I have a ibm think pad 390x 2626 running windows ME millennium. I was online and used the laptop all day.Shut it down properly and when I turned it on the following morning it would only boot up to the ibm thinkpad page with the message that says f1 for bios install. It will sit on that page and it will beep and it will sound like the HD kicks in but will do nothing. I tried the f1 to open bios and it will not let me do anything. I don't have a backup disk to reload anything this was purchased used. Can someone tell me how to fix this problem!! And get my laptop back up and running I need it for school and I'm aware I will lose my files. And if I don't have a disk can where can I get ME to reoad without losing a arm and a leg to get it LOL. Any help would be appreciated. :)

Hmmm... Tricky one.

Have you tried putting in your Win ME CD in the drive when loading up. This might give you some commands from which you can either boot your PC (and hopefully find out what's wrong) or renistall Windows. Reinstalling Windows like this may fix the problem without losing your files.

If this was a desktop, I would suggest that maybe something has come loose. But on a laptop, is that even possible? My desktop PC would sometimes beep 4 times then just freeze on the BIOS if my graphics card was loose.

This isn't much help but next time you do get into Windows - start backing up your work! This kind of stuff happens far too often and nobody ever backs up their important information.

Thanks Ltheobald for your reply. I'll try opening the laptop to see if there is anything loose and go from there. But as I said in the original question I do not have a reboot cd and I would like to know if there is a online site I could get a reboot or back up copy of ME that I could download... I can't get past the bios page on my laptop so I thought maybe I could dL a copy from my home PC... thanks again and have a blessed and wonderful day

Hi,
This can be devastating when there are no backups.

If you have no CD for Win ME, you might be able to download a boot disc from:

http://www.pchelplive.com/modules.ph...download&cid=1

Best of luck,
fredg
PS; I also suggest taking your laptop to a computer sales/repair store near you. They can suggest what to do and how much it would cost, if any.

Thanks for your reply I tried the link thanks and it will not even boot up from a boot disc so I am thinking that something has came loose. This laptop is so complicated to get into lol I have taken the screws out of the back, and I don't see how it opens I tried popping the top open but it seems to be fused half way up.. so if u know how to open the casing on a thinkpad 390 x I need help don't want to break anything to force it open I'm sure when I find out ill feel like a big dummy :)