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General discussion

upgrade Windows on Toshiba Satellite. Numerous Issues

Dec 9, 2019 2:55PM PST

Greetings.
Laptop>Toshiba>Satellite>a105 - s4094
Windows XP, 32 bit.

I am hoping everyone will see all this as both a question(s) AND discussion. I may need specific what-to-do info as well as gaining some understanding of why this system has behaved so differently than other systems I have done OS upgrades on. I am trying to learn.

Original OS was Windows XP. This computer was purchased in 2004, new. So yes that's old, but since it has a Pentium core-2 processor it's worth a Windows upgrade. Only trouble is, I am having some odd issues that I've never encountered.

First, I did a clean install of Windows 10 Home, 32 bit. In Device Manager there are exclamation points (!) on various things, but the only part that would not function was (and is) network connectivity. Both WiFi and Ethernet completely bit the dust.

I tried using a USB Network Dongle. I installed the software/drivers and the dongle did not show up in Device Manager. I repeated the process; even tried different dongles. I removed the internal network card and tried installing the USB dongle again. Still no happy.

So I decided to update the BIOS. It had v1.70. I successfully upgraded it to v2.00. I had to extract the BIOS file and use an updated version of the installer utility, since I'd already foolishly updated to Windows 10. But this did end with success, seemingly.

Tried again to install a network dongle. Nope. It still seems to be blocked from installation.

There is never any message. No indication of any kind that an error has occurred or that a setting must be changed. The system behaves as if the device installed properly. It even asks to restart now or later. But it is not in Device Manager. Just to be sure I was not shifting into some crazy alternate dimension where things are not as they seem, I opened a browser and confirmed NO INTERNET. Checked Settings - Not Connected To Internet. The system does not recognize any functional way of connecting. No WiFi dongle, No Ethernet.

I reasoned that I should have stepped the OSs up, rather than leaping all the way to Windows 10.

I decided to install Windows 7.
I changed boot order in BIOS, to boot
1) cd/dvd
2) USB
3) HDD

I created a RUFUS booting USB for installing Windows 7. The system would not boot from USB.
I created a booting CD/DVD. But Windows would not boot from that drive.

I can not make it boot by setting boot priority and it will not boot from a chosen device even if I select it and hit Enter.
I am stuck. Is there some way to force the laptop to boot CD or USB?

I am about to change the CMOS battery. But I am pretty lost.

----

I have only been learning about computers for a few years. There is plenty I don't know. All discussion, how-to, etc is welcome.
Thank you.

liquid_lion

Discussion is locked

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"I created a RUFUS booting USB for installing Windows 7."
Dec 9, 2019 3:09PM PST

I have a very old Compaq R3000 and it only has a CD ODD (Compact Disc, Optical Disc Drive) so there is no chance a Windows 7 DVD will boot in that.

So no, you can not boot W7 from DVD no matter how much you want because it's only a CD drive.

As to Rufus, Since W7 never came on USB all bets are off and you need to test if this works on a more current PC before you lose any more time.

-> The Windows 10 was actually your better result but I wonder about what you did for drivers? We know that Microsoft doesn't get them on older gear so we're stuck with a driver hunt.

But why stick with Windows? I'm installing a Linux or ChromeOS on older PCs because it's a better fit. The owners tend to just use a browser so there's no learning Linux.

Post was last edited on May 4, 2020 4:31 PM PDT

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In reply
Dec 10, 2019 1:41AM PST

As I stated, the computer seemed to be functional (visually W10 was working fine), except for no way to connect. I have all the drivers, which I acquired from Toshiba.
But I thought if I could get a working internet connection, the driver updating would be easier. So I got drivers for the internal network card and installed them. I did this even before I tried a USB dongle. Either way, the drivers never make their way to Device Manager, where I expect to see them. Even after uninstalling the network adapters and going through an install there is no change in Device Manager (network adapters remain uninstalled).

As far as I know, the fact that W7 was never offered on a thumb drive has nothing to with anything. I got the iso from the internet, RUFUS is designed to boot the system and run the installation. So I am not sure what your point is.

This computer has a DVD/CD player. Toshiba Satellite a105 - s4094. I used an identical DVD disk to install w10.

I may yet install linux or Chrome OS. Do you have a preference?

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What is this about
Dec 10, 2019 1:51AM PST

" I got the iso from the Internet"?

I've run into folk that get Windows from other than Microsoft and they report very odd issues. Sorry but that's just asking for troubles.

If you need RUFUS support find their forum. Here I must stick to what Microsoft and our office does all the time and not waste time on modified installers and more. That area is for those that have the time and support for that. Again, some get upset I won't support Rufus, but after too many discussions and we go back to the way Microsoft intended and work it out, I see no reason for Rufus today.

As to drivers, I carry them in one USB and more but if the OS is not from Microsoft, again, problematic. And no, I can't know this until folk reveal such. I've seen such downloads work on one PC and fail on the next then pull out our USB W10 installer which was made with Microsoft's own tools and it just works.

-> All that aside, I may still have work to do such as drivers but we usually get by with downloading to USB then installing.

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That's just a dual core 32 bit CPU. No big deal.
Dec 9, 2019 3:19PM PST

You wrote " Pentium core-2 processor " but it's really just a dual core 32 bit Intel CPU.

There is a Core2Duo by Intel but this is not.

All that aside my mother used a 2006 Dell E1505 Inspiron with a similar dual core Intel, 1GB RAM and 120GB SSD. In that model I was lucky that W10's selection of drivers was spot on and everything worked.

Boot time was just over 35 seconds from cold to a web page on screen (Chrome.)

CPU detail at https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/27232/intel-core-duo-processor-t2250-2m-cache-1-73-ghz-533-mhz-fsb.html

It appears to have a DVD drive but it could have failed. Be sure to test your W7 DVD on another PC.

I'd try again with W10.

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HI, I have the same laptop and want to update
May 4, 2020 4:27PM PDT

I can't install win 10 from usb? how did you manage to do it? You can write me PM to (email in the clear removed by moderator. Please enable your spam proof contact system in your CNET Profile.)

Post was last edited on May 4, 2020 4:33 PM PDT