Toshiba Sat L355D - Can I dwngrad to XP?

New system... I'd really prefer to run XP. Toshiba doesn't supply any drivers for XP at all for this model.

Is this easy to do or will I spend a couple of days and countless hours hunting down drivers, trying to get various little bits to work correctly, and ending up with a few features that never seem to quite run right

Thanks

 

Don’t see why you can’t, I do it lots for friends / family.

Do your homework though, go collect your main drivers, net/display/audio/Bluetooth etc from the vendors site, stick them on something like a USB.
Your core drivers don’t necessarily need to be from the Toshiba site either, compare your specs to those of a similarly equipped other brand, their drivers will work also if the components are the same, i.e. ATI / Intel / AMD etc.

You may need to live without some features for a while, like fancy lights that need specifc drivers to work, i.e. mute lights etc. but if you get the core working, those incidentals can be lived with, worked around.

But make a plan before you begin.

 

Note: I'm running off the L355D-S7815 and got it to downgrade VERY easily.

First, BEFORE you do that, pull the device list and write down everything like video card (display adapter), Network cards, Sata/IDE interfaces, sound/audio, modems... you don't need the detailed System Devices.

And if someone does get that list, can you post it here?? I lost my list after I installed XP

Now, on this Toshiba (S7815) you can ignore the SCSI deal for now (I actually don't know what its for, the special SATA drive functions...? but nothing is attached/run by it that I can tell)

BEFORE you remove the OEM Vista Install, Pull up the start menu and find the "Create Toshiba Drives and Software Install Disc", something like that (I already deleted my Vista and I don't remember exactly what it was called.) It will create a single DVD disk with all the X-tras that came on your computer, and many of the drivers as well (IN XP FORMAT TOO!! )


Boot into your bios (F2), change the Boot order to CD/DVD drive first
Then change the S/ATA mode to "Compatible" (might not be necessary, but HUGE time saver)

Now, you can install windows XP straight to the machine!! SWEET! No F6 or third party drivers, that's what made this so sweet. The lastest install you can get is best. My friend gave me a slipped streamed SP3 with many additional drivers added to it. This helped greatly. Got most of my stuff workin'


Once you are installed, MOST of the stuff you want/need is on that Drivers/Apps DVD that was burned. Atheros, Audio, modem, its all on there! It runs as an application and gives you a list to install from. Just select the devices and software you had on your system. I noticed that the Toshiba CD speed (quiet drive) did not work on my install :-( oh well, I have an XP compatible copy from a previous machine. The Video and NIC drivers will not be compatible.

BUT:


Video: ATI Radeon 3100 . ATI does not directly support it, but thanks to softpedia, we have a copy!
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/ATI/ATI-Catalyst-Display-Driver-8-8.shtml

NIC: Realtek Gigabit at www.realtek.com.tw
http://www.realtek.com.tw/DOWNLOADS...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false
off their download page (left menu) Computer Network ICs > Network Interface Controllers >10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernets
Check ot the Auto Installation program(sweet!) and the diagnostics


Download these on your machine (If Atheros will get on your wireless, mine hasn't cooperated yet) while you install the drives off the CD


Install the Realtek HD Audio, then gain access to the Toshiba Software Modem (down the list) and other modems, and some key drivers must be installed before the card reader and other devices.

I got everything to work except the SM Bus Controller. If someone can find that it would be a sweet bonus!

SM Bus is just the Motherboards temp readings... (um, what I'm told) um nice, especially if you are using the 'auto cooling functions' but it don't deter systems performance that much to not have it installed.

Have fun!

 

Got the SM Bus Controller to load. I had made backup copy of c:/windows/* (files only), c:/windows/inf/* , and every file and directory in c:/windows/system32

You can skip the winsxs in system32, it is huge. I then 'update drivers' on the SM Bus Controller, permitted it to go online, added the copy of INF to the search list, and it found and installed the driver for it.

I just don't know for sure if it took it off the Vista INF copy, online, or just found it in the windows drivers... So I can't tell you for sure if you have to back everything up or not.

And my problem with my wireless was the access point not responding again. It seems to target just one computer and refuse it from time to time.

