Wrong Machine" error when using restore CD's with Toshiba Satellite 1405-S171

[LABachlr]

I have a Toshiba Satellite 1405-S171 and I just installed a new 80GB 5400RPM HD. I inserted CD 1 of the restore CD's for this sytem, and it is giving me the error of "Wrong Machine." It obviously doesn't like the hardware change.

I tried downloading and using Toshiba's DMI Update Utility, but it did not work. It got it from here, and it lists this laptop as a compatible one:

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ngdgmm.0&ct=DL

When I booted from the floppy that I made with the above utility, it only gave me two choices for systems from which to choose my model number:

2400 or 2400-SXXX

OR

2405 or 2405-SXXX

One would think that the 2405 option would be the closest. Apparently, neither of them are, as I tried both of them, and I'm still getting the wrong machine error. And I was able to "sucessfully" update it via both model numbers.

What's the deal?

[Midknyte]

just checked the set. it should be the same for both of those models. hmm. what do you mean you only got 2 options? you're supposed to manually type in the model number.

this should have been the set you got: uuidw900.exe

Applicable Models: Portege 4000, 4005, 4010, 2010, 2000, 3500 Tablet PC, R100, M100, 3505 Tablet PC
Satellite 5005-S504, 5005-S507, 5005-S508, 5105-S607, 1405-S151, 1400-S151, 5105-S702, 5105-S502, 2405-S202, 1405-S152, 5105-S701, 5105-S501, 2405-S221, 2405-S201, 1410-S174, 2410-S203, 1410-S173, 5205-S704, 5205-S504, 1415-S174, 5205-S703, 5205-S503, 1415-S173, 5205-S5151, 2455-S3001, 2455-S306, 2455-S305, 1415-S106, 1410-S106, 1410-S105, 2410-S185, 1415-S115, A10-S129, 5205-S705, 5205-SP505, A10-S177, A25-S307, A10-S167, A25-S308, A15-S158, A25-S208, A15-S1292, A10-S1291, A25-S2792, A15-S1692, 5205-S119, A10-S1001, A10-S100, A25-S207, A10-S169, A10-S1691, A20-S259, A25-S2791, A20-S2591, A25-S279, A15-S1291, A15-S129, A20-S208, A20-S207, A10-S178, A15-S157, A15-S128, A10-S128, A15-S127, A10-S127, 1415-S105, 5205-S506, 5205-S505, 2410-S206, 2410-S205, 2415-S206, 2415-S205, 2410-S204, 1405-S172, 1405-S171, 5105-S901, 1400-S152, 2400-S252, 2400-S202, 2400-S251, 2400-S201, 5105-S608

this is the link. I'm pretty sure you need a tosh cert, since it is a non public download.
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ngdgmn.0&ct=DL

[Peter M]

The problem would rather be that the data needed for the restore are on the machine's original hard disk.

[LABachlr]

Thanks, Mid. I called Toshiba Tech Support, and that is where they directed me. And I was simply calling as their customer, not as a tech, and they still gave it to me. So, either they made a mistake, or you don't need to be certified. Btw, I called more than once and each rep referred me to the above link in my original post.

With regard to getting two options, when I made the floppy from the above download (link from my original post) and booted from it, it gave me a multiple choice from which I had to choose the series that was closest to mine:

1. 2400 or 2400-SXXX

2. 2405 or 2405-SXXX

3. Open the help file

First I read the help file. Then I chose #1 and updated the DMI string successfully, but still got the error. I then tried #2 and got the same results as I did with #1.

And I agree in that the 2400/2405 series is very similar to the 1405 series, as the BIOS download on the 1405 site states that it is the BIOS for the 2400/2405 series.

And I think it may be coming up with the 2400 series because there is now an 80GB HD in there. But, that's just a guess.

And the restore CD's have all the data for the restore. They would not be gathering any data from the HD when restoring. It was 3 CD's in all.

In any case, I actually just used an OEM Windows XP Pro CD and got the drivers from Toshiba's website, and all is good! The only reason why I opted to not go that route originally is because I had done that with the original HD so I could have a fresh install of WinXP Pro (vs. Home), and for some reason, the video driver got corrupt or something, as it was behaving as if it did not have the correct one installed (there would be trails of windows when you moved them around, etc.). So, I just thought that the video driver was not compatible with XP Pro, or whatever, as I tried uninstalling it and reinstalling it a few times.

However, when I installed WinXP Pro (SP1) this time, the video driver took perfectly! I think the problem had to do with me upgrading to SP2, and then going back down to SP1 because SP2 slowed the computer way down. This time, I didn't go near SP2, and it is smooth sailing. Thanks.

[Midknyte]

wow. that's weird that they would allow you to go to the non-public downloads. good for you, though.

The utility you used and the link I posted are two different things. The one I posted is older and straight from the tech "Atlas" site. Somehow your board already has the 2400 dmi and the new software is autodetecting the board improperly.

The DMI is tied to the motherboard, NOT the hdd. It's the same as HP's tattoo.

oh well. whatever works I guess.

[LABachlr]

Yeah, well I don't know if all those in India know everything about what we ask them about, as I was the one who actually found the link, and then confirmed it with the rep. She actually originally gave me a different link that was not the right one. But from what she told me, I was able to figure it out, google it, and find the right link (found it on another message board). I also then found it again by going to the support page of that specific model, and typing in "DMI update utility".

Thanks for the link, though. I would have used it if I had not been able to successfully install the video driver.

[LABachlr]

Hey Mid,

Are you saying that normally you should be able to upgrade the hard drive on a Toshiba without the "Wrong Machine" error message coming up?

I have a client who has a tablet PC who wants a larger hard drive installed. Not sure of the model number.

Is there any other way around the Wrong Machine error besides using the DMI update or installing the OS from a retail XP CD?

[LABachlr]

Midknyte might be busy, so if anyone else knows the answer, please post. Thanks.

[Midknyte]

If you don't use the toshiba restores, then you can load whatever. the DMI on the motherboard is to match the restore disc to the system.

[bruceb]

Why not just clone the old hard drive over to the new one either in another
computer or make an Image of the Old Drive, save it to another Drive,
then Restore it to the New Drive ... that should work with no issues at all.

[Suncat2000]

The technically correct way was to fix the DMI string with the UUIDW900.EXE utility (that allegedly supported my Portege 3505 Tablet PC). A copy of the link to this utility from an earlier post here is:

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...ngdgmm.0&ct=DL

However, I've been through this twice before and was never able to correctly generate the DMI string the installation process was looking for. I found a web posting several years ago that explained how to bypass this bug, but unfortunately it has since disappeared from the search engines.

Here are the steps I used:

1. Boot from the recovery CD and start the normal recovery process.
2. Continue the installation process until it fails with the "Wrong Machine" error.
3. Assuming your CD drive was mapped to Q: when it booted, at the command prompt (">"), type the following:
> Q:\BIN\OS.BAT

This performs the remaining installation steps following the machine test and starts the Norton Ghost utility that restores the hard drive image.

I hope this saves somebody else some time!

[Sterling_Aug]

Digging up a 3 year old thread.