Computer Gurus - Need Help with a Thinkpad 600X
 

Have an IBM Thinkpad 600x running Windows 2000 Professional (long story, wife inherited it from a prior job and I'm trying to resurrect it for a spare laptop around the house)

Trying to install a Linksys 54G wireless card. Installation failed - system said it could not install ikernal.exe (I think) - did not have proper permissions (I think).

Any ideas on what's going on and how to fix it?

Also, battery doesn't appear to hold a charge. How can I tell whether its the charger block or the battery, short of buying a new battery.

Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated!

TIA

Windows 2000 Professional from a former workplace.

"Did not have proper permissions."

Sounds like you are trying to install from an end user account and not an admin account.

Was this box wiped clean before you took possesion?

Batteries only last a couple of years on laptops. It's most likely the battery. Don't buy a used one off eBay. Just buy new.

Scott

If I were you, I would reformat the hard drive, install Windows XP, apply the service packs, install any Thinkpad-specific drivers (still available at www.ibm.com), add some cheap third-party memory.

Gets rid of stuff the corporate IT dept put on there, makes you the administrator, lets you use the more user-friendly Win XP, and it is nicer to have a clean install than some 5 year old install.

Whether this is a DIY job depends on (1) how geeky are you? (2) does the 600 have a bootable CD drive? (3) do you have a desktop PC?

If you don't want to do it yourself and don't have a computer geek neighbor, I bet $50 on Craiglist would find you a rent-a-geek.

Steve,

I just did the same thing with a Dell Latitude last week and after spending a couple of hours working with both a Netgear and Linksys WiFi PCMCIA card, then having a networking and computer guru friend of come over and he spent a couple of hours trying to get it to work... we gave up. The two just do not interface. Could be either too old a WiFi card or too old computer in my case.

We did get my Tivo WiFi talking with my server and able to transfer files, so its not the WiFi hub. As John said, I always start with a newly formatted hard drive when not sure of the OS condition. Personally I like W2000 more than XP but thats me. XP tries to do everything for you and is too damm automated for me, but I have been working with computers since 1973 and am an old fogey at times in this area.

JoeA

If you want to try and reset the password for the admin account, I can get you a linux boot disk that lets you reset it.

Does this thing have a floppy drive/cd?

Regardless, you should do a reinstatllation. If you have at least 512 of memory, install XP and make sure its service packed.

HD makes a good comment. IBM always ships with a "restore" CD. Backup anything you want on the maching, put the CD in the unit and hit reboot. It will bring it back to factory settings and programs.

If you do not have one, they sell on Ebay from time to time. You can do it with only a OS Cd but then you get to load all the drivers and such. The factory disk is a lot faster and easier.

JoeA

Thanks for the info guys. On a second try, I did get the WIFI card installed and able to connect to my home network. JoeA -- I had the same problem with Netgear/Linksys - could never get the Netgear adapter to connect to the Linksys network either. Finally gave up and went all Linksys - no problems.

Will investigate a new battery -- is it OK to buy a NEW one on eBay or should I look elsewhere?

Thanks again.

Does not really matter where you get it as long as it's new. Buying a used battery is, well, buying a used battery. Who knows how long it will last.

I usually find good deals at batteries.com but they are cheaper on ebay.

Good luck

Steve, Pls be very careful on Ebay with computer stuff. Lots of people selling used stuff there as new and when you get it home its just not right. Check feedback reports and make sure its from a business and not a individual unless you have a good feeling about them.

They say that all WiFi should work together but I SHOULD have won the lotto. I prefer to do as you did and get all from the same maker so that when you call or email their support they cannot say that they do not interface.

Glad its working!

JoeA