 

Here you go:

Toshiba Satellite L355D-S7815 (Model #: PSLE8U-00M00W) Notebook Device List

Batteries
----- Microsoft AC Adapter
----- Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

Computer
----- ACPI x86-based PC

Disk Drives
----- Toshiba MK1652GSX ATA Device

Display Adapters
----- ATI Radeon 3100 Graphics

DVD/CD-ROM Drives
----- TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L633P ATA Device

IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- IDE Channel
----- Standard AHC 1.0 Serial ATA Controller
----- Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller

Keyboards
----- Standard PS/2 Keyboard

Mice and Other Pointing Devices
----- Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Modems
----- Toshiba Software Modem

Monitors
----- Generic PnP Monitor

Network Adapters
----- Atheros AR5007EG Wireless Network Adapter
----- RealTek RTL8102E Family PCI-E Fast Ethernet NIC (NDIS 6.0)

Processors
----- AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core QL-60
----- AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core QL-60

Sound, Video and Game Controllers
----- RealTek High Definition Audio

Storage Controllers
----- Microsoft iSCSI Initiator

System Devices
----- ACPI Fan
----- ACPI Fixed Feature Button
----- ACPI Lid
----- ACPI Thermal Zone
----- ATI I/O Communications Processor PCI Bus Controller
----- ATI I/O Communications Processor SMBus Controller
----- ATI PCI Express (3GIO) Filter Driver
----- Direct Application Launch Button
----- Direct Application Launch Button
----- Direct Memory Access Controller
----- High Definition Audio Controller
----- High Precision Event Timer
----- Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Embedded Controller
----- Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
----- Microsoft Composite Batter
----- Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver
----- Numeric Data Processor
----- PCI Express Standard Root Port
----- PCI Express Standard Root Port
----- PCI Express Standard Root Port
----- PCI Express Standard Root Port
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard Host CPU Bridge
----- PCI Standard ISA Bridge
----- Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator
----- Programmable Interupt Controller
----- System CMOS/Real Time Check
----- System Speaker
----- System Timer
----- UMBus Enumerator
----- UMBus Enumerator
----- UMBus Root Bus Enumerator

Universal Serial Bus Controllers
----- RealTek USB 2.0 Card Reader
----- Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
----- Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
----- Standard Open HCD USB Host Controller
----- Standard Open HCD USB Host Controller
----- Standard Open HCD USB Host Controller
----- Standard Open HCD USB Host Controller
----- USB Mass Storage Device
----- USB Root Hub
----- USB Root Hub
----- USB Root Hub
----- USB Root Hub
----- USB Root Hub
----- USB Root Hub

NOTE: Thank you for your kind assistance in outlining the steps necessary for upgrading Vista to XP Pro. I am in the beginning stages of doing this very thing to my new Toshiba. We shall see how it goes...

Thank you.

 

Your instructions were FLAWLESS!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!!

BTW... The SMBus drivers are located in the 'inf' folder. So for future reference, you should be able to dispense with copying the other folder contents.

Thanks Again.

Llanvabon

 

can someone post a copy of the smbus driver I do not have a copy of the inf folder from the vista install. Thanks.

 

Actually I found the drivers. I downloaded the Southbridge driver from here
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx?p=xp/integratedip-xp

 

Now has anyone gotten the special fn keys to work with XP? Thats the one thing I can't seem to get working.

 

Im downgrading this computer right now. Im having trouble Installing Two drivers. One is PCI Device and the other one is the WIreless Card. ALso i gave no sound. Can some one please tell me how to fix this?

 

hope you guys don't mind if I track counts on this. Had to force the headers with PHP to make it work anyway: http://www.hccompdoc.net/inf.php

This is a reduced directory of the INF folder. I deleted the largest files in it while trying to preserve as much Toshiba specific infs as possible. I'm in a bit of a rush as usual. Let me know if the driver scan doesn't find the SMBus it there (man, I wish they had named it something obvious). It is 7-zipped. If you don't have that compression library, GET IT! Its free, it supports files >4GB, and has a wide variety of options, and no bundles attached.


Thanks for the list Llanvabon!!

