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I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one and loved
it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or LAN, but
not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with external
floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.

I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the CD-ROM. The
boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read that
there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot disk
doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
WC

"WCH" <> wrote in message
news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one and
loved
> it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or LAN,
but
> not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
external
> floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
>
> I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the CD-ROM.
The
> boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read that
> there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot disk
> doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> WC
>
>
If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then install
either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which covers how
to do this.
HTH
Vaughan

"Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> "WCH" <> wrote in message
> news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one and
> loved
> > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or LAN,
> but
> > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> external
> > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> >
> > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the CD-ROM.
> The
> > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read that
> > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot disk
> > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > WC
> >
> >
> If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then install
> either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which covers how
> to do this.
> HTH
> Vaughan
>

I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You mean
the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a recovery
CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a different
bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable (although
I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I know are
bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine doesn't
"see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98, I'm
going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it as a
spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able to steer
the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux. That's my
issue --
WC

"WCH" <> wrote in message
news:8Nvgc.10428$hw5.8807@attbi_s53...
> "Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
> news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one
and
> > loved
> > > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or
LAN,
> > but
> > > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> > external
> > > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> > >
> > > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the
CD-ROM.
> > The
> > > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read
that
> > > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot
disk
> > > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > > WC
> > >
> > >
> > If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then
install
> > either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which covers
how
> > to do this.
> > HTH
> > Vaughan
> >
>
> I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You
mean
> the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a
recovery
> CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a
different
> bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable
(although
> I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I
know are
> bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine
doesn't
> "see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98,
I'm
> going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it as
a
> spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able to
steer
> the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux. That's
my
> issue --
> WC
>
>
Why don't you download the manual. Lots of useful information on the
machine, including how to boot from CD, although not sure if it covers
BIOS settings which influence behaviour of PCMCIA controller, and thus
CD.

"WCH" <> wrote in message
news:8Nvgc.10428$hw5.8807@attbi_s53...
> "Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
> news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one and
> > loved
> > > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or LAN,
> > but
> > > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> > external
> > > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> > >
> > > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the CD-ROM.
> > The
> > > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read that
> > > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot disk
> > > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > > WC
> > >
> > >
> > If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then install
> > either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which covers how
> > to do this.
> > HTH
> > Vaughan
> >
>
> I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You mean
> the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a
recovery
> CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a
different
> bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable
(although
> I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I know
are
> bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine
doesn't
> "see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98, I'm
> going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it as a
> spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able to
steer
> the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux. That's my
> issue --
> WC
>
>
WC, you're probably correct. Your laptop can't access the PCMCIA until there
is an OS in place to tell it how.

Here's what I'd probably try:

Buy the little adapter made to connect 2-1/2" hard drives to standard IDE
cables, and install the laptop hard drive in a desktop computer. Partition
it, format the W2K partition, copy the W2K setup CD in its entirety to a
"c:\setup" or some such folder. (Since you plan on adding Linux later, be
sure you leave space for that partition as well).

While you're at the desktop, use the W2K setup CD to create the boot disk
set for W2K setup (I think it takes 6 floppies).

Put the HD back in the laptop, boot from the floppies, and it should allow
you to specify the location of the setup files, which you had copied to the
hard disk.

Maybe someone else has actually *tried* this <g> - I haven't, but I believe
it should work.

