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For the individuals on this list, the following is an update to the
message I sent to both of you.
For everyone else, below is a step-by-step instructional on getting your
360PE (and others) to run Windows 95 with full feature support. Please
let me know if something is confusing or if you find a mistake.
How To Install Windows 95 On The ThinkPad 360/C/CS/P/PE
…And maybe 730T/750/755C/755CS
The following document will help you prepare your IBM ThinkPad computer
to run under the Windows 95 operating system. I have gone through this
procedure twice now and know it works on my particular unit. It's
difficult to tell exactly what support disks you need to complete this
process. My first installation involved installing several floppies
worth of utilities that I later discovered included redundant
information. Exactly what you need will depend on what kind of options
you have.
Please keep in mind that these instructions have only been tested on a
360PE. However, considering the similarities between the various 360
ThinkPads I suspect this process will also work for the following
models: 360, 360C, 360CE, 360P, 360PE and possibly 730T/750/755C/755CS.
Also, IBM has noted that Plug and Play is not supported on the 750
models. Finally, I suppose that I should add that I'm not responsible
for anything (that's what my mom always said) should something terrible
happen as a result of your using these instructions.
Please direct any questions, comments or corrections to
mikew@anet-dfw.com.
CREATING THE UPDATE DISKS (Disk Images)
---------------------------------------
Most (but not all) of the files I mention in this document can be found
on IBM's web site, http://www.ibm.com. Finding the files, though, can
be a chore, especially as they appear to be moved to different locations
frequently. If you cannot find these files, let me know and I'll get
them to you.
Most of the files I discuss in this document are stored in a disk image
format, while a few are stored in ZIP format. This document assumes you
are familiar with compressed ZIP files. Briefly, most of the files that
have an .EXE extension are disk image ("hard file") files which
automatically create a disk. They will require one blank (though not
necessarily formatted) 1.44MB floppy for each .EXE file. In the case of
the disk image files, just type the name of the file at a command
prompt, or double click the file from the File Manager.
WHAT YOU GET FOR "FREE"
-----------------------
The ThinkPad 360PE is a "pen-based" computer and as such requires
additional drivers to work under Windows 95. If your notebook does not
support the pen feature and if you have no special peripherals, you may
not need anything besides a plain Windows 95 install CD. Furthermore,
if you only have, for example, PCMCIA and audio on your ThinkPad, and if
you already have Windows 3.1 installed, you may again need nothing
besides a plain Windows 95 CD.
Several of the drivers that you will be using are actually the old
drivers used by Windows 3.1/Windows 3.11. I do not know whether this
affects performance or not. These drivers work fine, and on my machine
Windows reports that it's running optimally.
LET'S GET STARTED
-----------------
Each of the diskettes you create from the disk image files will come
with a README.TXT type file. Be sure to read that over before your
proceed with the step. It's the right thing to do.
1. Backup your computer. If you have the original preload software
SAVE IT because you may want to go back to the original operating
system.
2. Create a diskette from the WIN95SET.EXE file. This has to be the
most confusing part because there are two different disk files on IBM's
site, MTTPS120.EXE and UTTPG101.EXE, that contain the update for Plug
and Play BIOS support. I don't think you don't need MTTPS120.EXE at all
(if anybody has to install the BIOS update please verify this and let me
know for sure). The WIN95SET disk will tell you if you need to update
your BIOS or not. If so, it will ask you for the ThinkPad Features
Diskette created by UTTPG101.EXE. Even if you don't anticipate a BIOS
update, create both diskettes because you will use the Features Diskette
later.
Note: my 360PE has a BIOS Part # of 91G1534 and a date of 02/21/96. As
this is the most recent BIOS version for my system I did not need the
BIOS update.
Once you have created your diskettes, insert the WIN95SET disk into your
A: drive and reboot your computer. Just follow the instructions that
appear when the system comes up. Once you have completed this step,
which may include the BIOS update, you will have, among other things,
the VESA video BIOS extensions that allow you to run Windows 95 in 256
colors. Note that WIN95SET completely REMOVES OS/2, so if you haven't
made a backup of your system there's no turning back after this step.
Note: WIN95SET backs up a few critical files: AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS,
WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI to *.E95 should you need to refer to them later.