Unfortunately, no. I just found that the other day trying to adjust brightness. I tried Toshi's XP driver from my other laptop and it is not compatible with the new hardware. The new drivers are Vista specific. I have not successfully NDIS them yet. I noticed in the hardware list they NDIS the realtek nic drivers form XP to Vista. No luck yet with the CDDVD drive silencer. Nero 8 Premium gave me the DVD player, burner, labelflash, and drive speed control (same thing as Acoustic Silencer) software for a fair price. $80 normal, $50 upgrade. I got the upgrade for previous software. I will play with these while I travel if I get time.

PCI or PCI-E? That could be the realtek NIC? or "Toshiba Software Modem" on the sound card.

The Wireless card is usually an Atheros Wireless Lan on the driver/apps CD. Sometimes they use the Realtek Wireless Lan card. Just try 'wireless' installs from the list until something takes. Sound card is "Realtek Audio Driver (3264bit)". That can also be snagged off realtek's website I believe.

 

Modem driver from Toshiba website for xp

1-Go to www.toshiba.com
2-In section "U.S. Services & Support" select "laptop computers" and hit "GO"
3-Click on "Dowloads"
4-Select: Portables - Satellite - L355D-S7815 and hit "Show Results"
5-Hit "Download" again
6-find this link and hit it: "Click the link to expand your search to include All Downloads applicable to Satellite models"
7-select "Toshiba Software Modem Driver for Windows XP (v2.1.63; 05-26-2006; 1.02M)"
8-extract files and force installation

Works Fine

Sorry for mi english

Pablo

 

I registered with this site just to let you all know that ATI has updated their Catalyst drivers to version 8.9 (as of Sep 17). The link given by pmpartners on the previous page gets you there, but here it is again, just so you don't have to jump back:

Catalyst Radeon Driver Set ver 8.9 (on game.amd.com)

And of course, it'd be heartless of me if didn't thank the bunch of you for all your help, I installed XP without so much as a hiccup.

ppostma1, it's a good thing I looked here first. I hadn't realized that neither of the two discs included with the machine contained the Application/Drivers! For preventing a disaster waiting to happen, my hat's off the ya!


sumgai

 

Hello to all, im have the same troubles to downgrade vista to WinXP,
but with your help i did collect the most of the drivers:

http://rapidshare.com/files/148461978/drivers_laptop_satellite_s7815_s7815.rar
--Ati Video
--South bridge
--Modem
--Realtek Gigabit ethernet
--Atheros WLAN
and put here for everyone:

All is functional in winxp, but only the Hotkey manager (fn key plus F1, F2, F3 to adjust brighteness, sound, block touchpad etc ) i didnt foud, anyone knows?
Thank to all.
luis.erasmo{arroba}gmail{dot}com
sorry for my bad english..

 

Thanks to everyone who posted, thanks to you guys I was able to install xp with virtually no problems on this laptop. Now, if only I could find a way to make the fn keys work. Also, does anyone know where to find the drivers for the card reader? When I tried to install these drivers from the application/driver disk, it requested a file I didn't have a far as I know.

 

The file was in your Windows or System32 directory. I think that was how I installed mine. It uses the Microsoft generic Multi-card reader so you should be able to just 'update driver' when you right click on the device.

Your welcome sumgai. I just wish I could get the hot key to work. Its not so much of a problem day to day. The sound controls are fully functional but without FN keys, working in a dark room right now makes a bright screen really hard to look at.

I have been trying to Hotkey programs for the previous L-series laptops and so far have not had any luck. What I am finding is that any hotkeys app that is compatible with this hardware/bios was compiled for Vista. Some of the older ones try to hook into a "Toshiba Common Module" on install and refuse to install when its not found (nbsmi.sys on '24597A' and '26673A' installs). The one for the L10 series (sl10thotkeyx) runs, throws no errors and then quietly exits. I'm a little baffled by the procmon outputs from it. Like I said, still nothing that properly hooks both BIOS and OS.

 

pp,

FWIW, I found that the XP generic driver worked just fine, at least for the SD card that came out of my 1-year-old camera - no additional drivers were/are required...... at least for the nonce.

Agreed, it'd be nice, especially since Toshiba went to the trouble to design, make, and sell to us, the alleged functionality.

