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    Have Toshiba Satellite with Vista, need XP also

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by pamelaviolet, Sep 25, 2007.

  1. pamelaviolet

    pamelaviolet Newbie

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    I have a great new little Toshiba laptop which I need for travel. Bought a SiPix Pocket Printer a6 specifically for printing boarding passes without troublesome stops at hotel "business centers."

    Sipix needed serial port; toshiba only has USB ports.

    Bought Infrared adaptor for USB port.

    Now realize Sipix does not have drivers for Vista.

    DEJECTION!

    Do not wish to give up this quest. How deadly would it be to install another OS on the laptop? Just to use when I need to print boarding pass? Don't wish to give up this quest!

    Thank you for any help!

    pamelaviolet
     
  2. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    Installing a legal copy of XP probably wouldn't be a problem, rather, buying XP might be an issue. Not sure about the price anymore, but also don't know where it may still be sold.

    If your SiPix will work with Linux (I haven't a clue), Linux distros are free except for your time downloading the ISO, and the cost of a CD. Most distros can be installed, once the CD has been made, in about 20 minutes or so.

    If you're interested, you might want to check out this site. You could probably get an answer quickly from one of the Linux guys there.
     
  3. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    Trying the XP driver in compatibility mode if necessary might be an option.

    Installing XP, which I am sure you can do, will be more difficult if your Toshiba was not offered with XP. If that's the case, finding drivers for it will be much more difficult as Toshiba is unlikely to supply them.
     
  4. Taevis

    Taevis Notebook Enthusiast NBR Reviewer

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    Depending on your model, there might be drivers available for XP in the Toshiba section of the forums. Many of us have been down(/up)grading to XP from Vista, and the hunt for drivers has become more of a community effort.
     
  5. pamelaviolet

    pamelaviolet Newbie

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    OK, I'm convinced that loading XP would be a bad fix for this problem. However, I've continued to dig, and have read one board where a user says he has isolated the printer drivers on XP and then installed them on vista, where they work.

    I've gone into XP and looked at the driver disk and explored the folders. the Win2000 folder has lots of files and an exe file, but no drivers. The Windows folder has drivers but no .exe. I'm guessing I need some or all of these, but have no clue which ones. Any ideas?

    (sorry for cross posting before)
     
  6. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    You can try the XP driver, it may work. I was able to use the XP power management driver for my R60 in Vista.