Toshiba/Vista/DNS compatibility?
Submitted by mattsoy on Wed, 03/05/2008 - 17:58.
I've bought a second Toshiba Satellite with exactly the same system components as my first one: 2 GHz processor 2 GB RAM 150 GB hard drive. The only difference is screen size (15.4" as opposed to 12"). The other screen was making me blind. Both machines run Windows Vista and are loaded with DNS 9.5 Preferred and very little other software. I've had the smaller computer nine months, with no problems other than my distaste for the OS and 2007 Microsoft Word. But the new machine blacks out repeatedly and unpredictably in the middle of operation: the screen just goes black, as if the screensaver had come on but with no theme, and it refuses to come back to life until cold shutdown, all data lost.
The problem was so aggravating I finally had to return my computer to Best Buy where they swapped it out for another new one. But now this one is having the same problem!
What am I doing wrong? Did I forget to download some component that makes Vista and DNS compatible? What could be causing this problem?
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mattsoy wrote: But the new
But the new machine blacks out repeatedly and unpredictably in the middle of operation: the screen just goes black, as if the screensaver had come on but with no theme, and it refuses to come back to life until cold shutdown, all data lost.
I too have a Toshiba Satellite U205 , 12 inch screen and have had no problems. It is my suspicion, on the new machine something you're saying is being interpreted as a command for the system to go into sleep mode. Here are some of the things I would try:
If after removing these checkmarks, you do not have the problem, you will note that one of them is causing the system to recognize a command. You can always reenable these features one at a time to narrow down where the problem exists.
-- Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc. The best microphones for Speech Recognition Read, "Key Steps to High Speech Reco
mattsoy wrote: I've bought
I've bought a second Toshiba Satellite with exactly the same system components as my first one: 2 GHz processor 2 GB RAM 150 GB hard drive. The only difference is screen size (15.4" as opposed to 12"). The other screen was making me blind. Both machines run Windows Vista and are loaded with DNS 9.5 Preferred and very little other software. I've had the smaller computer nine months, with no problems other than my distaste for the OS and 2007 Microsoft Word. But the new machine blacks out repeatedly and unpredictably in the middle of operation: the screen just goes black, as if the screensaver had come on but with no theme, and it refuses to come back to life until cold shutdown, all data lost.
The problem was so aggravating I finally had to return my computer to Best Buy where they swapped it out for another new one. But now this one is having the same problem!
What am I doing wrong? Did I forget to download some component that makes Vista and DNS compatible? What could be causing this problem?
I would tend to agree with Marty except that I doubt seriously that it has anything to do with DNS.
You say that you can't get it to come back on. However, if it is going into hibernation or sleep mode, try just tapping the power button. Most Toshibas, when they go into hibernation or sleep mode, power up again when you tap on the power button. Don't hold it down or you will force a restart. Just depress it lightly and lift up on it right away. That should bring it back on if it's going into hibernation or sleep mode.
Otherwise, if the above works, then your system is set up to go into hibernation or sleep mode after x number of minutes regardless of whether you're working on the system or not. Change that setting and everything should work properly. Unfortunately, I don't have my Toshiba with me, or I would check it out and give you the exact settings that you need to change. Nevertheless, Marty is correct in that the settings are in the Power Options either from the systray icon or from the Windows Control Panel | Power Options. At least that's where they should be.
Chuck Runquist
Former Dragon NaturallySpeaking SDK & Senior Technical Solutions PM for DNS
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so." -- Mark Twain