Rant: Toshiba and Windows Vista Woes
By jeffreycentex on Feb 11, 2007 in Vista
For readers of my past Windows Vista and Toshiba drivers, please note the following:
TOSHIBA WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING EITHER THE TOSHIBA TECRA M7 OR THE SATELLITE R25 TABLET PC FOR WINDOWS VISTA.
Yes, their site states that both of these models do support Vista and both machines carry the Vista Capable label. In fact, during the beta cycle, Toshiba made drivers available for Windows Vista for the M7 (and the R25, since they are virtually identical).
So where do we go now?
Other Toshiba country units have made drivers available, but these are older ones and virtually match the beta drivers from early December 2006. Also, the BIOS update has disappeared completely (3.10 for the M7 and the R25).
My solution?
I have been picking parts of drivers from the Tecra M4 and the Portege M400 - choosing the latest versions when possible. The key drivers are the Toshiba Value Added Package for Windows Vista, the Tablet PC Extensions, the Fingerprint software, and the SD Card drivers. With these, you will have a functioning system without any missing device drivers. I would encourage you to download the applicable video drivers (Intel for the R20/R25 and some of the M7 units and Nvidia for the rest of the M7 units).
The only thing that is missing is the 3.10 BIOS update. I have the M7/R25-Intel version of this BIOS update, but the M7-Nvidia version is history unless someone else has saved it.
What is intolerable about the situation is that Toshiba claims that Vista is not supported on these devices and that no drivers will ever be made available (per three phone calls with Toshiba tech support). What makes the situation even more infuriating is that Toshiba IS supporting other older Tablet PC models like the Tecra M4 and Satellite R15, which were never meant to be Vista capable.
So keep this in mind if you are in the market for a Tablet PC. (i.e., my next tablet will probably be Fujitsu or Lenovo and I will not recommend Toshiba to others).
11 Comment(s)
By R20 User on Feb 12, 2007 | Reply
Wow this infuriates me. I was excited for the vista release and the only reason I bought the R20 when I did was because it would be easily able to handle Vista. I could have waited. I feel like since I only bought it 6 months ago I might be able to argue with Toshiba into some kind of compromise (either monetary or a flat out return). Thanks for your post.
By Mad_M7_User on Feb 13, 2007 | Reply
I actually still have a copy of the 3.10 bios update program for the Nividia driver saved off if you need a copy.
By R20 on Feb 22, 2007 | Reply
Has anyone run the Toshiba R20 on Vista 32bit or 64 bit ? I also bought the R20 with the presumption I ll run Vista , butt …
By Brenton on Mar 11, 2007 | Reply
Really?! I have been running Vista (and waiting for drivers) since November. I have tried things like the Fingerprint 5.6 beta from December (pretty unstable and quickly uninstalled). Right now, I have the following installed on my r25:
Toshiba TabletPC Extension
Toshiba SD Memory Utilities
Toshiba Disc Creator
Texas Instruments PCIxx12 drivers
ALPS Touchpad Driver
WinDVD for Toshiba
Microsoft Tablet Pool (who can resist)
Intel’s GMA and Networking drivers
I have yet to find either a stable Wacom Penabled driver or one for the fingerprint reader. Everything else (including the mute switch on the front) seems to work fine. I think I installed Toshiba Controls at one point, found it buggy, and uninstalled. It looks like I also have the accelerometer installed, but it never says the disk has moved to a safe location - maybe it just controls the “Smackbook” aspect (which I have disabled). Also, I’ve set the right joystick to Win+Ctrl+Tab - it lets me pull up Flip3d from Tablet mode which is quite nice.
What is in the Value Added set? Also, can you please link to BIOS 3.10 for anybody who doesn’t have a copy, and to wherever it says Toshiba has discontinued support for the r25?
Thanks much.
Thanks much. =)
By jeffreycentex on Mar 11, 2007 | Reply
I had found this link at Tablet PC Buzz before the hacking - so have at it at your own risk…
Toshiba R25/M7 (Intel) 3.1 BIOS Download
http://rapidshare.com/files/17482582/bios_tm7_sr20_intel_v3.1.0.exe.html
The Value Added Set adds the Power Management, Common Modules, and other necessary system drives.
There is a Toshiba HDD Protection program that you can find from the M4/M400 downloads that adds the HD protection feature you need.
By Starmd on Mar 21, 2007 | Reply
That BIOS is not for an M7.
By Starmd on Mar 21, 2007 | Reply
Can someone please post or advise how I can get a copy of the 3.10 BIOS? I’d be most grateful!
By Dee on Mar 22, 2007 | Reply
I have just this day bought a R25 with the asumption and also the confirmation from Toshiba that it is Vista Compatible. I have been on the Toshiba web and downloaded all there downloads for vista and my machine is working fine. I dont know if I have done something wrong. Or…. if toshiba did the right thing and has put downloads for the R25…
Good luck to all
Dee
By Scott on Mar 23, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, I called Toshiba last night and they told me there was zero support for the R15. I’ve read that you can run Vista on it, just arrow buttons that are configurable in XP Tablet Edition wack out and (obviously) the graphics card doesn’t support Aero. It’s bull that they can’t try to help people (namely me) upgrade a computer they bought just a year ago and bought a friggin three year warranty. I guess that just means it’s time to get an M400 or an X60.
By Harry simkiss on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
I am advised by my computer to contact toshiba regarding acompatability problem between my windows vista basic and my bluetooth cable & wireless 10m
can anybody help thanks Harry.
By Harry simkiss on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
installed on computer but compatability problems