4. After verifying that you have all drivers you plan to load listed in
your CONFIG.SYS file (this includes the VESA.EXE video BIOS extension,
any memory managers or PCMCIA drivers), install Windows 95. During the
installation, Windows 95 asks if you would like to create a startup
(emergency) diskette. IBM suggests, and I agree, that you create this
disk after Windows has been completely installed. Otherwise it is
possible that some of your drivers may not exist on the startup disk.
Note: If you don't know which monitor to pick, IBM suggests you use the
IBM 8513 monitor.
Reboot however many times Windows asks you to. Once you have completed
this step you should be running Windows 95 with the following support:
o Video in 16 or 256 colors (Western Digital)
o Full support for the Trackpoint pointing device
o Basic PCMCIA support (you will need to execute the
PCMCIA wizard from control panel to complete that
step).
5. Windows 95 should now be operating. Insert the ThinkPad Features
Diskette you created in step 2. Type INSTALLW at the command prompt (or
use "Run" from the Start Menu, or double click the file from the Windows
Explorer). This will install the ThinkPad setup and interrogation
programs, the fuel gauge utility and docking station support. Note that
you can skip this step if you don't want to install these utilities.
Also, there is another disk that I am not covering called the
Personalization Utility Program. I found this utility useless.
6. Next, install the audio support. If your ThinkPad doesn't have the
audio feature, or if the audio already appears to be working, skip this
step. After creating a diskette from AFTPS140.EXE, insert the disk and
type A:\WINSETUP at the DOS prompt (or start it from "Run" from the
Start Menu, or double click the file from the Windows Explorer). This
will install the Windows 3.1 drivers (sigh) onto your system. I don't
know if these are actually 32-bit drivers or not, but Windows 95 reports
that my system is running optimally when them installed.
Note: After the first installation of this diskette, the IBM setup
program informed me that I may need to run through the whole
installation process twice to enable the audio feature. I DID have to
install it twice (repeat step 6) but then my audio worked fine.
Another Note: After completing this step, Windows kept telling me that
it couldn't find the FUELWIN utility that's being loaded in WIN.INI. If
you get this error, edit WIN.INI and verify the path to FUELWIN (if you
installed the audio files to a directory other than the default, the IBM
setup program still tells Windows to load it from the default
directory. This is a bug). Either change the path or just delete the
"Run = Fuelwin.exe" statement from WIN.INI and run the utility manually,
or create a shortcut to it in your Startup folder.
7. Lastly, if your system supports the pen feature, unpack the
Microsoft Pen Services 2.0 files contained in the IBMPS20.EXE file to a
floppy disk (note: this is just a self-extracting file and does not
create a disk image, so be sure the diskette is formatted and empty).
Once the diskette is created, go to the Start Menu and click Control
Panel from the Settings menu item. Once Control Panel opens up, click
the "Add/Remove Programs" icon. From the dialog, select the "Windows
Setup" tab (it's the middle tab on my system). You will see the files
that were installed when you loaded Windows. Click the "Have Disk"
button and tell Windows to look on drive A: for your Pen Services
diskette. Select "Pen Services 2.0" when it's displayed and let Windows
install the files. You will have to reboot again, so do that. When
Windows comes back up it will show a dialog with the supported pen
computers (730T, 360P/PE, 750). Select your model. Then you get to
reboot again. (I think Plug and Play should be called Plug and
Reboot). The next time Windows comes up you should be able to use the
pen feature.
SLOW VIDEO
----------
If your video seems terribly slow, verify that the acceleration is set
to the maximum setting. Open the control panel window (from the Start
menu, select "Settings", then "Control Panel). Next, click on the
"System" icon (the window that comes up should be entitled "System
Properties"). Next, click on the "Performance" tab. Finally, click the
"Graphics" button. You should now see a window entitled "Advanced
Graphics Settings". My system was set somewhere in the middle (low
acceleration). Move the sliding bar all the way to "Full" and click the
"OK" button. Video performance should now be acceptable.
NOTES
-----
Another good resource is 750_TIPS.TXT. This is just a list of technical
notes about all kinds of stuff having to do with the 750P convertible.
Much of it applies to the 360P/PE too. Read it if you're curious or if
you have other problems.