Toshiba Satellite M115-S3094 upgrade to XP PRO

Hi.I just purchased a new Toshiba laptop model M115-S3094 which came with Windows xp Home.I woulld like to upgrade to Professional and also get rid of all this junk they throw on here..Can someone walk me through the steps please?Many thanks..

 

M115-S3094 don't come with xp Home edition, but Media Center 2005.
You don't need to update to pro, because Media Center Edition keep almost all functions from pro edition, plus media center. The only function that MCE2005 don't keep from Pro edition is its the ability to join an Active Directory domain post install (is disabled in mce2005).

Probably, there is no reason to this "upgrade" (if i can call it of upgrade).

Regards!

 

Ok thank you.There is so much junk on here I'd like to take out and that's why I was thinking of formatting.I thought too, it would boot much quicker and run smoother.How would I know what can safely be uninstalled?Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi leslie,

I also think that this notebook come with to much junk! But is possible remove without cause any speed or stability insures. I have made a full system restore and uninstalled all crap software, and mine is running very smooth. I think this is the easer (and safest) option.

If you plan to format any way, the best option is use the MCE2005 key that comes at your notebook label to make a fresh install, because this version is more interesting than PRO version (specially if you have - or play to have - a xbox360). The difficult part is find an original (OEM) disk from MCE2005 to install. I don’t find any one, and only for this reason I don’t made the fresh install (I prefer the mce). I have tried 2 images found at edonkey network, but none of these has accepted the key from OEM label or the key installed with the restore DVD (probably are images that only accept keys from a specific manufacturer/brand).

Well, independently from what version you go to use - fresh install or system restore - , keep in mind that the first thing you need to do is make a backup from Toshiba’s express media player. This CD DON’T COME WITH THE NOTEBOOK. Only the image for create it. Follow the instructions at this topic:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=63465

When you decide to go for a fresh install or a full restore, the first step is use this CD to boot and select “delete all partitions”. Then select install express media player. The second step is to opt between fresh install or restore.
After that, in the right moment, select “keep partitions like they are” in system restore, or “create a new partition using uncaptioned space” in windows installation. If you delete all partition installing (or restoring) windows, you will lose the Toshiba’s media player express (the capability to play CD/DVD without start windows, pressing the media button to turn on).

Sorry my bad english!

Best regards.

 

Hi Again.Thank you once again for your help.There are alot of torrents for MCE2005 with sn#s included so perhaps one of them will work.Actually some ppl claim this one disc does work which I am in the process of downloading but may take several days to get it since there's few seeders out there.
I made a copy of the restore disc so I am set there. My question is if I format will I be able to install a fresh copy of Win Xp Pro and also have the Media as well?I have an OEM of Windows Xp but would hate to loose the ability of the other features.I diffently would like to part with all this that's slowing me down.The startup itself takes longer then I'd like.I guess in order to have a fresh clean install I would need a oem of MCE2005 right?

 

You can't keep media center feature if you install pro version.

Theoretically, all you need to a fresh install is the OEM CD and the key that comes with your computer. The only problem is: the computer don’t come with windows installation CD. Just the restore DVD, with WILL install back all crapware.

I’m also downloading a fell images from OEM MCE2005 CDs. If any of then works with my key I will notify you

 

Ummm why dont you just un-install it the "crapware" from the controll pannel?

 

Office Depot has a great price on the M115-S3154 right now 749.99 with a $150 mail in rebate ($645 w/ Tax!) . The S3154 from what I can tell is the same as the S3094, but has a DL DVD burner. These are definitely nice laptops for the price, but the come with A TON OF CRAPWARE!! So, I am trying to figure out a way to do a cleaner install using the recovery disk.
The recovery has a readme file that states that a file called Install.ini has a value called CustomSystemInstall that can be set to 1 if custom install is supported and 0 if custom installation is not allowed. Of course the value is set to 0.
If I copy all of the files off of the disk, then alter the install.ini with the correct value to allow custom installation, how do I make a bootable dvd that will run like the recovery disk. I have already made 2 coasters, one I used ISO buster to get the MicrosoftCorporation.img file off the disk and use that as the boot image, but that did not work.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi,

The S3094 also has a DVD SuperMulti (+/-R double layer). The diference is the blue color for the 3154 and the 1gb memory. The diference from 3154 to 3104 is only the color .

Regards.

 

Your KEY will only work with a Toshiba Recovery Disc that has that model's Windows version on it. You cannot use a Retail or OEM XP disc with the key that comes with your notebook.

The best thing to do is uninstall the unnecessary software and clean the registry from its footprints.

Additionally, you can disable the MCE services to make MCE act like its underlying XP Pro.

If this is something you would like to do, I can help and make a list of the software that you may safely remove.

 

Leslie, Can i ask why you wish to upgrade to Xp Pro?
I have no reason for this question, just that theres not alot differnce between XP Home and Pro.
Or is there?

 

there is a very large difference between Home and Pro.
there is not much difference between MCE and Pro.

Home does not have: Automatic System Recovery, Remote Desktop Access, Full NTFS security, as many simultaneous file-sharing connections, security on shared data, workgroup networking (joining domains), User Management security policies.

MCE does not have the ability to join domains either, but adds a handful of other features for Media-related tasks. And the better theme of the three versions.

Since it is Pro-based, MCE retains all features of XP Pro except the Workgroup networking ability built-in.

 

The recovery disk dosn't ask for any key, and the recovery procedment installs the OS with a generic key, very diferent from key that comes with notebook.
If the key from oem label that come with notebook doesn't work with any oem disk, the only use to the key is to setup a media center extender (like linksys wmce54ag or xbox 360).

Regards.

 

if you can get an mce disk, create a custom xp cd by copying the files on it to a folder on your pc. create your custom disk by replacing the i386 folder, with the i386 folder from your windows directory. Use nlite to help you make it back into a bootable cd rom & the cdkey on the bottom of your computer should now work.

This is how us users on tabletpcreviewspot, got our clean installations of windows tablet edition 2005, which is a subset of windows xp pro just like windows MCE.

unlike with your factory install or using the restore media, you will have to activate this key.

 

i also had a thought, you could use a program like acronis image home, to backup any partitions that might reside on your hardrive.