Thanks much, Terry. Looks like a workable solution, as well as a set of
steps for disassembling the notebook, way beyond what I've done so far
(;=).

Eb

"tc" <terrycassidy@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1xklg.58607$I61.44753@clgrps13...
> Copy a win 98 boot floppy to the hard drive when you are copying the
cd's.
> Make sure to modify the autoexec.bat and config.sys files
appropriately to
> point to the needed directories (look at the original files with an
editor
> to get an idea of what need changing).
>
> If this site is right, the hard drive is under a cover on the bottom
of the
> laptop.
>
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/Toshiba_Portege_3500/replace_soun
dboard_1.htm
> (see step 2)
> Terry
>
> "Mnews Phound" <yourekidding@right.right.right> wrote in message
> news:ywilg.18335$YI2.7747@trnddc01...
> > Thanks for your answer, Terry.
> >
> > I understand what you're telling me, BUT, the Portege doesn't have
> > a floppy drive either.
> >
> > In theory it can boot from a USB (BIOS option), but I have not been
> > able to get it to do this either. The booting process just dies,
> > when I try. I think the OS on the USB stick cannot read USB drives.
> >
> >
> > But there is one other question I need an answer to:
> > How do get access to the Hard disk in the Portege?
> >
> > Is there a manual, that describes the hardware better
> > than the user manual? This latter doc and the help system
> > do not mention how to access the hard disk at all,
> > and I'm afraid of disasse,mbling something irreversible.
> >
> >
> > Thanks for any help.
> >
> >
> > Eb.
> >
> >
> >
> > "tc" <terrycassidy@msn.com> wrote in message
> > news:Sz5jg.42071$S61.13379@edtnps90...
> >> Get a 2.5 to 3.5" IDE adapter. Copy the cd to the new hard drive
from
> > a
> >> normal computer. Boot the laptop with a floppy after replacing the
> > hard
> >> drive and install from the copy on the hard drive.
> >> Terry
> >> "Mnews Phound" <yourekidding@right.right.right> wrote in message
> >> news:lZWig.444$OL2.422@trnddc06...
> >> > Hi,
> >> >
> >> > I have a Portege 3505, which has no internal CD drive.
> >> >
> >> > What happens if I crash my hard disk?
> >> > 1. How do I replace the hard disk (Toshiba servie reps are
useless)
> >> > 2. How do I reformat the hard disk without a CD-drive?
> >> >
> >> > Note: the external CD drive does not boot (yes, I have set the
BIOS
> > to
> >> > boot from CD, but booting Knoppix for example, did not work).
> >> >
> >> > Thanks for any help - I'll watch this forum.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Eb Guenther
> >> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>