Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428 on Windows XP
I recently purchased a Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428. This well-equipped notebook computer comes with Windows Vista Home Premium. I planned to remove Vista Home Premium and replace it with the venerable and less annoying Windows XP. Let this post serve as a warning to others with similar ideas.
Removing Vista was easy enough. Installing Windows XP was easy enough. Finding and installing drivers has been the bane of my existence.
Update: This has been solved. See: XP Drivers for Toshiba A215 - S7428
Predictably, the Toshiba site was no help. I understand they shipped the computer with Vista Home Premium, and likely feel their support obligations only extend to OEM configurations. However, I lost confidence in Toshiba when I read the following on their Detailed Specs for the Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428: "This product specification is variable and subject to change prior to product launch."
If anyone sees Toshiba, please remind them the product Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428 has launched.
A few of the problems I am currently working through:
Realtek allegedly provided the WLAN component. The driver listed at The Realtek WLAN RTL8187B Support Section is not recognized by Windows XP as a valid driver. RTL8187B is listed by the Windows XP device Manager.
The Display Driver listed by the Detailed Specs for the Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428 is ATI Radeon X1200M. This is not even an option at the ATI driver download site. I tried the Radeon X1200 driver (in the Windows XP > Professional/Home > Integrated/Motherboard > Radeon X1200 but the install aborted when it found no compatible hardware. I guess the 'M' in ATI Radeon X1200M makes a HUGE difference.
As a consolation prize, there is no driver listed for the ATI Radeon X1200M in the Windows Vista section either.
Network and Display adapters are KEY. I haven't even tried to figure out what Base System Device is, or PCI Device....
Final Thoughts
I've swapped OS versions in the past and do not recall these types of issues. If I am overlooking something, please point it out to me. Meanwhile, I issue a word of caution for those who plan to purchase the Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428.
While this notebook comes well equipped on the hardware side, it is severely lacking for those who wish to swap Operating Systems. Think twice if you choose to go this route. There are plenty of computers that will still ship with Windows XP. Choose one of those.
Update: In case you missed the inline announcement, this has been solved. See: XP Drivers for Toshiba A215 - S7428
DK
I also wasn't jazzed about it from stuff that Matt Woodward had said on ColdFusion Weekly (though I don't now remember which warnings he gave that had bothered me when I heard them).
This computer is for my girlfriend. She doesn't like Vista. Need I say more :)
XP might be annoying also, but its annoyances are known.
@Steve,
I believe you are referring to the paranoid, system-resource copy protection. Listen to episodes 73-77 on the <a href="http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm"; target="_new">SecurityNow podcast</a> for information as to why I am against the Copy Protection scheme in Microsoft Vista.
Needless to say, he's pi55ed!
</cliff>
The issue I have is slightly different in that there is no XP driver for the SATA controller so when you try to boot from XP it reads the files then fails at the copying stage as cant find a hard drive...
Grrrr if only my software run on a mac Id have dithced gates and his evil software...
I just got 3 of these for a school...
and am going through the driver hell...wish I woulda seen your blog before purchase...
Toshiba's tech support was less than helpful, and could not even tell me what chipset things were...10/100 ethernet was the response I kept getting...
I wanted to kick their ignoramus teeth in over the phone.
hopefully someone will find XP drivers for everything out there, for me...the killer is the network..wlan or hard-wired I don't care...
--Huck
here it is
original like is here "http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/...;
Hi there,
a little howto 4 U.
1. Download latest drivers (RTL8187B_driver_only) at Link: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView....
2. Extract it
3. Open with an editor net8187b.inf ( WinXP folder )
4. Change at ControlFlags to 8197
ControlFlags
ExcludeFromSelect = USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8197&REV_0200
and add following line to the end of IDs
;;****************************************************************************
;; IDs for 98SE/ME/2K/XP
;;****************************************************************************
Realtek
%RTL8187B.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187B.ndi, USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8187&REV_0200
%RTL8187B.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187B.ndi, USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8189&REV_0200
%RTL8187B.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187B.ndi, USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8197&REV_0200
5. Save it and try again.
http://www.driverheaven.net/mobility-radeon-driver...
These will solve your problems!
I just followed the process outlined by Dekchi. It worked great!
Make sure to follow the directions exactly and add the line to the "IDs for 98SE/ME/2K/XP" subsection of the inf file.
Also, to save a step, make sure the net8187b.cat file and the rtl8187b.sys file are in the same directory as the net8187b.inf file.
Thank you Dekchi for posting this solution!!!!
DW
http://www.driverheaven.net/1093110-post13.html
This details how to customize the .inf file to get the ATI Radeon X1200 drivers to work.
Follow the directions exactly.
DW
There is a collection of drivers referenced here:
http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/...
This contains:
* Agere 56k Modem Drivers (Toshiba Softmodem)
* AMD AGP Filter
* AMD DualCore Optimizer
* AMD Processor Driver (Turion64 X2)
* Atheros AR500X Wifi Drivers (need to be installed manually!)
* ATI Radeon X1200 Drivers (need to be installed manually!)
* ATI SB600 Drivers (Southbridge)
* ATI SM Bus Drivers
* Microsoft UUA HD Audio
* Realtek HD Audio Drivers
* Realtek PCIe Ethernet drivers (2 Versions, for A215 and A210 based notebooks)
* TexasInstruments Cardreader Drivers (can be obtained via WindowsUpdate too!)
* ALPS Touchpad drivers (the ones with the "scrolling function")
All installed without error. I now have only 3 'Base System Device' warnings in Device Manager.
