Toshiba Notebook Users Thread

[G4]

Hi everyone. I just bought an M600 recently. There's a Recovery Disc creation software in the notebook, and I've some questions about it.

1. What will the Recovery Discs that are created contain?
Just the OS backup files or the OS backup files together with the software that I've installed, and also the files I have in the notebook? Or any other things?

2. What happens if I want to format the computer one day if, say, there's a virus? I heard there's a hidden recovery partition to do so. How do I access it and do the recovery when the need arises? Would it be better to recover using the Recovery DVDs or that hidden partition?

Pardon me for my seeming ignorance, and thanks in advance

1. it contains the files it need to return ur pc to the initial factory default states, aka OS plus the toshiba softwares.

2. can't remember, but at ur desktop should have a M600 user guide. pls refer to it before reinstall ur pc. u can recover using either the hidden partition or the recovery disc u just created.

 

[bolts]

then after some month i change to vista basic then upgrade to vista business, they also say cannot help me!!!

so how do u justify this?

Same point. The machine shipped with Vista Basic. If you upgrade to Vista Business, the software is not part of the warranty or service.

Why don't you try this Toshiba tech forum in Europe for help?

http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/index.jspa.

There's a whole section on MS Operating System there.

 

[gohsj89]

just curious, what do u mean by does not work? in my experience with toshiba's phone helpline, it's really kinda... lousy. like MS, diver u here and there, so-call global technical support where the phoneline quality really bad, maybe it's toll-free thing, plus some alien ascent (i know me listen and speaks singlish, but their's... ang-mo-indi-lish, no offence).

instead, i find getting answers online is much better, provided someone post it of cos.

anyway, can make this a sticky? i believe there is still quite a lot of toshiba users in SG...

they just refuse helping me to solve my problems lor.. as simple as that

 

[gohsj89]

Same point. The machine shipped with Vista Basic. If you upgrade to Vista Business, the software is not part of the warranty or service.

Why don't you try this Toshiba tech forum in Europe for help?

http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/index.jspa.

There's a whole section on MS Operating System there.

hahaha... too troublesome... i just install straight fresh from the vista biz disc.. forget about the recovery disc with basic then upgrade.


then download the essential drivers and thats it.

save space and the trouble and heacache.

 

[zachmus]

Some common things to share:

1) Under C:\Tosapins , all the available drivers/utilities are inside. Included in the bundled OS/recovered OS.

2) The recovery partitions are hidden but can be viewed under disk mgmt. Ard 5+GB and 1+GB for each respectively. You can do a backup of them using the Recovery Disc Creator from the All Programs.

3)Check your chipset, if u wan to downgrade to XP from Vista, under BIOs might not have the option to switch to IDE mode. Get the sata controller (if ur installation media/image does not contain) from intel site according to notebook chipset.

 

[BusinessDotCom]

MOD,

I am writting in to you in good will of the application to make this thread sticky, for the good of TOSHIBA user surfing this forum.

Cheers

 

[xprezzshawn]

MOD,

I am writting in to you in good will of the application to make this thread sticky, for the good of TOSHIBA user surfing this forum.

Cheers

We're in the midst of some discussion with HardwareZone staff about this, stay tuned....

 

[BusinessDotCom]

We're in the midst of some discussion with HardwareZone staff about this, stay tuned....

isnt it sticky already?

stay tune? what's the surprise?

 

[Ggundam]

Hi all,

I just exchanged a Compaq notebook for the Toshiba M200-P439.

But only use for 3 days I discoverered:

1)Battery life can only last for 1 hour 30 minutes without doing anything (merely open and let it be) and also I have put it in saver mode already

2)Toshiba assist softwares: PC diagnostic is not working at all

3)Web cam 1.3M stated by them, the brand is chicony usb web cam when I opened at home, its often very very blur (even more blur then VGA cam) or totally black color at all.
But when i bought to the reseller shop, the webcam can be view in good condition...

my questions is:

1) is toshiba laptop battery, especially for model M200-P439 really can only last for 1 hour 30 minutes in stand bay mode? what if I do surfing, open window media player or listen to song, then it will last only for less 30 minutes then? oh ya forgot to metion that my battery fully charge is only 90% not 100%.. is it normal?

2)the chicony built in web cam, is it really 1.3M as stated? I really in confuse because I cannot view at my home but I can view at the shop, thats why they refuse to exchange for me..

3)how actually to check the web cam mega pixel?

 

[BusinessDotCom]

Hi all,

I just exchanged a Compaq notebook for the Toshiba M200-P439.

