Is there a Windows 7 Clean Intall Guide?

I have a Satellite A355-S6998E that came preloaded with Vista 64.

 

............crickets !

OK does anyone know what the TRS Driver and the Intel Robson driver is for? There's also a "Toshiba Software Installer". Is this like the Thinkpad utility that goes out and downloads and updates any pertinent drivers on your system?

 

I found what a TRS driver is: TRS driver? - Toshiba Forums

Found a bunch of things on Robson, but it looks like its memory related.

I'm sure you already know, but here's your model support page: Model Content Page


As far as a clean install with Windows 7, I'm not sure how to help as I have never tried it myself.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

Where you Alex like 10 hours ago? j/k

Thanks, OK here's the deal doing a clean install on a Tosh laptop. It's actually very simple.

1) Install Intel Chipset drivers

2) Install Intel Robson drivers aka Intel Matrix Storage Drivers (req. 2 reboots)

3) Install and run Toshiba Software Installer

* this will read your device manager and update and install all pertinent drivers

** Make sure system restore is not turned off or the installer will crash and abort. It needs to do a system restore as it's updating in case something goes wrong.

4) Service Packs and system updates

p.s. I saw that TRS link last night but it for some reason sounded a little vague to me.

 

Glad to hear you were able to install Windows! Sounds like I was a bit late to the party.

Thank you for posting the install steps; I know others will find that information useful.

 

May I carry this a step further....I have a Satellite A665-S6057 and it is a laptop that I experiment with and it does need to be freshened up a bit. A Win 7 clean install would do the trick. I am not really interested in any of the Tosh branded software and have my own favorites for A/virus, antispyware, etc.,

I don't see the need for the recovery partition if I wipe the disk clean. I have a couple of questions tho'.

I have the retail family pack Win7 3pc upgrade package that I plan to use to do the clean install. I will use the double install method. I have done several clean installs of Win7 previously for PC's

Am I correct that the activation code on the bottom of my laptop will not be useable and I will need to use the activation code that comes with the Windows retail disk for this procedure.

What recommended utility can be used to remove the recovery partition?

I will download the chipset and the Rapid Storage Tech drivers and install them after the Win7 install and then run the Tosh software installer from the Toshiba site, but I don't think the drivers there are the latest ones.

I have received regular e-mails for Tosh about software updates including updates for the BIOS, but have not done the BIOS updates as I have had no BIOS related issues on this laptop.

Thanks very much for helping

 

I've never done a fresh WIndows 7 install, but this thread may be of interest to you: http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/428068-legal-windows-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html

From my understanding, you can use the KEY on the underside of your laptop; see link above.


As for the recovery partition, I have no idea.


Good luck and keep us posted.

 

This is how I do it

Format

Install Windows

Install Drivers in this order

1) Intel Chipset Drivers then reboot

2) Intel Rapid Storage Drive then reboot twice

3) Graphics chipset drivers then reboot

4) sound drivers

5) Lan and Wan drivers

6) Memory card drivers

7) Bluetooth drivers then reboot

8) additional drivers like the Toshiba Value Addons which adds button hotkey support, etc, then reboot

9) install windows updates

10) install your other programs

 

I used the Windows7-USB-DVD-tool and X17-59465 W7 OS file found on Digital River sites, search with google. The above has SP1 rolled in. I USED the keys off the bottom of my computer but I had to call in to activate. I have not had time but read there was or used to be a tool to pull the whole activation number off your working OS to avoid the call in. All legal. I use cheap Sandisk 4G USB drive for the above which stays formated for any further installs down the road.

This was for my Asus but my X775 is on the radar.

 

@Rodster, thanks but the Toshiba Software Installer looks way out of date for the x-775s.

Newskys post is pretty much what I did on the Asus. I found the Toshiba site totally jumbled with lots of drivers out of date. I down loaded all to match what I have installed so looking good.

Shame that Toshiba did not include a driver disk or image for each of our models.

On the Asus you do the clean install, insert driver disk. The next part is easy..check or uncheck what you want installed, disk auto does the rest.

I have freed up old spare 250G drive so will test install on that before committing to original or SSD when I get time.

cheers

 

OK, clean install completed for the NON 3D x-775.

Everything went well, but being a dry run, did not bother with calling in keys.

On the X-775, the two BT drivers have an install order, see web site for drivers.

Several drivers were out of date, like the track pad but windows installed the updated drivers when wireless back up.

I had one yellow flag that had me stumped but when asked, W7 found if for me in the Hardware Manager. It was the Toshiba HHD protection driver!! For a non Toshiba hard drive without these features? I had the driver but did not install it not thinking the laptop would care.

Anyway, saving pennies for SSD or new 750 XT Momentus if the price comes back to earth.