Windows 7

[lars]

Windows 7 installs on the Portege r200.

All the hardware works, except all the function "Fn" keys. For that, we need the driver "Toshiba Common Modules".

Unfortunately, when attempting to install that file / driver, a message tells us that the software is not compatible with the operating system [sic].

Toshiba has already explicited stated that any machine before 2007 will not be supported.

I am asking you to reconsider. I LOVE my Portege r200. I sill think it is the best ultraportable out there.... but in order for me to utilize it to its maximum, I need to be able to access those Function Keys.

Possible solutions:

Can i get in touch with a software engineer to see if he / she can customize that file so that it CAN install on a Windows 7 operating system?

[sivaguru]

I am also a very happy user of portege r200.

it will be very good if there is a workaround for this limitation.

when you say Fn is not working, is there any other way to at least to connect the laptop to a projector?

that is the bare minimum funcitonality that i need of the Fn keys.

i can adjust to not having the others.

[lars]

Perhaps a small fee would suffice? I'm sure a software engineer at Toshiba that develops or tweaks the original driver to have the Function Keys work / Toshiba Common Modules drivers install would be worth his while.

[jurek1980]

I activeted fn keys by instaling "Toshiba valueadded packege" from Portege R400. All the funcion keys works but there is a problem with LCD brightness. But Wirlees, wlan, touchpad funkction keys works fine. Fn+F5 - switching monitor also works but i had to try many Intel VGA drivers. Finnally i instaled  Intel 6.14.10.4764. I have only problem with brightness fn keys. It works - window with 3 step brightess shows, but there are now reaction when windows 7 works. The brigtness changes after reboot. But for me it is not a problem i allways use max brigtness.

[kixtosh]

I know this thread is not exactly new, but can I take it that this means that the R200 range will not "really" work with W7?

I have a R205-S209 with XP Pro, it's working fairly well on the whole, except for 4-5 minutes from pushing the power on button to a fully functional desktop (OmniPass is the last thing to load up on the task bar). Once it's started, it seems to work fine for a machine with it's obvious limitations.

I just ran the Windows upgrade tool, and it gave some very cryptic information about what may or may not be compatibility issues. Under the system section, only one issue is identified:

- Your current graphics adapter won't support the Windows Aero user interface. If you want to experience the benefits of Windows Aero, contact your PC manufacturer or retailer to see if an upgrade is available.

Under the devices section, four areas are shown as possible issues:

- Bluetooth HID port from TOSHIBA: We don't have compatibility information about this device.

- Bluetooth Personal Area Network from TOSHIBA: We don't have compatibility information about this device.

- Bluetooth RFBNEP from TOSHIBA: We don't have compatibility information about this device.

- Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family: We don't have compatibility information about this device.

Under the programs section, there are several useless issues (such as Adobe Acrobat 5.0 not being compatible):

- Bluetooth Stack for Windows by Toshiba: This version of the program will not work on Windows 7.

- TOSHIBA ConfigFree: This version of the program will not work on Windows 7.

- Alps Pointing-device Driver version 6.0.2.186: You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.

- Atheros Client Utility: You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.

- TOSHIBA HDD Protection version 1.01.07: You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.

- TOSHIBA Utilities: You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.

- Tweak UI: You may experience issues running this program on Windows 7.

Everything esle seems to check out as workable. If W7 won't work, I may try the future Long Term Support release of Ubuntu 10.04 in April, but there may be other issues with that (such as the fingerprint reader, although maybe this is not an issue since some of these devices are supported). Ubuntu boots up my old Portégé 3490CT in 75-90 seconds, so I have high hopes that if it installs on this machine it might yield similar (or better) results. I don't expect an ultra-portable to be a speed demon, but I'd love to get better boot times if I could.

W7 or Ubuntu 10.04 or neither? What say you all?