Installing Vista Ultimate on M70-SR3 Laptop

[Jefferson]

While searching around the net for solutions to installing Vista Ultimate on my 3 year old laptop, I noticed Domando1069 has installed Vista on that very same machine. Therefore I would like to ask a few questions about the installation. I will get Ultimate because Microsoft is offering it to students for $70 in Canada next month.

First my specs:
Toshiba M70-SR3
XP Home SP3
Pentium M 740 1.73GHz
1.5Gb DDR2 @533 Ram
100GB SATA @5400RPM Hard Drive
Intel 915 GMA 900 128MB shared videocard (won't run Aero, not a problem)
Matashita super multi DVD-RAM
BIOS ver 1.10

First of all, Toshiba has issued a 5.1 BIOS release for Vista. Is this an absolute requirement to install Vista? I don't feel like risking a BIOS update if I don't need to.

Second, If I do a clean install, will Vista automatically find updated video and sound drivers or will I need to manually install them after installation? Or should I just do an upgrade?

Its been a while since I've done a non-OEM restore install and that was installing Win98 retail.

Thanks for your help,

Jefferson

 

[CASPER]

Click Domandos1069 name and give him a visitor message he will help you out....

 

[Domando1069]

Jefferson
Yes I updated my bios, second I went to Toshiba's web site and downloaded the vista drivers.
But I found that the card reader didn't work after this, but everything else did.
I don't recomend a upgrade, I did a clean install, and then I did a second clean install. Yes I installed vista twice. everything worked good.
About a month ago, I got tired of vista, because I like xp better.
I flashed my bios with the old one, Toshiba doesn't recomend this, but I did it anyway. I reinstalled xp and everything worked, even my card reader. My honest opinion, put Vista on if you want, but personally I am a xp man. Hope this helps, sorry for the delay in getting back to you, but been busy. Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jefferson]

Thanks for the info. Vista is nice, but I don't need to be losing my card reader. Forget just the ability to view pictures and files, I was going to use it for readyboost. With full XP support through 2014, recent news that Microsoft may be ready to scrap Vista potentially next year, there's no need for me to upgrade.