But only use for 3 days I discoverered:

1)Battery life can only last for 1 hour 30 minutes without doing anything (merely open and let it be) and also I have put it in saver mode already

2)Toshiba assist softwares: PC diagnostic is not working at all

3)Web cam 1.3M stated by them, the brand is chicony usb web cam when I opened at home, its often very very blur (even more blur then VGA cam) or totally black color at all.
But when i bought to the reseller shop, the webcam can be view in good condition...

my questions is:

1) is toshiba laptop battery, especially for model M200-P439 really can only last for 1 hour 30 minutes in stand bay mode? what if I do surfing, open window media player or listen to song, then it will last only for less 30 minutes then? oh ya forgot to metion that my battery fully charge is only 90% not 100%.. is it normal?

2)the chicony built in web cam, is it really 1.3M as stated? I really in confuse because I cannot view at my home but I can view at the shop, thats why they refuse to exchange for me..

3)how actually to check the web cam mega pixel?

1) Did you charge 8-10hrs for the 1st time? usually more than 1 hrs is normal. unless u tune it to lower configuration

2/3)Since it is not build in, and was given by the reseller, you may have to check with them.

 

[BusinessDotCom]

call in buy direct.

6741 8181

 

[Ggundam]

1) Yeah, I charges over 10 hours for the first time
2)The build in cam is from toshiba.Not from reseller
3)I did make a trip to toshiba service centre at kallang road asking for one to one exchange, they say 1 hour and 30 minutes in stand bay mode is normal. WTF..
my 5 years old fujitsu battery also last for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Why a new laptop battery has the same performance as a 5 years old laptop?

In this kind of circumtances, can I ask for full refund from the reseller? Actually the reseller is that black listed shop MC2

Please guys, I really need some advice

 

[BusinessDotCom]

2) then it should be 1.3pm, call 1800-toshiba, ask them how to check.

3)seriously, i dont think like that can 1 - 1 exchange. just like buying toyota, it says it is a safe car, does it mean accident u wont die? it not due to the battery damage or spolit, seriously u may have to configue the setting to make the battery life last longer. And newer notebook with more powerful chips and gfx card taps more battery.

My advice is to sell it off at the min lost. and get a ULV process laptop if u want long battery.

 

[hueman]

Yes, I'm totally disappointed with Toshiba's Batt performance. I'm using an M200-P430 which has an ATI Radeon HD2400, and I suspect this fella is sucking lots of power. I realised the laptop is 'hotter' than other lappies i used before.

As for the webcam, it was giving me problem, either not working or blurry, but for some miraculous reasons, it becomes better after I installed Vista SP1. Hah...

 

[BusinessDotCom]

Good to hear that.

AND ATI HD2400 is a standalone gfx, so thats explain the battery life. If it can hit 1hr 30mins i think its fantastic considering play game.

Do patch ya OS and driver, or even bios. it helps a lot.

 

[Ggundam]

Good to hear that.

AND ATI HD2400 is a standalone gfx, so thats explain the battery life. If it can hit 1hr 30mins i think its fantastic considering play game.

Do patch ya OS and driver, or even bios. it helps a lot.

Can you tell me which version of driver is it for this model M200-P439?

when i go to http://www.toshiba-asia.com

there are sooo many driver for me to choose...I don't dare to any how install the driver..

Please give some guidelines

Thanks

 

[Bloodlust]

Anybody tried installing winxp SP2 on the m600? Since the HDD is sata based, I presume that SP2 can support it?

 

[Bloodlust]

1 more question, if I were to format the HDD before installing XP will the hidden partition which holds the recovery discs be wiped out? Or is it hidden?

 

[zachmus]

for M600, there is no option under BIOs to switch to IDE mode for HDD. You would require the sata controller (get from Toshiba site/intel site under notebook chipset) during the XP installation. Very few SP2 installation media can recognise but if u got one then no worries.

Hidden partitions can be viewed under the Disk Mgmt. the sizes are 5G+ and the other ard 1.+G. U can create recovery media using the Programs->Recovery Disc Creator before formatting HDD.

 

[Bloodlust]

for M600, there is no option under BIOs to switch to IDE mode for HDD. You would require the sata controller (get from Toshiba site/intel site under notebook chipset) during the XP installation. Very few SP2 installation media can recognise but if u got one then no worries.

Hidden partitions can be viewed under the Disk Mgmt. the sizes are 5G+ and the other ard 1.+G. U can create recovery media using the Programs->Recovery Disc Creator before formatting HDD.

Thanks. But if the M600 uses the standard Intel SATA drivers then I think SP2 should not have a problem recognising it. Anyway, just in case how do I install the drivers using F6 since there's no floppy drive on the lappy?