Windows XP: Help!? Toshiba Satellite A205 XP downgrade

Help!? Toshiba Satellite A205 XP downgrade

Hi all.

I've gotten really far downgrading from Vista Home to XP Pro SP2, and run into two or three problems I can't seem to solve.

My equipment:

Toshiba Satellite a205-4797
Chipset Intel 945GM, onboard video
Realtek HiDef audio card with software modem aboard
Intel SD Card reader
Hours of poring over forums studying downgrade issues

My procedure - a restart after *each* driver installation.

Performed Vista partition wipe
Installed XP Pro on available partition
Installed Intel Chipset Driver INF_AllOS_8.4.0.1016_PV_Intel.exe
Installed Intel Video Driver - GFX_XP32_14.31.1.4864_PV_Intel.exe
Installed Realtek Hi Def Audio Driver - driver_audio_realtek_27409A.exe

I got all my drivers from the Toshiba website except for a few that I allowed "Driver Detective" to change after they didn't work with the Toshiba ones. But that didn't change anything about my difficulties.

Other than the issues below, I can get everything up and running - wi-fi, LAN, modem, webcam, etc.

Now the problems arise:

1. Installed Toshiba Common Modules - util_common_modules_26672A.exe, restarted.

Tried to install Toshiba Hotkey Utility - util_hotkey_26673A.exe (supposed to make all the "fn" keys - Brightness, Volume, etc. keys work), but upon unpacking it immediately says "Toshiba Common Modules not found, exiting install."

The hotkeys still don't work, obviously. I have tried several different versions of Toshiba Common Modules with exactly the same results. TCM seems to install fine, but the subsequent programs that want it don't find it. TCM doesn't show up in the "Add/Remove Programs" list for removal and reinstallation. The hardware sound volume knob works fine.

2. Installed Mass Storage Controller - Texas Instruments PCIxx21 FlashMed - qe15flashdriver.exe. Still had "Mass Storage Controller" yellow question mark in Device Manager. Updated driver from within Device Manager to TI PCIxx21 Flash Media Controller. No more yellow question mark. Built-in SD Card reader *does not* recognize SD card at all, although a USB SD card reader works fine.

3. At some point in all these installs, an icon appeared in the system tray that I think is connected to my problems. It may well have appeared after the Toshiba Common Modules install. It appears as a small pic of a laptop with a "slashed circle" at the bottom right corner. This icon is entirely unresponsive to left or right clicking. In the taskbar properties where you decide which icons to hide, it ha <no title> next to it.

Questions:

Where am I going wrong? I've heard these drivers have to be installed in the order I've given, especially chipset first. Did I mess up the order, and is there a way to fix it without starting over with an HD reformat and XP reinstall?

Is there any way to make this computer work in full function with XP?

Is it necessary to restart the computer after each main driver install, or can you do several, then restart?

What the heck is that system tray icon?

I really appreciate the time of any of you experts that could help me out with this!

Bret Coil