Compac Contura 410C Laptop won't start.

Hi all, I thought I would have another play with the old laptop that won't start and tonight it showed on the screen > Starting Windows 95 and then C:\> appeared. This was something it hadn't done before so I typed in DIR and hit enter. I then got a message saying: 1 file(s) 93,812 bytes and another line saying: 0 dir(s) 261,124,096 bytes free. I tried WIN 95 and got Bad command or file name. What do I need to enter to get this laptop to work? Neil.

 

Hi Arie, thanks for your reply. I'm unable to install the OS as I don't have a set of floppies. This laptop does not have a CD unit so I'm back to the problem that I can't get another PC to recognize the 2.5 inch laptop HDD. I have a connector which enables the IDE cable to interface with the HDD and I've been stumped on how to get the PC to recognize this drive and even using a Win 98 start up disc it won't work. Open to all ideas. Neil.

 

Reinstall windows
you might want to format the drive
Boot off of windows 98 diskette
format c:
are you sure- yes
then start with that windows 98 boot disk
Let it boot
get to a prompt
a:
assume that you have a cd rom and disk drive on the laptop
then at a prompt with 98 cd in ( and reg key)
you type set up
go through the paces
best to have win 98 se and not the original
( more device drivers)
if you need to create a windows 98 boot disk
go to www.bootdisk.com

one tip - if the laptop refuses to start take out the battery for several minutes and try again

 

Thanks for the thoughts visionof, but as Pete has reminded you I have an old laptop which has floppy drive only. I am awaiting a reply on our local Trademe web site where a member is hoping to make available a set of Win 95 floppy discs. If I'm lucky I should then be able to load the OS as Arie has suggested. I have an OS Win 95 CD but cannot use it. Will let you know if I'm successful. Neil

 

Backpack

A usefull tool when working on these old laptops is an older style parallel port cd rom
Some also work with pcmcia
Brand name was "backpack "

 

Hi all, I've managed to get the HD recognized in BIOS and am trying to carry out setup. Will let you know if it works. My connector was faulty and I've bought a different brand which seems to be doing the job.Thanks Neil.

 

Hi visionof, I've been looking around in our local TradeMe (Ebay) and haven't seen any old CD units as you suggested. I tried local Computer repair shop and they smiled and said they hadn't seen anything like that for years. Meantime the second adapter I got hold of had a Molex connector with two wires soldered to the 44/40 pin connector block and as it seems to be my lucky period, the wires were badly soldered and the Neg wire broke off and this happened with very little movement. I've repaired and soldered them correctly and have managed to Fdisk / partition / format and actually load Win98 to the HDD. Only one problem now - it displays message telling me to remove all disks and Windows will restart for first time. Wrong - it displays Windows 98 screen for a minute then switches off and restarts and displays Safe mode options and then won't start in Safe mode when entered. It just cycles between Win98 screen and Safe mode. I'm well and truly confused. Neil.