Nexxen wrote on 2023-07-06, 14:22:

Thanks mate! One thing I couldn't figure out (among many) is the connector model of the FDD connector. I could buy a new one and […]
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ediflorianUS wrote on 2023-07-06, 07:27:

Nexxen wrote on 2023-07-05, 11:42:

Quite some movement today! :) […]
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Quite some movement today! 😀

@snufkin: everything is welcome, this project is love and frustration! Mostly love though 😉

@ediflorianUS: the pictures are of a busted laptop, not mine, that I'm using for spares. It's all crusty and even some pins of the chipset ICs are rotten and gone... I just need the courage to get back to it - 🤣
Yes, I think I have the same manual, unless by "service CD" you mean the schematics: that would be awesome x10²⁵.

Now I feel compelled to restart repairs 😀

just wait till I check at least the name of the cd.... and see what toshiba's lurking in my collection.

Thanks mate!
One thing I couldn't figure out (among many) is the connector model of the FDD connector. I could buy a new one and make a cable.
My old project is to have a normal FDD as an ext drive.
Well, I'm not fretting over anything, take all your time.

It's a standard Japaneze FDD connector usually used by Toshiba/Fujitsu/NEC and other japaneze production stuff , it's from mid 90s
someting like this for the external :
https://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Floppy_Connector

will search for internal also. (L.E> it seems to have a Interface .ATAPI (Enhanced IDE) port...) - sadly I cannot find the internal flexible cable configuration anywhere

LE. here (photos)

I found the repair service manual's Named:
Toshiba Atlasi CD 1995 iso
Toshiba Atlas CD 0497 iso

link main page
sn readme
and a few more stuff here :
https://www.minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Toshiba/Toshiba.htm

Video of the POST sequence.
I'm using a generic card found in the usual places.

Stops at 55 displaying KBC ERROR on screen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvE0oTv7oKY

Just to add a bit of something 😀

Replaced the 187HF and now it stops at 5A with blinking cursor.

Now I get these two messages at power on.
If I reset it cycles to "blinking" cursor and code 5A

If anyone has a BIOS image for this laptop, please post. I can burn it.

Yes, I need bios version 6.3 to test it further.

I have a 3rd 187HP, I'll solder this one and see.

Any help here: http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1233&menustate=0

snufkin wrote on 2024-03-23, 16:02:

Any help here: http://vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=1233&menustate=0

Image is compressed, I can't burn it directly.
I have to switch to Windows.

Update:

I soldered the PS2 connector and keyboard lights up, 3 leds, and when it stops at 5A, numlock is lit and can be pressed to change state.

I left for a few minutes and came back to (see pic) and I could press keyboard keys to move forward (F1 to BIOS).

Sequence:
1. Power on
BIOS issue, diskette to flash

2. Reset
cycles to blinnking cursor
-- 2/3 minutes wait
Bad RTC battery
Bad check sum (CMOS)
Check system. Then press [F1] key. (blinking cursor)

3. F1
BIOS

4.
Reboots
Self Test
Memory Test
linking cursor
(pause 3-5minutes)

5.
Insert system disk in drive.
Press any key
(if FDD 1st in bios it'll loop with no message but a cursor)

Replacing the 187HP did the trick.
I still have issues with the bios asking the update.

I have to power it off etc but I can do something about it now.

Nice, so does that mean you've got two probably broken 187hp and one working? I'm hoping that's the one I sent...

That .exe is a self-extracting zip, looks like you can just unzip it. It includes a few files, including a couple of files that can be just be put on a 720kb floppy which can then be used to update the BIOS without needing to create a disk image. Might need to use the laptop keyboard as it need F12 working.

Now it refuses to POST...

I'm about to pass it someone else. 🙁

Won't work anymore.
Project terminated.

Damn. Feels like it was sort of close, but also a possibly endless 'just one more thing'. Blame hidden battery damage, that's what did for the one I had.

snufkin wrote on 2024-03-23, 21:04:

Damn. Feels like it was sort of close, but also a possibly endless 'just one more thing'. Blame hidden battery damage, that's what did for the one I had.

Powering on, w/o a vid card, POST codes go:

FF 00 FF and stops

Now it stops with the vid card like w/o. Go guess if it is the vid card or what was involved.

All this happened after I plugged in the sound card + HDD board back in place.
Was it that? At this point I'm moving everything in the basement and forget it exists.

IDK if I have to pass it on to some kamikaze of the Toshiba tribe or sell parts.
Maybe it's just a cap misbehaving...

Absolutely beyond my abilities.

A big thanks to everybody, thank you Snufkin for the kind donation and let's aim to something less troublesome 😀

Last thought:

ok, they are nice laptops but if something fails and it is not obvious and available, it's just a pile of tech trash to dispose of.
Repairability is nil IMHO.