Drivers for a Toshiba Satellite A305D-S6848 Laptop

DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Windows XP Installed, NOT Vista</div>I recently acquired a severely infected laptop described above and had to format it to clean it up. Problem is I don't have the recovery disc for it so used what I had, WinXP Pro. Needless to say I got it running BUT with minimal drivers. I'm not having any luck on the intraweb finding drivers since this PC was designed to run with Vista. Some of the drivers I need to have, some I would like to have ie I need one desperately for the NIC card.
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site:csd.toshiba.com+Satellite+A305D-S6848" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=s...ite+A305D-S6848</a>
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  • TesseractTesseract Join Date: 2007-06-21 Member: 61328Members, Constellation
    In his defence the Toshiba website is a ###### to navigate, especially the European one (and for the love of Christ even more so the British one), but it's still relatively painless to get to

    <a href="http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=DL&os=&category=&moid=2059342&rpn=PSAH0U&modelFilter=A305D-S6848&selCategory=3&selFamily=1073768663" target="_blank">http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su...mily=1073768663</a>

    Where you can choose your OS (as their website is broken and doesn't include it in the link despite the "&os=" part of the URL).
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Thanks puzl, but everything I see is for Windows Vista - I installed XP.

    A separate but related issue: this PC refuses to download exe files. I have disabled Windows firewall, uninstalled AVG, reset security settings to default, and tried both IE and FF browsers. FF "cancels" the download and IE prompts a security-breach popup box.
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    Depot, there should be a dropdown where you can filter on your OS. Having said that the WDM should mean the vista32 driver will work on xp.

    The exe download problem seems odd.. they should really just warn you before you launch them. I'd try a third browser ( opera or chromium ) to be certain.

    ( And tess, I wasn't been smart by linking google, if I had I would have used lmgtfy.com ;) )
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  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    Problem with some Vista laptops, sometimes the manufacturers did not even bother making XP drivers. You can try and find drivers based on the chips themselves, sometimes. Try using a program like <b>Astra32</b> to find out exactly what the chip(s) are called and made by, then try going on their website.

    Otherwise, I'd be worth putting Vista or Win7 on it. Better Win7 TBH.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Thanks for all the help.

    Given I only paid $50.00usd for this and I've seen it priced at around $1,000 I guess it's worth a little work here to get this thing online.

    Oh, the "exe" download issue which has plagued me for months has been solved: Control Panel / Internet Options / Security / Reset all zones to default level worked. No clue whatsoever how THAT one got borked!
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  • TesseractTesseract Join Date: 2007-06-21 Member: 61328Members, Constellation
    Is what I say invisible or something?
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  • ScytheScythe Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 46NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation, Reinforced - Silver
    I haven't seen Tesseract around for a while. I'm sure he'd have tonnes of useful information for a thread like this.

    Oh well.

    --Scythe--
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1742815:date=Dec 7 2009, 05:55 AM:name=Tesseract)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tesseract @ Dec 7 2009, 05:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742815"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In his defence the Toshiba website is a ###### to navigate, especially the European one (and for the love of Christ even more so the British one), but it's still relatively painless to get to

    <a href="http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/modelContent.jsp?ct=DL&os=&category=&moid=2059342&rpn=PSAH0U&modelFilter=A305D-S6848&selCategory=3&selFamily=1073768663" target="_blank">http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/su...mily=1073768663</a>

    Where you can choose your OS (as their website is broken and doesn't include it in the link despite the "&os=" part of the URL).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I am rummaging through there, trying to see what they have.

    Thanks.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    I am reasonably certain I have the correct NIC card and wifi drivers installed, yet the intraweb eludes me. I just don't get it...

    Did I mess up by installing XP on a machine meant for Vista?

    Should I say screw it and install Windows 7?
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Interesting development: I decided to implement my router even though the laptop wouldn't connect - it WORKED! I am able to use the laptop hooked up through the router, but not direct.

    Now, I have to figure out how this wireless works...
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    More drivers, more features! Now have sound and webcam working, ATI drivers installed. Life is good...
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1742824:date=Dec 7 2009, 02:12 PM:name=Tesseract)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tesseract @ Dec 7 2009, 02:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742824"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Stop making empty posts, please.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1743140:date=Dec 9 2009, 09:40 AM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ Dec 9 2009, 09:40 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1743140"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=1742824:date=Dec 7 2009, 02:12 PM:name=Tesseract)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tesseract @ Dec 7 2009, 02:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1742824"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->

    Stop making empty posts, please.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Why are you quoting Tessers in this thread? Or did his blank post already get removed?
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1743144:date=Dec 9 2009, 04:24 PM:name=Thansal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Thansal @ Dec 9 2009, 04:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1743144"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why are you quoting Tessers in this thread? Or did his blank post already get removed?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I am confused ???

    Did Tesser actually post "Stop making empty posts please." ?
    And did I quote that for emphasis?
    And who is Tesser?
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    Clearly you should have avoided these problems by installing linux.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    I can barely install drivers, and you think I'm able to figure linux out?
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1743252:date=Dec 10 2009, 12:11 PM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Depot @ Dec 10 2009, 12:11 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1743252"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I can barely install drivers, and you think I'm able to figure linux out?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Get a xubuntu desktop CD.
    Choose try out.
    Check whether all your devices have been recognized.
    Install Xubuntu.
    Be Happyabout an instantly working laptop and never open a terminal even once.
    ...
    ...
    ...