There's a file on the Applications DVD (made in your first post) whose description reads: as "This is necessary for the correct functioning of the computer and other Toshiba software packages.". Could this be something useful in the current scenario? Lemme go look up the file name, BRB.......

Here we go: If you're looking at the Applications Disk Installer package, it's called Toshiba Value Added Package 1.1.19. Viewing the disk file with Exlorer, the path is:
\comps1\Toshiba Value Added Package0\Manual\B2749D.exe.
You'll understand, and hopefully pardon, my reluctance to install this package, I don't wanna booger up what's working smoothly now.

HTH


sumgai

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention one more issue I had with xp on this laptop. When running fullscreen applications (games) whose aspect ratio is not the same as the laptop's screen on certain resolutions, instead of stretching the images to fill the entire screen as it does on vista, it adds black borders to the sides. I would like these to stretch to full instead of maintaining the aspect ratio. Anyone know how to do this or if I need some sort of driver or program?

 

Next question..........

Anyone have any ideas on where to find power management software for the L355D? .... that works under WXPSP2 (or thereabouts)?

Seems that the battery life is pretty shabby under the standard XP schemes. I get about 90 to 100 minutes of usable life, even with the screen set to 80% brightness. All I do is surf the innerwebs, and maybe do a bit of photochopping. I swear, that's all! Well, that and watch the truly occasional dvd movie, and for that, the power-lump is not an option, it's a fact of life.

I found a very interesting article by a former Intel employee, about a command-line utility that comes with XP called powercfg. Only some of which applies to us AMD'ers, but still and all, for your edification..... Untangling XP's Confusing Power Profiles. I did some of that, and found that the parameter "processor-throttling-xC" isn't supported on AMD platforms, hence my question.

I'd like to get this up to what most laptop users expect for battery life, I'm sure you'll agree that we're on the low side here.

Ideas?



sumgai

p.s. No, RMClock doesn't work either, already tried that.

 

has anyone figured out how to make the Fn keys (brightness up and down buttons) it's really awful to keep the brigth level on a specific rate

 

OK, next dilemma......

Assuming that before we ever started installing XP, we first went into the BIOS and set the SATA Controller Mode to Compatability, the question becomes, has anyone gone back and reset that value to its default?

I just happened to notice that unchanged value as I was looking at something else, and did the reset trick, back to AHCI When I rebooted, I got my first BSOD! This was obvious, 'cause I merely put the setting back to the way it was during the Install, and all is well in Wunderland.

Who else has tried this? Any one do it successfully?



sumgai

 

Thanks for the SM Bus Drivers! Can I ask to which special fn keys you are referring?

 

Hey Everyone-
Just a quick note I can't post links here but I got everything from Toshiba except the Video and SM Bus Controller which I got from ATI.

I went to Toshiba support and I used L355-S7822 and downloaded everything except the Intel based items, and installed it all just fine except the "common modules" package which seemed to install but error'd out when you ran it. My hot keys and function keys are all working fine. I just can't tell you specifically which package made them work.

So if you have an L355D-S7825 or anything similar go there and grab everything but the Intel based stuff and you will be good to go for XP. (If you do have the L355D-S7825 you will need to get your video and SM Bus controller stuff from AMD/ATI.

Oh and save yourself the trouble and install .net 2.0 before you install the ATI stuff. Sorry I can't post links here yet....

 

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/download_drivers_bios.jsp?service=UK Here is a link for drivers for this laptop that I found.. I left Short Model off and I used Satellite L350D even tho mine is the L355D-S7815... This is the UK site, couldnt find it in the us one... and the SMBus driver that pmpartners provided worked just fine... Thanks

 

ok, usin the drivers of L355-S7822 (thanks kanipek) is posible to use FN keys and multimedia controls keys (toshiba controls) , but the multimedia keys only works for windows media player, i like to use the controls in winamp, any solution?

NOTE: winamp have the options to response like windows media player by enabling "default multimedia key support" in global hotkeys options, this is active in my machine.

 

There is no need to turn the support for AHCI back after your XP installation. AHCI is of no advantage to XP.

cheers ...