Miscellaneous laptop discussions : Need help getting laptop back to factory specs
Need help getting laptop back to factory specs
by tcatnat - 1/14/07 5:42 AMHello, I have a Toshiba Portege R100 laptop that I would like to get back to factory specs. Essentially, I want to format the HD and reinstall Windows XP and other Toshiba utilities to get it back to its 'New' state. I have all the original software, I am the original owner. I tried to follow the instructions exactly as they appear on the Toshiba Windows XP discs that came with the machine but it will not work.
The laptop does not have a built in DVD/CD drive but I do have an external Toshiba DVD/CD-RW. I have done this many times before with different desktops and have never had a problem. I called Toshiba and they could not help me either. Very frustrating. They told me I would need to take it to a local service center to have this done.
The laptop has a built in SD card slot if that helps. I have had this machine for about 4 years and I just want to clean it up and get a fresh start from all the software that I have added and removed over time. I have used many cleanup ustilities but the machine just keeps getting slower and slower over time.
I mainly use this machine for surfing the web and minor Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications.
When I have tried to do this in the past I get a DVD/CD-RW error. I'm guessing because once I try to format the drive it will not recognize the external DVD drive without the drivers.
Can anyone help me get this done. Thanks.
"They told me I would need to take it to a local service
by R. Proffitt
- 1/14/07 6:58 AM
In reply to: Need help getting laptop back to factory specs by tcatnat
"They told me I would need to take it to a local service center to have this done."
I believe them. There were a few units made over the years that can't be reloaded in the field. You may have found one of them.
"I tried to follow the instructions exactly as they appear on the Toshiba Windows XP discs that came with the machine but it will not work."
Your post became too vague when you wrote about "it will not work." Not a word about the details makes me agree with Toshiba.
Bob
Thanks Bob
by tcatnat - 1/14/07 8:11 AM In reply to: "They told me I would need to take it to a local service by R. Proffitt
Thanks for the reply Bob. When I run through the Toshiba process I eventually get an error regarding the DVD/CD-RW. I do not remember the exact error but it relates to not being able to find the DVD drive. I will have to run through this again to get the exact message I receive.
Would creating a windows boot disk via SD card solve the problem? I'm not sure and I'm afraid to do it and not be able to get the machine running.
"eventually get an error regarding the DVD/CD-RW. I do not
by R. Proffitt - 1/14/07 8:21 AM
In reply to: Thanks Bob by tcatnat
"eventually get an error regarding the DVD/CD-RW. I do not remember the exact error but it relates to not being able to find the DVD drive."
That's better. I've seen that happen when the drive has aged and can't boot any longer. I swap such drives out and retest. Often this becomes a deciding point where the owner has to decide to fix the machine or move on to a new machine.
The SD Card or such is not a viable solution since the restore CDs don't support such. That's a dead end.
Bob
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