NEC (dead?) Laptop Question

[beliefmask]

I have a hand me down NEC Ready 340T that I am not able to get up and running.

When I first recieved the laptop, it would boot as far as bringing up the desktop backround, and then an exploer.exe error message pops up, and the computer won't boot any further (does not hang, mouse is still useable, but booting windows halts).

I tried to format the HD, and it would not format past 23percent (it says 'drive is not ready' and quits out) This happened repeatedly (stopping at 23percent each time)

I installed a new HD, which on first boot, booted to windows without a problem (although the color and resolution settings seems to be locked at their lowest vaules, with no option to increase). Upon trying to format the 'new' HD, the same problem occurs, except it wont format past 19 percent.

In ym limited computer knowledge, this leads me to believe that there is an issue with the motherboard. but I am wondering if it may be something that is easliy fixed (perhaps a BIOS flash, but I have no knowdledge or experience with this). Most likely I think, it may be a lost cause.

Looking for some hope!

Again, its a NEC Ready 340T. AMD K6 300mhz, 64 megs of Ram. IBM Travel Star 4.32 DKLA-24320 hd

Thanks!
Tim

[NotQuiteHere]

What are the sizes on the hdd's?

I'm not positive that this should have anything top do with it, but it might be useful.

[jman01pa]

The video problem is just a driver issue. Windows is using the default vga driver which looks like crap. Installing the correct video driver should correct this.

The hard drive format problem is the big issue. What is the current state of the system?

I am a bit confused on how you got to where you are. You installed a new HD and it was able to boot into windows? How did you get the OS on the new HD?

What operating system you running?

[beliefmask]

Sorry...it was not a new HD. it was a used drive with the OS (win98) already installed.

Both drives (the factory one, and the new 'used' one) are both 4.32 gb