(The Supplied Video Card Driver is pre-modded, so you don't have to manually edit the .inf file)
Will post more as I can.
DW
We Have Liftoff!
The final 3 warnings in device manager were for the Ricoh Card Reader.
You can find that download here:
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su/su_sc_d...
When I get a minute, I am going to organize this information and repost. For now, I just want to get it out there and save someone else some time and aggravation.
DW
DOZE THE S4728 HAVE THE SNIPPING TOOL ?
THANKS IN ADVANCE IF YOU KNOW C .
I figured Vista could not be that bad. OMG was I wrong, VIsta is the biggest crap of software I've seen in a while. I hate everything about it. I cannot possibly believe people got paid to build this colossal piece of dung.
Anyhow, I thought of just downgrading this to XP but had the enlightened idea to do a search before wiping out the OS. I guess that enlightenment came thanks to me reading your post long time ago.
Now I don't want to go through the problem of dealing with all the drivers. I have to face the 15% restocking fee for returning this spawn of devil back to the store. I think in the long run that would be just a few bucks to pay for peace of mind and the hair in my head.
Thanks for the blog Dan.
Fernando
My Toshiba Satellite A215 has been cleansed of the Vista scourge and is now smoothly running XP.
It wasn't so bad. Most of Dans drivers worked nicely, although I did have trouble with the video and lost the power settings.
These drivers I picked up through Toshiba (go figure) at: http://www.csd.toshiba.com
The display diver file was: driver_video_ati_26665B.exe
The power setting was: util_power_saver_26795B.exe
I think everythings there now. Its fast, its familiar, I love it.
* My computer did not burst into flames, some beer was expended
* Fortunately no puppies were harmed, Unfortunately no lawyers were either.
Oh yeah, one more thing: Screw Vista
And I just want to say THANX, guys, for this website. I download it and cross my fingers :-).
Looks like all this wonderful help at this site is not enough help for me. I recently purchased a Toshiba Satellite A215-S7428. It had Vista loaded on it, of course. I learned quickly that I didn’t like Vista and proceeded to install XP. That went pretty well and now have both XP and Vista on the machine; don’t have a boot manager installed, so at present it always boots to XP Will likely remove Vista if and when I get all the hardware installed in XP.
Have downloaded the driver package from this site and have worked with them several hours to get them installed, all to no avail. I see others report on this website that the driver package has worked fine for them and they are now in tall cotton. Not so with me. Have tried to install the drivers via update in Device Manager and every time I get an error message that can’t find the driver for the device in question. I have even tried installing the driver files in the appropriate Windows directory, also without any success.
Would appreciate any help any of you can offer.
Jim Clark
Services.msc may also be decrapified by at least six programs. Also, I found it essential to defrag the new drive, as it comes from the factory all in tatters.
George Levy
Chicago, IL.
It wasn't the amount of memory or slugishness that prompted the downgrade, it was the programs that didn't work, the annoyances of UAC and the DRM/ AACS features that prompted the downgrade.
Vista is the prettiest and worst functioning operating system in the history of Windows. I hope they wake up before it is too late.
DW
Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!. I´m happy XP user again!!
http://www.driverheaven.net/1093110-post13.html
but the indications there didn't solve my problem. But, checking the inf, the PCI ID listed there didn't match the PCI ID in the device properties. So, I changed the PCI ID in the Radeon X1200 series line and it got working.
worked on my A205 model as well.
Here is a link to the support page where you can get XP drivers that worked perfectly for me. http://tinyurl.com/yp6k9e
Hope this helps those wanting to go back to XP from Vista
I had been looking for how to use the hot keys and use the laptop with a projector. The drivers at your link are perfect.
so far, I only used the util common modules and hot key.
I don't know why, but when I used the diver_video_ati_26665B.exe from this site, it did not work, so I tried to use other video drivers, but nothing worked, then I installed it again, and it did work. Don't know what's going on, but I think everything now works.
mike (mike p - I will use mike p from now on.)
IM CLAUDIA FROM MEXICO, I bought a laptop 3 months ago, model A215-S4697, really i hate vista, then i change my O.S. to WINDOWS XP, o my god!
the problem drivers, anyway, finally i found drivers for xp. All working!!
Only the FN functions dont work.
but, video, sound, network, wifi, chipset, etc it work
only a thing... the processor should work 1.6 ghz, but with xp work at 800 mhz, then you need install the processor's drivers, that drivers is in amd support page.
i have an account of megaupload, and i upload the drivers for you guys!
sorry for my english, but i dont speak, or write well, im from mexico and im only speaks spanish, but i try to write in english for you.
the xp drivers for a215-s4697 !!!
Ahora en espanol para los que si me entiendan, compre hace 3 meses una computadora a215 de toshiba, el problema fueron los drivers cuando la intente cambiar a XP, por fin despues de tanto tiempo los encontre, solamente no funcionan los de la tecla FN, aun no he encontrado esos, pero
tengo una cuenta de megaupload y ahi subire los drivers.
Cuando pones xp, el procesador que debe trabajar a 1.6 ghz solo trabaja a 800 mhz, pero pones los drivers del procesador y ya...
estan en la pagina de amd.
the link for processor driver
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResou...
the link for A215-S4697 drivers
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=68OWYIGT
y la formatie, pero no puedo encontrarle los drivers, Es una Toshiba Satellite A215-S7425, si alguno me puede ayudar muchas gracias...
Martin
http://www.jebshouse.com