Toshiba A305-S6857 XP Drivers ?

bostonfrank · Jul 13, 2008, 12:32 AM

Greetings,

Experts please help.

I'm considering the purchase of this Toshiba laptop but I will need to
install XP-Pro (32-bit). The machine is sold with Vista SP1 (64-bit).

Hope to partition the HD and set up a dual boot, but I'm concerned about hardware driver availability for XP. I've Googled to find others that may have done this and found this forum. Toshiba says they don't have the XP hardware drivers.

I like the price/package of the A305-S6857 but I'm concerned about getting into a nasty mess. I need the machine for a class that requires XP, VMWARE or VMPlayer, with Knoppix STD running as a virtual machine.

Also, would like the box to run Ubuntu 8.04 (32 or 64 bit). I'm a noob with the Linux stuff as well as with setting up the dual or multi-boot. I've seen some of the posts regarding XP driver problems people have worked through on Toshiba's A215 & P205D series laptops. I'm encouraged that they got things working, but worried about how tough it was.

Can it be done? Where do I start?

Thank you, Frank

Nuke209 · Jul 13, 2008, 09:56 PM

I just placed an order on an A305-S6844, and will be putting XP on it right out of the box.

So I guess I'll have to play the 'test to see if it works' game.

These notebooks are similar, so hope to see them have the same drivers (besides the video card)

bostonfrank · Jul 16, 2008, 10:13 AM

Thanks Nuke209,

Please post to let us know how the XP install goes.

I haven't made the purchase yet, Hope to see that XP
will work 1st.

Nuke209 · Jul 16, 2008, 06:08 PM

Oh, I will, and I will post the drivers I used also.
Looking at the tracking number, I MIGHT get it tomorrow, if not, the next day after.
And I'll be doing the XP installation on a seperate HD.

Nuke209 · Jul 18, 2008, 08:56 AM

Ok, got xp running on the machine and it works great.
I used alot of the drivers on toshibas site.
The vista ones worked well.

Ricoh Card Reader:
Toshiba Support - Content Details

Bluetooth
Toshiba Support - Content Details

Modem
Toshiba Support - Content Details

Intel Robson
Toshiba Support - Content Details

Touchpad
Toshiba Support - Content Details

Chipset
Download Search Results!

Lan
Realtek

Video:
ATI Catalyst modded

I know your system has a few different here and there, but some of these should help you get going.
Make sure to install the chipset first, then reboot, then installed the others afterwards.

bostonfrank · Jul 19, 2008, 03:56 AM

Very Cool Mr Nuke !

I checked the specs. on your A305-S6844 & see that it should be a sweet gamer for a laptop (with the dedicated video). My budget tells me that I've got to settle for the onboard video & shared RAM. Other than that, the A305-6857 looks to be close to your setup. So I'm optimistic. Do you think that the difference in the vid drivers is something I can work around? Keep in mind I'm a noob w. driver hacks.

Thanks for posting your results. It's a great help for me & others that will come down this path.

I'll post back with my results, but it might be a week. I haven't made the purchase yet.

Enjoy XP on your new rig, Frank

Nuke209 · Jul 20, 2008, 01:50 AM

I've been using XP alot more than Vista on this machine.
It came with Vista Home Premium 64bit, but XP still seems better for my applications.

It handles games pretty well, I've been testing GRID and it plays it really good.

As for the video, the model you're looking at has the Intel onboard video. So just get the drivers from intel.com.
Also grab the wifi drivers from there (because I forgot to post it here)

Before I forget, to install xp, just go into the bios and set the sata from ahci (sp?) to sata compatible (or compatibility, it's one of those lol) and you won't need to find the sata drivers.

ggrroo · Jul 21, 2008, 06:19 AM

Hi

I just downgraded my Toshiba A305 from vista to XP sp3

every things seems to work(including sound) however I get a device error on
Modem Device on High Definition Audio bus
until now I have:
1. Installed the Microsoft specific patch for UAA on xp sp3
2. installed the above modem and RelateK drivers

and I can't figure what is the problem

any help is welcome

thanks in advance
ggrroo

***temeteus82*** · Jul 21, 2008, 07:10 AM

the issue is that there is no modem drivers installed. Do you need modem? If you don't look if it can be disabled in BIOS.

Daniel K. · Aug 25, 2008, 11:33 AM

I had to downgrade to WinXP because some programs that I must use are incompatible.
I'm not able to find the video drivers for my A305-S6844.
Could u help me with this issue?

Warm regards,
Daniel

Brandonl · Aug 29, 2008, 06:00 PM

hey guys i have downgraded my a305-6859 to xp and have almost everything working but the video card isnt working right.... when i right click on desktop and go to properties>settings>advanced>adapter
where it says [adapter type] it is blank.... and i can not install the drivers from the toshiba website, whenever i try it says "catalyst installer failed to initialize"
also under device manager i have no display adapter
but under other devices i have
? Video Controller
? Video Controller (VGA Controller)

did anyone have this problem?

***temeteus82*** · Aug 30, 2008, 02:33 AM

Hi there you can get the Video drivers to work with this : link Remember to read the instructions.

vtfletch · Sep 12, 2008, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandonl

hey guys i have downgraded my a305-6859 to xp and have almost everything working but the video card isnt working right.... when i right click on desktop and go to properties>settings>advanced>adapter
where it says [adapter type] it is blank.... and i can not install the drivers from the toshiba website, whenever i try it says "catalyst installer failed to initialize"
also under device manager i have no display adapter
but under other devices i have
? Video Controller
? Video Controller (VGA Controller)

did anyone have this problem?

I had the same problem, try this one should take care of it.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Product_Filter.aspx?ProductID=2800〈=eng