*HB* - read the paragraphs thus marked.

In message , Paul
writes:
[]
At the very least, the recovery partition on the hard drive, puts
back the factory setup.

But, presumably, just by moving files around in the C: partition - the
recovery partition isn't big enough (by more than an order of magnitude0
to actually include a copy of Windows.

In addition, when you are prompted by the laptop
to make a set of DVDs based on the recovery partition, those DVDs
also return the laptop to factory state. The whole process should be
automated. The factory state includes copies of Zynga Games and
NTI Backup, stuff Microsoft didn't put there. The factory state means
all the OEM "added cruft" will be on C: , just like from the factory.

Presumably those DVDs _do_ include a copy of Windows, as well as all the
drivers that are specific to the hardware (and the Manufacturer-chosen
crudware), i. e. could be used with a new drive. Presumably also not
requiring activation.


Back to HB: the above is useful to know - that if he gets hold of a
retail disc he'll still be able to install and activate it using the
code from his sticker, but will have to go through 'phone activation.
If he gets the one Patrick's post of 2018-3-25 10*:43:0 is providing,
will he be able to use that _without_ having to go through
activation? (If he does, and all goes well, will it then nag him to
make disc[s]?)
If he installs from either of these (Retail or OEM-from-Patrick), I
presume the Toshiba special recovery (hold down 0 [zero] while
powering) won't work, though that's no great loss as it relies on the
drive not being dead and we're going to encourage him to image, aren't we.
(*hour may vary with timezone)

There is no sign the hard drive is healthy enough to do
a Factory Restore.

No. It _might_ be possible to image it using ddrescue, but (a) that's
probably flaky anyway and (b) HB [and I, for that matter] knows
insufficient about using ddrescue that instructing him how to do that
would probably be more effort than instructing him to just use the OEM
file that Patrick has provided for him, and getting the necessary
drivers afterwards.

*HB* - in fact, that's something he could be doing (on his working PC)
while waiting for his "cable" and new HD: download all the drivers from
the Toshiba site that relate to the hardware in the laptop: these would
include, at least, audio circuitry, video circuitry, probably wifi
adapter, and then maybe touchpad, keyboard, card reader if it has one
(many laptops do but their owners haven't found it!), fingerprint
scanner if it has one ... when I did a similar fetch-dump for this
machine, I got (in no particular order): user manual, bluetooth, bubo
assistant*, bulletin board*, chip set, config*, face recognition*,
HDD_SDD alert, Intel Management Engine Interface*, Network Device ID
Registry Setting Tool*, Online Product Information*, PlayReady PC
Runtime*, Rapid Storage Technology Driver*, ReelTime*, security assist*,
sleep*, Trusted Platform Module*, 3grf [graphics], assist*, bios*, eco*,
hddprot, regpatch*, USB. I don't know what a lot of those are - I
haven't installed the ones I've marked with *; I just thought it'd be
wise to download them while they're available, as I don't know how long
Toshiba will keep them such.

*HB* I'd get at least the (user manual and) the ones for audio, video
(graphics), wifi, bluetooth, touchpad if offered, card reader, and
possibly chip set and USB. If there's any choice, obviously make sure
you get the ones relevant to Windows 7, and that match your bitness (32
or 64). Also I'd amend the downloaded filenames (they're all .zip files
for mine) so you know what they're for, as they're not obvious: for
example, I now have
"[bluetooth] blt-mon-20100906153325.zip" and
"[fingerprint] fp-sw-20130515154751.zip" (and I've renamed to
"[!] userman-en-20100720091205.zip" so it comes at the top in Explorer).

*HB* If there _isn't_ a touchpad driver, I'd get the one from Synaptics
- they seem to make everybody's touchpads anyway, or at least their
driver (despite their warnings) has worked everywhere I've used it so
far.

Here is a potential list of the assets a new laptop owner receives.

Acer prompt - DVD \ Three DVD set that returns laptop with a brand
DVD \___ new empty hard drive, to factory state.
Activated,
DVD / and all drivers are installed already.

CD --- 500MB CD containing drivers. These drivers are
installed *after* a user does an
emergency Retail
DVD installation. This saves time when doing a
Retail install. You combine this CD, with your
Microsoft Win7 download DVD, if wanting
to install the
Retail version in an emergency.

_Could_ that (drivers) be extracted from the poorly drive, do you think?
(Though I'd get the drivers from the Toshiba website anyway.)


Microsoft prompt - CD --- 300MB CD for emergency boot purposes. Can be used
to restore a Windows 7 Backup, to a brand
new hard
drive. This boot disc can also be used to get to
a Command Prompt and do CHKDSK on a partition
needing to be checked.
So that one can be used EITHER to restore a backup (made to an external
source, usually a USB HD), OR to _attempt_ repairs on a poorly disc. OK?

That's a total of five optical discs, that a brand new laptop
will prompt a new laptop owner to burn, within the first two
days of ownership. The laptop should continue to prompt you,
to make the materials.

(Though I think it's only too easy to turn off the nag permanently, when
you only meant to do so temporarily.)

Failure to burn the discs means, if the hard drive dies, the
user has nothing.

Indeed.

The "Acer Prompt" in the above, makes *one* copy of the media set
for you.
Though I've often wondered _why_ they limit it in that way. (Maybe
Microsoft oblige them to.)
If you want assurance of having the info later, save
copies of the burned DVDs as a set of ISO files for later. By having

But _not_ on the HD inside the computer they were made on! But somewhere
else - external HD, or the HD of another computer, say.

multiple copies of the information, when an emergency situation
does come up, you'll have the goods.

Paul
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"... all your hard work in the hands of twelve people too stupid to get off
jury
duty." CSI, 200x