hello everybody-

i'm trying to reinstall the software on my toshiba satellite (which is off the warranty, so i'm told it will cost me $35 to ask them for help). because i blew my motherboard a few years back, i get a WRONG COMPUTER message when i try to boot from the RECOVERY cd.

i've downloaded a DMI update utilty and created a boot disk on a floppy, but when i restart it goes directly to windows rather than to the DOS utility where i'm supposed to be able to update my DMI values.

i have no idea why it won't work. the disk appears to have taken the information that it was supposed to have taken. is there a way to manually tell my computer to boot from the disk or is this a larger issue?

i appreciate any response :]Go into the bios and set floppy as the first boot device.2k_dummy -

my apologies. i'm ignorant re: BIOS and a google search has given me understanding only to the extent of it's wikipedia definition. this does SEEM to be the answer to my question however, and i'm very very thankful for that.

can i trouble you (or anyone) for a further explanation of how to manipulate my computer's BIOS?Watch the screen during initialization and should tell you which key to press to enter setup.gotcha. i know just what you mean. i should be able to figure it out from here.

if unsuccessful i'll be back soon :[

if successful i'll update in a few hours from my refreshed and rejuvinated computer :]ok now, that did work. it booted off the disk. another issue arises:

the DMI update loads and asks me select my model. i do so. then i get:

dmiset.exe unable to update DMI string TOSHIBA
dmiset.exe falied to write DMI data to machine
failed to update satellite 1905

when my motherboard blew, i took it to a computer repair guy because toshiba hung me out to dry. i recall he replaced the motherboard with one from the scrapheap.

i don't fully understand what a motherboard is, but is it possible my blown motherboard was replaced by a compatible motherboard not from the exact same series of satellites or even from another company? if that is so, is there any way to get my DMI values updated so i can use my recovery disks or is this a lost CAUSE?"Yep, if the mobo came from some other model, you are dead in the water. The DMI string applet won't work AND your recovery media will NOT work on a machine without the correct 1905 DMI string. Time to BUY a commercial copy of Windows"

this from JOHN of WUGNET in the compuserve forums. any thoughts?Quote

I blew my motherboard a few years back