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--- toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t5200 [2025-05-08 17:39]
omolini [More ideas for troubleshooting]
+++ toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t5200 [2025-06-17 16:48] (current)
omolini [Questions and Answers]
@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 | **Operating System**         | Toshiba MS-DOS 4.01 \\ Toshiba MS-DOS 3.3 \\ OS/2 1.1 \\ T/PIX 2.1 (AT&T UNIX System V/386 R3.0 (option) |
-===== System Expansion =====
+===== System Upgrades =====
 ==== Hard disk ====
 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.
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 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]]
+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. You can find them on eBay or [[https://www.texelec.com/|Texelec]].
 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. [[https://ebay.us/GO0Sk2|3inONEder: Toshiba Portables]] (affiliate link)
+Please see the following link for the sales article. [[https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=3inoneder|3inONEder: Toshiba Portables]]
 ==== Audio and ethernet ====
 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. [[https://ebay.us/GO0Sk2|3inONEder: Toshiba Portables]] (affiliate link)
+Please see the following link for the sales article. [[https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=3inoneder|3inONEder: Toshiba Portables]]
 ==== CPU upgrades and overclocking ====
 The processor is upgradable to 486 (example Texas Instruments TI486DLC/E).
@@ Line 66: / Line 64: @@
 ===== Questions and Answers =====
+**Q: What is the PRN-A-B Switch on the side?**\\
+**A:** Toshiba offered an external 360Kb disk drive as an option. This plugs in to the parallel port connector but is not a parallel device. Setting the switch to PRN enables the printer port, setting it to A tells the machine there is an external disk drive and you want it to be A drive. Setting it to B tells the machine there is an external disk drive and you want it to be B drive. Setting it to A would allow you to boot 360Kb boot disks.
+Unless you have the Toshiba external floppy – always set this to PRN. ((Source: http://baudband.net/?page_id=88))
 **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.
@@ Line 80: / Line 83: @@
 **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**\\
+===== System Maintenance =====
-**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).
+==== BIOS clock battery replacement ====
+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. To replace the battery,  do the following:
+Remove the old battery by cutting the leads at the battery terminals, and get a replacement battery ER14505 3.6V lithium, sold new at eBay and other sources. You will also need a 1x AA battery holder. If you cut the leads at the battery terminals, you should have been able to preserve the in line 330 ohm resistor at the negative pole and you will want to leave that in place. Solder the old battery wire to the battery holder and place it where the old battery was, right behind the floppy drive. Alternatively, you can use any 14500 3.6V lithium battery as the clock battery. In any case, your setup will look something like this:
+<code>
+[BATT +]----------[+ ER14505 -]---------.
+[BATT -]-------------[ 330R ]-----------'
+</code>
-**Q: How do I replace the computer BIOS battery?**\\
+==== Hard Disk upgrade ====
-**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. \\ \\
+The upgrade method 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.
-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? **\\
+===== Troubleshooting =====
-**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.
+**SYMPTOM: The computer turns on, power LED lights up, but I have no picture or a noisy picture**\\
+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.
-**Q: The computer turns on, power LED lights up, but I have no picture or a noisy picture**\\
+**SYMPTOM: My computer does not hold settings or time**\\
-**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.
+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 accepting the defaults (see above). See the troubleshooting section to replace your battery.
+===== Additional Troubleshooting Info =====
+The [[toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t3200sx|Toshiba T3200SX portable computer]] is similar in many ways to this portable computer. Since I own the T3200SX and have dealt with it's common issues, it has an expanded troubleshooting section. You may get additional pointers on how to troubleshoot this portable computer by checking out the troubleshooting section of the [[toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t3200sx#troubleshooting|T3200SX page]].
-===== More Ideas for Troubleshooting =====
-The T3200SX portable computer is similar in many ways to this portable computer, and has an expanded troubleshooting section. You may get additional pointers on how to troubleshoot your unit by checking out the troubleshooting section of the [[toshiba_t-series_support:toshiba_t3200sx]].
 ===== Replacement BIOS ROM chips =====

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