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The Toshiba T5200 system has a 386 processor running at 20MHz and is VGA capable, and supports resolutions up to 640×480 with 16 colors.

The T5200 and T5200C are siblings. The only major difference is that the T5200C has a color flat panel screen. The graphics adapters are the same, both systems are VGA capable, and support resolutions up to 640×480 with 16 colors.

Toshiba T5200 comes with either a 40 MB or a 100 MB hard drive. The system has a standard IDE interface to connect to the supplied Conner CP hard disk. The Toshiba T5200(C) computer is BIOS locked to specific hard disks, so one must use a special BIOS and a HDD overlay to upgrade it. If you try using a different hard disk, the computer will most likely refuse to detect and use the hard disk.

If your computer doesn't allow for a Hard Disk upgrade, you can program your own BIOS chip with the ROM files supplied below.

This system can be expanded with an 8-bit and 16-bit ISA expansion cards. Hence, you can alternatively purchase an XT-IDE adapter to add a hard drive, such as the XT-CF-MINI or XT-CF-Lite card to add a Compact Flash card as a hard drive. They usually run for $40-$60. You can find them on eBay. Check out http://www.malinov.com/Home/sergeys-projects/xt-cf-lite and https://shop.bluelavasystems.com/products/xt-cf-mini-bootable-8-bit-isa-cf-card-interface-xt-ide

Another option is to purchase an XT-IDE adapter for the Toshiba proprietary expansion slot. There is a maker on eBay that sells Toshiba type expansion cards with XT-IDE to allow many different types of IDE and CF cards to be used on the portable computer. Please see the following link for the sales article. 3inONEder: Toshiba Portables (affiliate link)

The same adapter that allows you to use the Toshiba proprietary slot connector for XT-IDE and custom hard disks also optionally allows to add audio (Adlib) and ethernet support (partially NE2000 compatible). Please see the following link for the item page. 3inONEder: Toshiba Portables (affiliate link)

The processor is upgradable to 486 (example Texas Instruments TI486DLC/E).

The computer can use up to 6 Toshiba proprietary 40 pin SIMMs to add more system memory. Standard configuration comes with 2 MB of RAM preinstalled. According to Toshiba, it is upgradable to 8 MB but 15 MB can be achieved. There is also a 30-pin SIMM slot for parity.

If you remove the rear panel, you will be able to access the ISA expansion slots. The computer has one 16-bit full-length ISA slot and one 8-bit half-length ISA slot. The system also has a proprietary 16-bit Toshiba expansion slot. One way to populate these slots is having a Sound Blaster 16 in the 16-bit slot and a 3Com Etherlink III (3C509) for networking in the 8-bit slot. The network card is a 16-bit card, but it operates in 8-bit mode when installed in an 8-bit slot. However, at least this site ¹⁾ points out, that not all newer 3Com Etherlink III cards support 8-bit ISA.

The computer can be upgraded with an math coprocessor (FPU). The FPU doesn't come as standard, but the computer has a provision for an added Intel or compatible 80387-20 FPU.

Lithium 3.6V battery.

Q: My computer gives me a configuration error when I turn it on
A: If the CMOS battery is empty, you will be prompted with the following error when you power on the machine.

Invalid configuration information - please run SETUP program
 Strike the F1 key to continue. F2 to run the setup utility

To get past this, enter the BIOS Setup, re-save the settings with the key 'End' to Save and reboot.

Q: How can I access the built-in BIOS ?
A: The computer will prompt you if it sees invalid configuration information. It will then allow you to enter the BIOS setup with the F2 key. If you have changed the BIOS battery, you can enter the BIOS setup with the TEST3.EXE BIOS setup utility. You will find it in the files section.

Q: I am still unable to access the BIOS.
A: When the computer BIOS battery runs empty, it will clear all BIOS settings and will prompt you to review the system settings on power-up. This may be used to your advantage to get into BIOS. To force this behavior, disconnect the clock battery entirely. Wait for a few minutes and power up the computer again. The computer will ask the user to review the default settings.

Q: My computer does not hold settings or time
A: You probably have an empty BIOS battery. The battery holds volatile information in a CMOS chip like information about your BIOS settings and system time. When the battery runs out, the information will be lost. You can still use your computer by going into BIOS settings and re-saving the defaults (see above).

Q: How do I replace the computer BIOS battery?
A: The BIOS battery header is located on the system board. The battery is traditionally tucked in at the back of the floppy drive. The correct voltage for the battery is 3.6V. There are two ways that I've seen the battery been replaced.

You can remove the old battery. Cut the leads at the battery terminals, and get a replacement battery, for example a ER14505 3.6V lithium battery, sold new at eBay and other sources. You will also need a single AA battery holder for the new battery. Depending on your computer, your old battery might have included a 330 ohm resistor in line at the negative pole and you will want to leave that in place. In most cases your setup will look something like this:
[MB + ]—————-[ + ER14505 BATT - ]——–[ 330R ]—————-[MB - ]

Q: How do I upgrade the Hard Disk?
A: It depends on the BIOS version of your Toshiba portable (see below for instructions how to check the BIOS version). Most Toshiba T5200 BIOSes are restricted to specific types of hard drives. On boot-up, the BIOS queries the IDE controller for hard-drives. If an unsupported drive is connected, the computer will simply refuse to detect the hard disk. There are custom BIOS ROM's available in the Files section that allow for using other Hard Disk drives.

Q: The computer turns on, power LED lights up, but I have no picture or a noisy picture
A: This could be caused by many things, but the most common issue is that the laptop lid open/close switch is just stuck in the on position. The switch, which is located under the cover, next to the floppy drive uses a rather low-quality plastic piece that latched with the screen hinge and is designed to detect when the lid is closed, and will cut the power to the display accordingly. It engages whenever the lid is closed, and since it is near the power supply, a plastic piece inside the switch may slowly deform over time and may get stuck inside the switch. The symptom you will see is a screen that will never seem to turn on when you open the lid, or will have a noisy picture, due to the switch stuck half-on. If you cannot repair the switch manually, the easiest workaround is to just disable it by removing the plastic piece entirely. This will make the screen then stay on regardless if the screen lid is open. The gallery section on the T3200SX page may be helpful to identify the switch.

I have started selling replacement BIOS ROM chips for the T3200SX that have the hard drive limitation bypassed. I can also program BIOS chips for other types of computers, but I do not currently possess a T5200 to test the BIOS chips. If you would like to help test the chips, I can program one for you and ship to your address. I will need some help identifying correct part numbers. If you're currently in need of upgrading your BIOS in order to install a different hard disk, you can then use my BIOS chip to get around any limitations you may have with your current BIOS.

For more information, visit my BIOS ROM chips page.

Vogons - Toshiba T5200 mods and upgrades
ClassicBits.net - Toshiba T5200 system overview
ClassicBits.net - About the T5200 BIOS and mods

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