I gotta new Toy (laptop)

Well I finally did it. Bought a new laptop. Toshiba Tecra A7.
Specs as follows:
Intel Core Duo Processor T2300
1.66ghz 2MB L2 cache CPU with. 667MHz FSBus
60 gig SATA HDD (5400rpm)
15.4" (1200 x 800) XGA Widescreen
Radeon X1600 128mb Video memory PCI
1 GIG 533mhz DDR2 Ram in 1 stick. Max is 4 gig in 2 sticks.
Bluetooth EDR, Firewire, Express
5:1 Card Reader inbuilt
10/100/1000 Gigabit network Interface
DVD Burner drive,Super Multi Dual Double Layer
Integrated 802.11 a/b/g Wireless LAN
6 cell 4000maH Battery (up to 3 hours)
Windows XP Porfessional
Light weight from 2.72 kgs (around 6 pound approx.)
Lots of different ports
V92 data and Fax modem
Dual point Touchpad and Accupoint pointing devices
Biometric security with advanced Fingerprint sensor with Toshiba Fingerprint utility.
HDD motion sensor with Automatic parking of heads if HDD tilted unexpectedly
NORTON AntiVirus 2006 (with 90 day Subscription)---That's gotta go.
1 year International parts and labour. Australia and New Zealand warranty includes complimentary courier pick up and return service.
(Toshiba Authorised repair centre is run by a mate of mine who is a Computer dealer witha shop about 300 metres from my home.
(apparently warranty problems are 40% less than other TOshibas, which is a good thing)
Optional Docking station (Port Replicator with all the ports you can imagine).
Taken from the brochure. Not sure what it all about, as yet.

I've hooked up an external mouse and keyboard, so far. Bazza

PS: I've not yet installed Norton's (of course) and have a query on MS Office that appears to been half factory installed. Sraight out of an un-opened box< Program Files shows Office but none of the *.exe files so I don't know what gives.
Got Zone Alarm and Avast running, plus Spybot S&D, etc.

Swopped the 512mb RAM (one stick) for 1 stick of 1gig RAM with cash adjustment. Baz

Will start a Software thread later, if need be, re Norton's and "Office:.

Thought the fingerprint logon sensor was a bit of a gimmick but it appears to work. Baz

 

No Office CD found. Laptop was brand new out of the storeoom, still sealed, so it is a bit of a mystery. I'll probably install my copy of Office 2000.

No Norton CD either. Looks like Toshiba half install it as standard. Gotta investigate further on that one. Will start a software thread later.
Norton's shure spits the dummy if you try and install it with Avast on the PC, already.
Next step is to partition the HDD and allocate a new drive letter (Z) to the DVD. Bazza

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It is weird. A search using "NORTON" comes up with with 8 folders in various directories and 3 starting with Norton Anti Virus 2006. Also on the front screen is a shortcut to "Setup Norton AntiVirus 2006". I probably will have to install Nortons just so I can uninstall it. I will have to uninstall Avast temporarily to do this, but that is no problem. Norton does not show up in the Add/Uninstall list of programs.

All 11 folders show up under "TOSHIBA" or "TOSAPINS" main directories. Nothing under Symantec or Norton in their own right.

As to altering the drive letter on my DVD to "Z", that was really easy. Next step is to partition the 60 GIG drive and load up / reload, all my essential stuff.

I notice there is a small FAT32 hidden partition already. Have to investigate that further.

Toshiba, Synaptics and ATI load lots of processes on bootup, so they will probably have to be left alone. Bazza

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The small hidden FAT32 partition more than likely contains the files to make your recovery disks. A lot of computer manufacturers are doing this!

 

Thanks Novice, you are probably right. I notice if I try to do a backup it asks me for 5-6 CD's or 2 DVD's. Anyone know if if it is smart enough to use one DVD recordable double layer, instead of 2 normal capacity DVD's? Also it asks for a floppy diskette. Really great, Toshiba, when you don't sell laptops with internal floppies anymore. You'd reckon they'd have enough smarts to substitute a CD or DVD, or USB flash drive, for the floppy requirement.

Otherwise you've gotta buy/borrow an external USB floppy drive. Bazza

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Spot on, novice. Delving deeper I have found Toshiba have created a FAT32 partition with a volume name of HDDRecovery, (not A-Z, as is usual for volumes), capacity is 3.2gigs and free space of 742mbytes.

Is there any way to burn this to a DVD for extra safekeeping? My "60 gig" shrinks to 55.89 actual and now is down to 52.26 gigs after taking off the HDDRecovery partition.

Anyway of viewing the HDDRecovery partition? Just curious to see what is there. Won't try to edit/alter/delete anything off it. Bazza

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Shouldn't be any problem with the viewing. Open Windows Explorer, click on the Tools tab at the top, click on the Folder Options tab in the menu that opens, and click on the View button. There is an option to enable the showing of hidden files and folders, click it, and save/apply. This should enable you to see it in "my computer", but may require a reboot before working!

After you can see the files and folders, it shouldn't be any problem to burn them to a DVD. Not sure about the dual layer DVD question. Hope this helps!

 

Hidden partition does not show up in Explorer, even displaying "hidden files and folders".

From START-->RUN, type compmgmt.msc /s (press Enter), and it displays all DRIVES (whether hidden or not), under Disk Management (under Storage Tab). This is as far as I have got, so far. Bazza

 

RTFM, Bazza . "Office installation" turns out to be a semi-install of Microsoft Office OneNote 2003. Rang M$ to register it, went through the usual registration procedure, got a 42 numeric code (7 lots of 6 numbers, you know the drill) and it is up and running.

Apparently it is to synchronise Tablet PC writings, with laptops and PC's. Don't think I'll use it immediately. Try it out later. Lots of headings under lots of tabs covering lots of things.

Anyone using MS Office OneNote? Bazza

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Anyone got any ideas on this "NORTON" query. I'll ask over at the computer shop, if necessary, but I thought I might bring it up on MG (might help other new Toshiba laptop owners).

I think the only way I can uninstall it, is to install it first, because it is spread over 11 folders as per quote below. Anyone else with any other suggestions. Baz

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Mods, If you want to swap this Norton problem over to the SOFTWARE forum, please go ahead. Sorry, Bazza