Got a head scratcher...

[Panama Red]

Toshiba Portege M205-S810 has a problem. Finally got SP3 to install and got the "Failed" notice on Windows Updates. Tried all the known fixes and for some reason, this one just won't respond. So I figured I'd reformat the dang thing and start fresh. Saved all the files, favorites and OE emails and prepared to use the Toshiba restore disk. Low and behold, this model does not have a built in CD drive, only an external one. Then I discover the Recovery disk is a DVD and the external drive the customer has is a Liteon CD-RW - won't play DVD's. Easy fix, me thinks, grab a new DVD drive out of the parts cabinet and fit it in the external case. Drive is immediately recognized and I can access the Recovery DVD. However, the drive is not recognized in the bios as a boot device. I've had about enough of this thing. I see it about every couple months with some nusiance issue - now this! I turned off Windows Update and packed it up for return to the customer.....But I thought I'd throw this out for discussion cuz I'm sure it'll be back again and next time I'm nukin' this puppy somehow!

[glc]

The customer has to buy the Toshiba external DVD drive. That's the only USB it will boot to. Been there and done that with an old Acer tablet. Only the (expensive!) Acer drive will boot.

You sure that POS doesn't have a recovery partition?

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by glc The customer has to buy the Toshiba external DVD drive. That's the only USB it will boot to. Been there and done that with an old Acer tablet. Only the (expensive!) Acer drive will boot. You sure that POS doesn't have a recovery partition?

Couldn't find any other partitions, g. What makes the Toshiba external dvd drive so special? I think the external drive she has now is one that come with the pc when it was purchased new. It's a simple ide to usb conversion unit.

[glc]

No, it comes with a laptop type DVD/CDRW combo drive in a small housing. It runs on USB power at low speed and has a small AC adapter to run it at full speed.