Posted on 12/11/2005 7:05:52 PM PST by Slump Tester
You didn't make that bad of a choice. However, I know you are bothered by this now.
If you just bought your computer, you should be able to return it for repair or replacement.
As for the partitions, you don't need them. Fortunately, you still have a good option. Load up your Windows XP CD and choose the Repair option. I would first go to the command prompt and do a CHKDSK c:/f/v/x on your drive. Let it run through and do a reboot when done. If that didn't work, reboot with the CD and do another Repair, but this time let it reinstall the core files without formatting the hard drive. Pay close attention to the prompts Windows gives you through that Repair option and you should be fine.
FAT32 partitions have the boot files for Windows 98.
Rather than restore your system, first check to see if there is a hard drive corruption that can be easily fixed via my prior post.
Audio Drivers (do them later)
Video Drivers (probably Intel integrated video)
Chipset Driver (Intel)
Input Device Drivers ---> Alps GlidePoint/StickPointer (use a mouse until these are installed)
Communication Drivers (modem) (do them later)
Network Drivers (ethernet port) (do them later)
When XP is installed on a fresh hard drive it will make partitions if you want. I would have two. 15 gig for XP and the rest for storage and a good place to put copies of drivers in case you have to reinstall XP
That small 5gb partition is where they store all the software for the default build. If you hose your drive, you can get it back to a default, fresh-out-of-box state using the partition.
Unfortunately I've forgotten what you do to get the re-install started.
Through several attempts at restoring/re-installing I've concluded that my HD drive is bad, and I don't need the other two partitions. I guess the 55mb partition was probably the diagnosics.
For all practical purposes, Dell is wasting a bunch of space for people who don't know how to install an OS.
Do you have any USB devices plugged in?
I have a Gateway notebook that does what yours does unless I unplug the USB plug going to a USB hub (4 items connected). Once it get to the welcome to windows I can plug it back in and it boots normally.
I've sent it back to Gateway and it worked fine for about a week and then went back to the "bug". I have a feeling it may be battery related. My workaround works so I decided not to send it back again.
2 questions:
1. Would you recommend a Toshiba to anyone buying a laptop?
2. Are laptops/notebooks user-upgradeable e.g. adding memory, changing hard drive? I've built my own computer from scratch before, but never looked inside a laptop. Thanks.
Memory is always upgradeable ... but make sure you don't get a note book with both slots occupied. Have an empty mem. slot there for an additional stick of memory. 99% of the time notebooks have just two mem. slots
Hard drives can be more difficult but I did one. Just be very organized and keep track of each screw and piece you remove on a piece of paper ...take notes as you disassemble to get at the hard drive
Get at least a two year warranty on notebooks. they are more delicate than desktops.
Thanks for the tips. I'm good at working on desktops, but notebooks are new territory for me.
My Toshiba portege was a train wreck. Study of one, though...
I guess I missed this earlier, or I would have jumped on it.
Americans should never forget what Toshiba did back in the 80's. When Ronald Reagan was bankrupting the commies, Toshiba violated a bunch of export laws (stabbing us in the back), and sold Russia the milling technology that we used for silent propulsion on our subs.
It's too late tonight to find some links, but google for "Toshiba-Kongsberg export violations".
SCREW Toshiba - When I had my store, I never sold so much as a floppy drive made by those bastards.
I didn't know that. Scratch Toshiba off my list...
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