Hi Gents, I am helping my brother to fix his Vista Toshiba laptop, I were unable to boot into the OS. I tried to installed Vista with SP2, it asked me to load the Drivers. I did not have the Drivers and couldn't find them in the Web, is there a way I could boot into his laptop and copy the Drivers. I know there are computer experts in this forum able to help me or shed some light, thanks. Toshiba Satellite A 210-MS5, PSAFGC-MS508C
Hi LatinMcG , 1) I remove 1 screw of dVD drive 2) Booting from Usb with Windows 7 if I want. this step I do not fully understand - (recovery/force flash from usb filename is BIOS.ROM or BIOS.FD .. with F key (might need usb floppy but try usb stick formated fat not fat32) remove battery and power.. hold F while plugging in power cord.. now press power button) Can you explain it further, please ( why should I do this step....) Thanks.
your bios version might be old (1.40?) and the sata acpi is not working properly for vista or 7 or 8 likely if u update bios there is a small chance it bricks (bios brick means no toshiba screen appears, laptop is a brick until bios is recovered) but no worries there is documented recovery steps. SatelliteA210-PSAFGC-PSAFHC-200-WIN m10a200.rom has slic 2.1 i checked it with phoenix modtool flash original 2.0 and it has slic 2.1 for 7 from toshiba so no need to mod to activate 7 any version with toshiba slic 2.1 certificate and generic OEM key = DAZ windows loader does it auto and permanent with slic 2.1 in bios not bootloader i think even with latest bios is still had issues and had to do it that way by removing dvd drive then usb worked fine.. or check sata mode to be AHCI not IDE AHCI= Native IDE= Legacy (compatible with xp and older os.. ahci is too but with drivers for chipset SATA intel or ati or .... )
Are you trying to install via USB or DVD? If USB, then try a none USB 3.0 slot, their usually blue or red.
wrong.. its documented how to recover. holding F key and plug power and power on recovers bios from USB .. stick or floppy. and its older pc, it doesnt have USB 3.0
Hi Gents, I am trying to install through USB , DVD drive is not working .I am going to try the method that LatinMcG suggesting and report back . Thanks Gents and if I have question, I will ask for sure.
if dvd also dont work. likely its old bios version then... but first check ram to be seated properly no dirty pins.
Hi LatinMcG, I checked Ram already, Ram is seating properly. Is there a manual for this Toshiba laptop, I tried to opened the back but to no available. I used to be an Electronics Tech, I am familiar with electronic devices but this laptop is hard to open. In short, How do I get to DVD drive ? Thanks.
seems like it does need it.. if u tested all hardware and bypassed dvd route.. usb should have worked.