    Get the Desktop CD!
    <a href="http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-Xubuntu/9.10/release/" target="_blank">http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-X...u/9.10/release/</a>
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  • TesseractTesseract Join Date: 2007-06-21 Member: 61328Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1743144:date=Dec 9 2009, 03:24 PM:name=Thansal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thansal @ Dec 9 2009, 03:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1743144"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why are you quoting Tessers in this thread? Or did his blank post already get removed?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    He was making a joke that all my posts are empty, which they might as well be. >:I
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Thanks for the help everyone. I got the laptop online and most of the other drivers installed, so it is working ok. But in my search for drivers I came across a company in the U.K. who sold me some Satellite Vista drivers. I asked them for Satellite XP drivers and they sent me a diagnostic exe that prints out exactly what hardware I have, what software is installed, and PRECISELY what drivers I need for an XP O/S. They have agreed to create me a custom disc with all the driver I need for this laptop and o/s - a sweet deal I think for less than 10lbs., or however you Brits say it, lol.
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  • lolfighterlolfighter Snark, Dire Join Date: 2003-04-20 Member: 15693Members
    edited December 2009
    Wikipedia: "The abbreviation lb comes from the Latin word libra, meaning "scales, balances", which also described a Roman unit similar to the pound (note that the commonly used lbs abbreviation for the plural unit of measurement is incorrect, as lb is both the singular and plural abbreviation)."
    It's a measure of weight. If the disc they're sending you is 10lb, that is going to result in semi-expensive shipping.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Ok lolfighter, I deserved that.

    All of this is costing me less than 10 pound.
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    So you paid them money to do something that you could have done yourself with google for free? If it floats your boat I guess.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    It's not that simple. Remember, these laptops are built for Vista, and many Vista drivers won't work on XP.
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  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    Not to drag on the thread, but I believe when they say 'built for vista' it is meant that the hardware chosen for the laptop is all vista compatible. All of this hardware will still work with XP though, it's just a matter of finding the driver. Usually you can find the drivers on the laptop manufacturers website, but I guess in your case that wasn't possible. The next step is to simply google search the name of the hardware piece ex: "intel d1337 wlan network card" and get the driver directly from intels site. The only obstacle here is finding the name of the hardware, which is what the program they gave you did. These kind of things are free on the internet. All you paid them to do was use a free program and then google search for the correct driver, something I would think you were probably capable of. Oh well, I suppose it doesn't really matter. It just bugs me in the same way that people who pay geeksquad $50 to install RAM does.
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Believe me Xyth, I exhausted my resources (and patience) before I threw in the towel. I tried countless Vista drivers that I either Googled for or found off of Toshiba's site, to little avail. If I could have found this diagnostic tool they sent me free somewhere, I would have used it, assuming I could interpret the information.

    Seriously, I paid $50.00usd for the less-than-one-year-old laptop and an additional $15.00usd or so for the diagnostic software and all the drivers for it. Oh, and $10.00usd for a Logitech V220 wireless optical mouse. Total investment: $75.00usd for a Toshiba laptop that retails for $1,000.00usd (yes, I've seen it cheaper).


    I have learned a lot from all of this but frankly, it was all a bit beyond my field of expertise...
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    edited December 2009
    <!--quoteo(post=1743979:date=Dec 16 2009, 10:34 AM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Depot @ Dec 16 2009, 10:34 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1743979"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I tried countless Vista drivers that I either Googled for or found off of Toshiba's site, to little avail.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Wait, you tried installing vista drivers into an XP OS?

    Oh boy.

    Listen old man ;)
    If you plan on using XP you should install xp drivers.

    The easiest way to identify a device is open the device manager right click your device->properties->details->Select Hardware ID from the drop-down.

    You should see something like this:

    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2930&SUBSYS_82771043&REV_02
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2930&SUBSYS_82771043
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2930&CC_0C0500
    PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2930&CC_0C05

    Goto <a href="http://www.pcidatabase.com/" target="_blank">http://www.pcidatabase.com/</a> and search for the vendor and device codes. That should give you a pretty good idea what you are searching for.

    Edit: In my case I would enter 8086 as vendor and 2930 as device code. This gives me directly:

    Intel® ICH9 Family SMBus Controller - <a href="http://www.downloadatoz.com/driver/download_driver_64932.htm" target="_blank">http://www.downloadatoz.com/driver/download_driver_64932.htm</a>

    My device name and even a suggested dl link for a driver. Very Nice!
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Out of desperation Fasky, I tried installing a couple as a last resort when I couldn't locate XP drivers. One of them worked, one didn't.

    I knew how to get the device details, just didn't know what to do with that information once I got it.

    Now I know... THANKS!
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  • DepotDepot The ModFather Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7956Members
    Does it hurt to leave the laptop plugged in the whole while it's sitting at home?

    I mean, once it's fully charged are you supposed to unplug it?
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  • Corporal_FortierCorporal_Fortier Join Date: 2005-03-22 Member: 46079Members, Constellation
    I don't think it matters. My laptop is almost always plugged and I have no problem whatsoever. However, it is good to run the laptop on battery power from time to time to keep the battery in shape, or so they say. Otherwise the battery life will suffer in the long run.
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