Welcome & Introductions

[#1]

Just purchased a Satellite P500-6821 and am very pleased with its performance.  What an upgrade from the A75!

But I would like to keep informed about ways that I can enhance, upgrade (drivers?), and keep this system current and in good health.  Does anyone have a similar Toshiba laptop and can share what they have done with a new PC to insure proper and lasting superior performance?  Back up?

Thanks

~James

[#2]

Also, I need to create recovery disks.  How do I perform this task, what should I back up, and what type of disks do I use?  There are so many types of disks!!   Have Hitachi DVD-CD-ROM.  (new laptop P500-6821)

Thank you,

~James

[#3]

You need 3 or 4 blank DVD disk.  I wouldn't use ReWritables though.  You want to make TWO sets.  Keep one set in the laptop bag at all times as you never know when you'll need them.  Keep the other in a safe place either at home or in your office. 

See your User's Guide for information on creating the disks.  The guide is on your hard drive in Adobe Acrobat Format or can be downloaded from the Product Support Link at the top of this page. From what I can tell that information begins on Page 62.  It's part of the Recovery Process so it covers a lot more than just creating the disks.  I recommend reading the ENTIRE Guide anyway.  It's a self contained process so you won't have to make any decisions, just follow the prompts.

I'm assuming that you meant P500-ST6821, not P500-6821 so I'll go with that.  It's extremely important to post correct information as sometimes a single wrong character in a model number could cause catastropic problems if the incorrect bios or other file is downloaded and installed. 

[#4]

Hi, James! Welcome to the forums here.

Satellite P500-ST6821 

The specs for your new machine are at the link above.

The Toshiba drivers and utilities are here.

You should make the backup media as described in the section Creating recovery media, which begins on p. 70 of your User's Guide.

   Satellite P500 Series User's Guide

[#5]

Thank you for the information.  I am grateful.

This is an ST (satellite?) P500-6821.  It was "configured", as I chose to build a laptop that met personal specs.  Very fast machine!  I am pleased with its performance

I will go to page 62 in the online manual and follow the instructions for creating back-ups.  Thanks, again!  I was confused about the DVD's, however, as there are so many on the shelves.

Any more helpful suggestions?  Am kinda "in-the-dark" about many of the contemporary ways to keep a PC working well, and problem free.   

~James

[#6]

I went on a "dry run" for creating the recovery disks (do not have disks) >all programs>Toshiba>recovery, and when recovery was clicked (selected) it read "empty."  I  was hoping to see a prompt for creating the disks, but there was none.  Are there any other options for creating recovery disks? 

Thank you

~James

[#7]

Get a GOOD AntiVirus program installed and keep it updated.  AVG Free does NOT count as a good one.  If you want free then Avast Home Free or Avira Free are your best choices. 

Be sure to backup your data on a regular basis.  I recommend using an external usb hard drive if you have a lot of files that take up more than 16gb or a USB Flash Drive of 8 or 16gb in size if that can hold it all.  Flash drives larger than 16gb tend to cost as much as an external hard drive which is why I recommend that. 

[#8]

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abnjim6 wrote:

I went on a "dry run" for creating the recovery disks (do not have disks) >all programs>Toshiba>recovery, and when recovery was clicked (selected) it read "empty."  I  was hoping to see a prompt for creating the disks, but there was none.  Are there any other options for creating recovery disks? 

Thank you

~James

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That's because there wasn't any disk in the DVD drive.  The disk images are already created.  They just need to be burned to the disks.