I have put a windows xp disc into the laptop & it goes to windows start. Then it will not respond to the 'enter' button. I just cannot get it any further.

If you have an external hard drive ,put the windows op disc in it and connect it up
turn on the laptop and keep delete button pressed
that should get you into the bios where you can change the start up from hd to cd disc
if you get it to start up of the disc then you can see if the hard drive is operational by looking for files and folders ( c drive)
if there is a problem then I would take it to a IT geek shop and have them check it as it may be a dead HD

Hi
How to Install Windows XP on a Thinkpad T20

The Thinkpad T20 is a laptop computer from IBM designed for business use. This computer comes with the Windows XP operating system and--if necessary--can be reloaded with the operating system. All you need to perform this operation is the installation disc for Windows XP and a valid product key. This product key can be found on the bottom of the computer or with the documents included with the machine (if Windows XP was pre-installed on the computer).

Windows XP CDProduct key
1 Turn on your T20 laptop computer and press the blue "ThinkVantage" button.

2 Scroll through the options and select the option to boot from your T20's CD/DVD drive.
3 Press the "Enter" key at the welcome window and press the "F8" key once you have read (and agreed to) the license terms for installing the software.
4 Select the drive on which you want to install Windows XP and press the "C" button, followed by the "Enter" button.
5 Press the "Enter" button again to start the installation process. When prompted, enter the product key for Windows XP. Once the setup finishes, you can use the computer.

Instead of re-installing the Operating System you can do an Operating System repair. Boot to the Windows Operating System installer disc,. If you have XP, boot to the XP installer disc then enter the setup program. There will be an option that says "Press R to Repair Computer". Press letter R then let the setup finish. For Vista/7, boot to the installed disc then select "Startup Repair" This will repair all corrupted Windows file and will keep your data intact,

Hope this help.

hello,

I will explain the process for you.

First of all if your computer has some windows like windows 98 or older than you can install the windows by simply inserting the disc and choosing the drive and install the windows.

However if you do not have any windows installed on your system or you have windows installed later than windows xp and want to install another operating system than use the following method.

First of all,
Please make sure you set the boot-priority first.

- you can go into bios by pressing the F12 or ESC key on your keyboard or if the key is different keep in mind when you turn your computer on you should see a small line at the first blink of your screen telling you to press a key to go to bios.

- Thank once you are in the bios please check the boot section and there set the boot-priority and by setting i mean the dvd drive or the cd drive should be apprering on the first section which means that your computer should boot from cd or dvd so that it can read your disc before it reads your hard-disk. remember to change this setting back once you have installed the windows.

- please insert the windows xp disc.

- than press enter on the bios screen and save changes and exit

- you comptuer will restart and

- it will take you straight to the point from where you can install windows using simple few clicks you just have to enter the serial number and your name etc. and the rest computer will do it-self.

Please let me know if there is anything else i can help you with.


Thank you.

Have you let the machine complete the install? There are a couple of reboots with the disk installed. Don't press any buttons during the reboot the disk will transfer to the harddrive when appropriate.

You also may have a corrupt boot record. Next time try booting from the CD. When the system comes up, select recovery console (R). When you are asked for a system to login, press enter. Enter the administrator's password if asked. At the prompt, "c:\windows>", type fixmbr.

Sounds like the HAL.DLL problem that I have with my Aspire One.
Try booting off a genuine Windows XP disc and choosing the 'recovery console' option. At the command line, type 'CHKDSK C:' and press Enter. If you're lucky, that will do the trick.

Try to Repair XP

1. Insert Windows XP disc to CDROM
2. Select Boot from CD--option
3. Select "R" for Repair---it will enter to Recovery Console
4. run Command---chkdsk /r
5. after completion--reboot system and check

you need to install directly from the vista disc when the computer is powered on, put the disk in and it should ask you to press any button to start from cd..

if not then the computer is not set to start up from a cd, you can either enter the setup / bios to change that setting OR right when you power up the computer look at the screen it will say what button to press in order to enter boot menu, it will very likely be button F12 or similiar, it should say on the screen when you power on.

if it doesnt, then you need to go into the bios and change the boot order so that the computer starts from the CD first. the computer should say what button to press to enter bios or cmos or setup when its turned on

after that you should be able to start from the cd and install the OS (Operating system, eg.Windows)

heres some info on how to work the bios: http://www.whitecanyon.com/how-to-change-boot-order.php

ones you get into the vista setup you can empty the hard drive, getting rid of windows xp and then install windows vista over it.

Let me know how that goes,
Thanks,
Ekse

G'day trex440,

Sounds like you've got a corrupt windows.
Laptop brand model?
What version of windows are you running. eg xp home xp pro vista etc.?

Try a chkdsk command first via your windows disc.
boot from your windows disc for now.

Cheers
pcfixit