to a standard controller in a desktop PC. Format and install an O/S on the desktop PC and then transfer it back into the laptop. I would go with W98.

** Be sure to copy the OS CAB files to the HDD, so if any are needed you can access them from the HDD.

http://www.cablesnmor.com/hard-drive-converter.html

Or use a external CD-ROM drive and boot with a floppy including the necessary CD drivers to install the OS on your HDD .

[Ripper2860]

Indo --
3 seconds apart !! Great minds think alike !!

[b1tchm4gn3t]

I just heard from a friend, that there are floppys around to install an OS on a laptop (win 95). Have you heard of anything like this before? He says he thought there were 7-8 of these...but I dont see how that is possible at all.

[Ripper2860]

Win95 and the oriiginal Win98 were available on floppies. It's been quite some time since I've ssen a "complete" set, as there were quite a few floppies involved. 10+ but could have been less. It was quite some time ago -- well 1996 at least.

[indolikaa]

Man, if I remember right Win95 was 17 floppies. It's been a LONG time for me, too.

You can sometimes find them on eBay. But good luck. That's vintage computer technology you're thinking of. They were special floppies that held something like 1.7MB files.

[b1tchm4gn3t]

ok...TY for all of that informative info. Looks like that cable and attaching it to one of my desktops is the solution. So I just do a clean install from there just leave things out to save harddrive space I presume? Like Internet explorer and games and things like that?

[b1tchm4gn3t]

Oh...and if anyone is REALLY bored, they could maybe drudge up some info on this laptop as I have searched and searched to no end.

IBM Thinkpad 350C

[shoozleboy]

with the IBM's - you will need the actual IBM part number.... they made a lot of that model and the insides depended on the actual model number....

I can't remember off the top of my head, but they are like 6 or 8 digits and letters...six i think....

(I haven't been in an IBM warehouse in almost 5 years!! used to receive and ship them for a third party company that set up shop inside one of IBM's facilities in RTP - Research Triangle Park - in North Carolina)

Anyway, if you have the actual part number, it will make your search for the specs a lot easier.... check the eBay ad, most sellers do list the part number.