Brun

The old boy's lappy was bought with Vista and it's always been rather crap.
He has never been able to use the usb ports as they just don't recognise anything. I understand this is fairly common with Vista??? Anyways - i was gonna try a "fix" i found for it first but if that doesn't sort it, i was just gonna plonk xp on it instead assuming that will sort it?
Is there anything i should be aware of before i do this?

Ant

if the laptop was designed for vista i would go for window 7 that's not as memory hungry and you'll find it'll work a treat

ronniej85

wipe it and put linux on it alot quicker than windows

Brun

I have a copy of XP already and as 7 is similar to Vista in the way it operates i won't be buying that any time soon - as for linux - you've got me????

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Did the same thing to my Dell laptop as Vista/Windows 7 are ... well let's just say .... not to my taste.

Get a copy of Partition Magic and divide up your drive into two paritions and then do the XP install on the new partition. Google for the boot loader instructions for adding the XP boot and then you will have the best of both worlds... a laptop that asks whether you want to boot vVsta or XP when you start it up.

Alternatively just stick Linux on it

mart360

GO the xp route....

just make sure you can wipe the recovery partition on the HD you'll recover some space that way

and make sure you get all the drivers etc before you do


Mart

birchy2010

iTrader: (12)

Linux is a free os. Similar to apple os with command lins and a rooted version of android. You'll need to download the drivers for chipset, network etc as xp wont see them. Have you got a key to use as vista doesnt come with downgrade rights to xp too.

sonicvr6

iTrader: (2)

second that but i'd got for apples os x lion can get a patch to install onto anything these days so so much better than windows

Brun

**** me - thought this might be a case of stick my xp cd in and press go
Have a key

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Well you also need to check XP drivers are available for all your hardware in the laptop..... hence why I suggest going the dual boot method. You can do it by trial and error then.

Ignore the OSX comment, it's just Linux with a GUI anyway so you may as well go Linux in that case.

Ant

id stick ubuntu on completely forgot about that

ronniej85

download this put on disk or usb and boot it up step by step if you need it

linux mint

i use gentoo bit of a geek lol

http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

ronniej85

to many problems with ubuntu since update last time can be fixed but it should just work

sonicvr6

iTrader: (2)

i run yellodog on my ps3 and Qimo for Kids on my kids computer but the wife use's 7

Brun

Well i went for it - booted from the XP cd and it all installed well. Lappy now a quick XP machine
Now the problem The whole point behind it was because of the usb port issues. Now every time i plug into a usb - the lappy just locks up and i can't do anything other than pull the battery.
It is a Toshiba L30-10Y - any ideas?

Ant

Install drivers direct from your laptop manufacturers site it'll work . My Sony vaio did the same.

Brun

Can't find the correct model on the Tosh website.
It is a Toshiba Satellite L30-10Y - am i blind?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Looks like vista wasn't the problem.

Any options in the BIOS? (i.e enable USB hi-speed and full speed etc. )

Brun

How do i look at the bios?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

keep pressing esc when you switch it on, it'll beep and say to press F1

I've just had a look on my A120 (first time I needed to - and it runs vista ), nothing much in there but there is a couple of things to check:

Go to page 2 (press pgdn) makes sure configuration is on 'setup by os' and all the usb legacy options are enabled (last is usb memory, make sures thats on hdd ).

Other than that make sure time and date is correct..., as silly as it sounds it does matter. If its cleared (i.e laptop's been left to stand for a few months unused) and reset back to something stupid like 1999, it can cause weird things to happen (especially in XP ).

Brun

Esc doesn't do anything
Can't seem to find the wireless adapter on it now so wireless internet is a no no. Yep - proper made a mess of this
Starting to think a visit to the tech guys down PC World is an option

Tidgy

vista = ****e!!!!!!!!!!


full format, repartition HD as required and install XP or 7, i'e been using windows 7 for a year or so now and being a vista hater i wasn't very hopefull for 7, but does seem to be pretty good. Compatability seems to be pretty good, seems pretty good stability wise as well.

Sure folks have had some nightmare's with 7 but im liking it myself.

Brun

F2 is the key that gets me into setup but there is nothing i can change in there

Anyway, graphics restored, sound restored, Wireless working and bios updated to latest version - and it still locks up when the usb is plugged in

jura11

iTrader: (7)

I would uninstall USB and restart PC,XP automatically install USB after reboot

Remove and reinstall all USB controllers
To remove and reinstall all USB controllers, follow these steps:
Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl in the Open box, and then click OK.
Click the Hardware tab.
Click the Device Manager button.
Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Right-click every device under the Universal Serial Bus controllers node, and then click Uninstall to remove them one at a time.
Restart the computer, and then reinstall the USB controllers.
Plug in the removable USB storage device, and then test to make sure that the issue is resolved.

Jura

Brun

Did the above and it still locks up.
Had another wizz round the net and it looks like i need to download a utility programme to adjust the bios settings on this lappy - does that sound right?

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

This is weird. Googling does seem to suggest Toshs suffer USB issues. But I have three Toshs (Two Equiums and one Satelite Pro) all Vista and the only main issue (with exception to RAM shortage and bloatware) is the webcam on the one Equium has died.

I presume you've done driver seraches, but have you tried here? (select the archive in the top box).....

http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.c...jsp?service=EU

ps. Short model number is found on the serial tag underneath the laptop, usually the first six digits of the full model no....from what I can see it should be a PSL10E

At a wild guess, you are probably needing the chipset drivers - this should be responsible for the USB as it runs via the southbridge controller (as does the Wifi).