Toolman

"Toolman Tim" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "WCH" <> wrote in message
> news:8Nvgc.10428$hw5.8807@attbi_s53...
> > "Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
> > news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> > > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > > news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > > > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one
and
> > > loved
> > > > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD
or LAN,
> > > but
> > > > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> > > external
> > > > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> > > >
> > > > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the
CD-ROM.
> > > The
> > > > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't
read that
> > > > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98
boot disk
> > > > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > > > WC
> > > >
> > > >
> > > If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then
install
> > > either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which
covers how
> > > to do this.
> > > HTH
> > > Vaughan
> > >
> >
> > I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You
mean
> > the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a
> recovery
> > CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a
> different
> > bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable
> (although
> > I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I
know
> are
> > bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine
> doesn't
> > "see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98,
I'm
> > going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it
as a
> > spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able
to
> steer
> > the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux.
That's my
> > issue --
> > WC
> >
> >
> WC, you're probably correct. Your laptop can't access the PCMCIA until
there
> is an OS in place to tell it how.
>
> Here's what I'd probably try:
>
> Buy the little adapter made to connect 2-1/2" hard drives to standard
IDE
> cables, and install the laptop hard drive in a desktop computer.
Partition
> it, format the W2K partition, copy the W2K setup CD in its entirety to
a
> "c:\setup" or some such folder. (Since you plan on adding Linux later,
be
> sure you leave space for that partition as well).
>
> While you're at the desktop, use the W2K setup CD to create the boot
disk
> set for W2K setup (I think it takes 6 floppies).
>
> Put the HD back in the laptop, boot from the floppies, and it should
allow
> you to specify the location of the setup files, which you had copied
to the
> hard disk.
>
> Maybe someone else has actually *tried* this <g> - I haven't, but I
believe
> it should work.
>
> Toolman
>
>
You could waste an awful lot of time doing the above. Yes you would
have an OS installed on the hard drive, but you would have lots of
incorrect drivers installed as a result of setting up on different
hardware. Toshiba have a utility disk (available from their web site),
which will boot the machine to DOS and install real mode CD drivers.
Once you have done this, fdisk the hard drive and set up the partitions
you want, format the C: drive and create a folder for the installation
files, then copy them over from the CD and install from the hard drive.
I think you will still need drivers for the CD if using Win2000
(available from Freecom's site), although I believe that XP has native
drivers for the CD (not totally sure about that). Win2000 sets up all
the other hardware correctly. Good luck!
Vaughan

"Toolman Tim" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "WCH" <> wrote in message
> news:8Nvgc.10428$hw5.8807@attbi_s53...
> > "Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
> > news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> > > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > > news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > > > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one and
> > > loved
> > > > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD or
LAN,
> > > but
> > > > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> > > external
> > > > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> > > >
> > > > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the
CD-ROM.
> > > The
> > > > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't read
that
> > > > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98 boot
disk
> > > > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > > > WC
> > > >
> > > >
> > > If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then install
> > > either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which covers
how
> > > to do this.
> > > HTH
> > > Vaughan
> > >
> >
> > I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You
mean
> > the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a
> recovery
> > CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a
> different
> > bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable
> (although
> > I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I know
> are
> > bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine
> doesn't
> > "see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98, I'm
> > going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it as a
> > spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able to
> steer
> > the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux. That's my
> > issue --
> > WC
> >
> >
> WC, you're probably correct. Your laptop can't access the PCMCIA until
there
> is an OS in place to tell it how.
>
> Here's what I'd probably try:
>
> Buy the little adapter made to connect 2-1/2" hard drives to standard IDE
> cables, and install the laptop hard drive in a desktop computer. Partition
> it, format the W2K partition, copy the W2K setup CD in its entirety to a
> "c:\setup" or some such folder. (Since you plan on adding Linux later, be
> sure you leave space for that partition as well).
>
> While you're at the desktop, use the W2K setup CD to create the boot disk
> set for W2K setup (I think it takes 6 floppies).
>
> Put the HD back in the laptop, boot from the floppies, and it should allow
> you to specify the location of the setup files, which you had copied to
the
> hard disk.
>
> Maybe someone else has actually *tried* this <g> - I haven't, but I
believe
> it should work.
>
> Toolman
>
Toolman -- Actually, that's the direction I've been headed in today. I used
a PC running Window 2000 to generate a set of boot disks (four of them),
which I used to set up W2K on the laptop. That worked just fine, so I'm
halfway there. Still, one essential purpose of this project is to have a
Linux distro running so I can learn more about Linux, and I can't be sure
that I can do all the repartitioning and setups to get Linux running in a
dual boot setup from floppies. I'm going to use Red Hat Fedora as it came
with the instructional manual I bought as a teaching tool. As a workaround,
so far so good on the method you suggested, but it seems there ought to be a
more conventional way to get laptops without O/Ss to read pcmcia devices.
WC

"Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
news:SGzgc.529$Gq3.198@newsfe1-win...
> "Toolman Tim" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> >
> > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > news:8Nvgc.10428$hw5.8807@attbi_s53...
> > > "Wrinklytech" <> wrote in message
> > > news:8Fugc.462$Gq3.205@newsfe1-win...
> > > > "WCH" <> wrote in message
> > > > news:mLtgc.19540$yD1.45477@attbi_s54...
> > > > > I bought a used Toshiba Portege 3110CT laptop (used to have one
> and
> > > > loved
> > > > > it) with no O/S. The BIOS lets you boot from a floppy, the HD
> or LAN,
> > > > but
> > > > > not a CD-ROM. This laptop is a "subnotebook", real small with
> > > > external
> > > > > floppy and a CD-ROM that you plug into the pcmcia slot.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm looking for a boot disk that will let me install from the
> CD-ROM.
> > > > The
> > > > > boot disks I've used for older PCs don't do it as they don't
> read that
> > > > > there's a CD-ROM present (in the pcmcia slot). A Windows 98
> boot disk
> > > > > doesn't do it. Is there something designed for this situation?
> > > > > WC
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > If you have the Recovery CDs, you can boot from CD 1, and then
> install
> > > > either Win95 or Win98. Suggest you download the manual which
> covers how
> > > > to do this.
> > > > HTH
> > > > Vaughan
> > > >
> > >
> > > I don't have the "recovery CDs". Not sure how that would help. You
> mean
> > > the laptop would read the CD-ROM drive and *know* that there was a
> > recovery
> > > CD in it and, based on that, would boot to it? But if there was a
> > different
> > > bootable CD in the same drive it wouldn't? That seems improbable
> > (although
> > > I can't say it isn't true). I've tried three different CDs that I
> know
> > are
> > > bootable, but none of them work. I assume it's because the machine
> > doesn't
> > > "see" the CD-ROM drive. Anyway, I don't want to install W95 or W98,
> I'm
> > > going to dual boot W2K and a Linux distro on the machine and use it
> as a
> > > spare. It'll be slow but functional. But first I need to be able
> to
> > steer
> > > the boot process to the CD drive, both for W2K and for Linux.
> That's my
> > > issue --
> > > WC
> > >
> > >
> > WC, you're probably correct. Your laptop can't access the PCMCIA until
> there
> > is an OS in place to tell it how.
> >
> > Here's what I'd probably try:
> >
> > Buy the little adapter made to connect 2-1/2" hard drives to standard
> IDE
> > cables, and install the laptop hard drive in a desktop computer.
> Partition
> > it, format the W2K partition, copy the W2K setup CD in its entirety to
> a
> > "c:\setup" or some such folder. (Since you plan on adding Linux later,
> be
> > sure you leave space for that partition as well).
> >
> > While you're at the desktop, use the W2K setup CD to create the boot
> disk
> > set for W2K setup (I think it takes 6 floppies).
> >
> > Put the HD back in the laptop, boot from the floppies, and it should
> allow
> > you to specify the location of the setup files, which you had copied
> to the
> > hard disk.
> >
> > Maybe someone else has actually *tried* this <g> - I haven't, but I
> believe
> > it should work.
> >
> > Toolman
> >
> >
> You could waste an awful lot of time doing the above. Yes you would
> have an OS installed on the hard drive, but you would have lots of
> incorrect drivers installed as a result of setting up on different
> hardware.

I didn't say to *run* the setup while the drive was in the desktop. Put it
back in the laptop, boot from the floppy disk set, and W2K will install the
correct drivers as it sets up.

> Toshiba have a utility disk (available from their web site),
> which will boot the machine to DOS and install real mode CD drivers.

This will only eliminate putting the HD in the desktop.

> Once you have done this, fdisk the hard drive and set up the partitions
> you want, format the C: drive and create a folder for the installation
> files, then copy them over from the CD and install from the hard drive.

Exactly what I said in the first place.

> I think you will still need drivers for the CD if using Win2000
> (available from Freecom's site), although I believe that XP has native
> drivers for the CD (not totally sure about that). Win2000 sets up all
> the other hardware correctly. Good luck!