Questions about upgrade: Home > Pro

[algraff]

I have been using XP Home on a Toshiba laptop for a couple of months and am not satisfied with it's performance, mainly having lots of problems with external video when doing presentations. I have an XP Pro VLK and am thinking about upgrading the laptop. Will upgrading wipe out the existing configurations? How about drivers and/or other installed software?

http://www.algraff.com

:

http://www.sunshine-church.org

http://www.stanleysauctions.com

http://www.bv.k12.oh.us

 

[bcastner]

The VLK upgrade will appear to work at first. But you will be forced to do a clean install to repair activation and other issues.

The only sensible upgrade path is to use a Retail Upgrade or a Full Xp Professional licensed CD.

 

[cdogg]

I don't know that upgrading to Pro will solve "external video" issues. It could possibly be a hardware or driver issue.

Perhaps you could post more detail on your PC specs, including video card make/model and how you are connecting your laptop to an external monitor.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[algraff]

Perhaps you could post more detail on your PC specs, including video card make/model and how you are connecting your laptop to an external monitor.

Toshiba Satellite 1135-S155
Intel 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
Configured for (1)Digital Flat Panel monitor (works fine) and (2) generic plug & play monitor.

My wife uses the laptop to do presentations at schools. She sets up the laptop and connects the video output on the back to the school's LCD projector. Eventually she plans to purchase her own projector...but we can't afford one at the moment.
There are over 250 different schools in her region, so there are plethora of different projector brands she's running into.

The way the computer is set up, you press the FN key along with F5 and it gives you a popup that lets you select from LCD screen, External monitor or both. I can set it up and have it working fine, but when she gets to the school building about 75% of the time it can't find the new projector...so her presentation goes down the drain.

She's not computer illiterate, but she's far from a tech whiz on these things and gets frustrated easily. If the school tech support person isn't around to tinker with it she ends up blaming the problem on me. Sigh...

http://www.algraff.com

:

http://www.sunshine-church.org

http://www.stanleysauctions.com

http://www.bv.k12.oh.us

 

[J741]

Changing from home to pro will not solve this problem. The only signifigant diferences between the two versions are the networking capabilities.

- James.

 

[bcastner]

Update the driver:

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scr...SFullName=Windows*+XP+Professional&submit=Go!

So you can use this:

http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel852gm/sb/CS-009064.htm?iid=graphics+852main&

 

[algraff]

Update the driver:

Ok, thanks. I will give that a try. Her next presentation isn't for a couple of weeks. Will let you know how it went.

http://www.algraff.com

:

http://www.sunshine-church.org

http://www.stanleysauctions.com

http://www.bv.k12.oh.us

 

[cdogg]

Also as a word to the wise...

Make sure your wife starts with both devices powered off. Make the connection and turn the LCD projector on first. Then boot the laptop and use the FN & F5 keys to switch. Some laptops are sensitive to the process and aren't truly hot-swappable.

You can try updating the driver, but if it works 25% of the time, I'm skeptical that it's the problem. But it doesn't hurt to do it.




~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[bcastner]

cddogg,

"Update the driver....

So you can use this:

http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intel852...;

"

Was the point. My wife had a similar problem and many times the Fn-# key sequence was confounding her. The driver update will give a GUI for changing display output.

I agree that connecting, and turning on, the projector prior to starting the laptop is a good choice; but if that does not work shut down both devices and turn the notebook on first, let it reach the Windows desktop, then turn on the projector and switch display output modes. There is no absolute right way to do this.

However it is being done now, 25% success rate is lousy.

 

[cdogg]

Yeah, I agree. All good points...

 

[algraff]

Yes, the sequence can make a big difference in the success rate. I gave her very detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to set up...and had her try it on a borrowed projector at home where it worked just fine. Next day at the school...nada. And of course the school's tech support person wasn't available to help her.

http://www.algraff.com

:

http://www.sunshine-church.org

http://www.stanleysauctions.com

http://www.bv.k12.oh.us