Bought a new Toshiba laptop but many issues...

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ifix4u

19 posts

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#153970 14-Oct-2014 12:04

Hello

Recently I purchased a new Toshiba C55-A5105 Laptop hoping to use it for basic data entry for stock taking. My requirements were, it must have wireless internet and be able to write to our network

I saw that this laptop had windows 8.1 installed, so I thought I could just re-install windows 7 and join the network with no issues a 30-60min job

Now after updating the bios and installing windows 7, I found that the wireless internet does not work, and all Toshiba drivers for this model are only for windows 8.1.

Because this was bought for business purposes, am I covered by the Sales of Goods Act? It has literally been about 8 days since I purchased the unit

Is it common knowledge that new laptops have issues with downgrading to windows 7?

macuser

2120 posts

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#1153500 14-Oct-2014 12:06

First question, why did you 'downgrade' to Windows 7?

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garvani

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#1153502 14-Oct-2014 12:09

Yes it is fairly common knowledge that newer laptops will have issues downgrading. I don't think you will be covered, you have wiped the machine and tried to load a different operating system on it.

However all that being said you should be able to get the wireless working! All you need to know is the wireless chipset that is in that model and then find the corresponding drivers for windows 7. I have always had success doing this, generally i will find the driver on HP's site, but ill get to it from google.

networkn

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#1153503 14-Oct-2014 12:11

Toshiba are not obliged to support legacy OS's so you won't be covered. I'd recommend going back to 8.1 and installing all updates and see how you like it. Non Pro versions of Windows don't have the ability to join a domain but it's not clear from "network" what that entails for you.

ifix4u

19 posts

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#1153510 14-Oct-2014 12:18

In regards to why I downgraded. It is a user issue, rather than spending time retraining our staff to learn how to use windows 8.1, it is much more efficient to use software which they are accustomed to, also our system was built for Windows 7 and does not support windows 8.1

Is it also a common occurrence to not receive any driver discs with Toshiba or a windows 8.1 backup disc. Or are they meant to be included in the 'factory reset' option?

Sorry, this is my first time with Toshiba

networkn

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#1153511 14-Oct-2014 12:19

ifix4u: Is it also a common occurrence to not receive any driver discs with Toshiba or a windows 8.1 backup disc. Or are they meant to be included in the 'factory reset' option?

Sorry, this is my first time with Toshiba

It's common for most of the vendors to do this now.

Dynamic

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#1153513 14-Oct-2014 12:20

Agreed with the above posters for your basic stocktake work. 8.1 isn't too bad. classicshell.net or similar gives a reasonable replica of Windows 7 functionality and bakes Win8 more 'tolerable' for the odd customer who buys a consumer-level laptop for one reason or another.

We have done three downgrades to Win 7 Pro n consumer laptops that clients have bought on a whim for business use and two of them were a little tricky with getting the wireless drivers to behave. A bit frustrating for both parties.

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Andib

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#1153523 14-Oct-2014 12:21

Factory restore discs are a thing of the past, Recovery Partions have been the norm for atleast 5 years? leaving users to make their own recovery media if they wish to do so.

If you've wiped the restore partion without making recovery media, You will need to contact Toshiba support and buy the recovery media from them.

Edit: If you have a volume license (not sure how big your company is but if you have spare Win7 Licenses you may do) just install 8.1 Pro with no need to buy the recovery media from Toshiba.

farcus

1535 posts

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#1153524 14-Oct-2014 12:22

ifix4u: In regards to why I downgraded. It is a user issue, rather than spending time retraining our staff to learn how to use windows 8.1, it is much more efficient to use software which they are accustomed to, also our system was built for Windows 7 and does not support windows 8.1

Is it also a common occurrence to not receive any driver discs with Toshiba or a windows 8.1 backup disc. Or are they meant to be included in the 'factory reset' option?

Sorry, this is my first time with Toshiba

almost all new computers don't come with an OS disc.
There is most likely a recovery partition on the hard drive that will restore to factory default.
Some computers also prompt you to create recovery discs but as more and more computers are coming without CD-roms this is probably becoming less common.

garvani

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#1153525 14-Oct-2014 12:22

No you wont get any of those discs with new toshiba's it is all included in the recovery partition (as is with many brands these days).

I hope you left the recovery partition etc in tact when you loaded windows 7, even the process of putting windows 7 on could have corrupted the bootsector making the recovery parition inaccessible.

Your half way there, find the wireless chipset. Hunt down the windows 7 driver for that (it will certainly exist). Prosper

djtOtago

1133 posts

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#1153534 14-Oct-2014 12:32

With my older Toshiba, the factory rest option basically restored the laptop to how it was when it left the factory by over writing the widows partition with a saved image that was on a hidden partition.
Windows 8 has good support for most hardware, so the requirement for separate or special manufacturer drivers is much less common these days.

ifix4u

19 posts

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#1153540 14-Oct-2014 12:35

Thank you all for your help

Greatly appreciated