Where is the best place to sell a high spec (3 week old) laptop ?

Ady2009

Ady2009

Ady2009

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Joined
4 Feb 2009
Posts
110
Location
Derbyshire
Hi all

I was hoping that some of you might be able to offer some advice. I work as a CAD user which natuarly requires high spec graphics card and 3 weeks ago I bought a new Toshiba Qosmio F50-10Z laptop and was really happy with it. However, when I tried to install the CAD program that I use for work on it, it refused and it turns out that the program is still not compatible with Windows Vista. I have made enquiries about getting Windows XP installed on it instead and have been told that the XP drivers are not available for it and the spec of it really needs Windows Vista. I have since put it back in its box and left it there. I am no looking into buying a business laptop with a XP downgrade license but I need to sell this one first.

I have tried advertising it in my local free ads but I get the impression that I am not reaching the right people. People have told me to advertise on ebay but I have never advertised on there before and have been told that I am unlikely to sell anything unless I have a good selling history (seems like a case of the chicken and the egg).

Any ideas anyone ?. Should I try and risk ebay ?.
 
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if you are planning to sell/buy on these forums, both parties need to have members market access (90 days membership, 250 post and activated trust).
 
thepeganator said:
You can't access the member market until 250 posts and 3 months here.

But that auction site (with a reserve) might be an idea.
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How do you go on without a having any seller history ?, somone has said that I am likely to be targeted by scamsters if they see I have only just joined. I can't afford to take the risk with this amount of money. Does anyone know the best way to stay safe ?
 
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reflux said:
I doubt that there are no drivers available for that laptop and Windows XP.
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I have looked on the toshiba website myself and there is only drivers for Windows Vista 32 bit and 64 bit versions. I also read a post somewhere where someone had managed to get XP on a Qosmio F50 but the power was all messed up and eventually had to go back to Vista, he said he though that is was something to do with VISTA and the BIOS ?. If a computer pro can't get XP on one of these then I certainly don't stand any chance.
 
Not meant to mention the name, I would edit that out.

Could say pick up only, could not accept paypal, cash on collection or cleared cheque.
 
I've been trying to read around the e thing rules and they say that you must accept paypal for all purchases except cars, boats and houses. How do oyu get the money back out of paypal after ?

What are the common tricks that the e thingy scammers go for ?
 
Ady2009 said:
I have looked on the toshiba website myself and there is only drivers for Windows Vista 32 bit and 64 bit versions. I also read a post somewhere where someone had managed to get XP on a Qosmio F50 but the power was all messed up and eventually had to go back to Vista, he said he though that is was something to do with VISTA and the BIOS ?. If a computer pro can't get XP on one of these then I certainly don't stand any chance.
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I find that rather unlikely. Operating systems are rarely tied into the lower levels. The only example I can think of is where the computer uses an EFI instead of a BIOS, like with Mac OS on Intel Macs. Can you link me to that thread?

Drivers should be available through Windows update or some rooting around the internet.
 
reflux said:
I find that rather unlikely. Operating systems are rarely tied into the lower levels. The only example I can think of is where the computer uses an EFI instead of a BIOS, like with Mac OS on Intel Macs. Can you link me to that thread?

Drivers should be available through Windows update or some rooting around the internet.
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This is the link to the toshiba drivers page, If you can see something on there that I can't then I would be very grateful,

http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....action=search&teddProduct=806&selShortMod=763
 
I found your thread at the Toshiba support forum....

http://forums.computers.toshiba-europe.com/forums/thread.jspa?threadID=40428&tstart=0

It's difficult for me to say, because obviously I have no experience with the laptop in question, but it seems they're talking a load of nonsense to be honest.

The only drivers you should actually need are video, sound, chipset, LAN and wireless. Video drivers can be easily downloaded from the Nvidia website as suggested, as well as audio and chipset from the respective manufacturer's websites. Apparently the laptop has other functions such as bluetooth and fingerprint reading; not vital but I expect there are XP drivers available somewhere.

It just seems a bit of a waste of your time and money to sell on a laptop that most likely is still suitable for the job. Like I said, I'm no expert on Tosh's, but I've never heard of a PC that wouldn't take an install of Windows XP :)
 
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Hi

I had been given the advice that I could use other drivers but I has also read a post somewhere that someone who had do it had experienced a power problem. When the laptop was run off of AC it thought it was on battery and when it was on battery it thought it was on AC. He said he never managed to resolve it and went back to vista as a result. It it this problem that put me off.
 
As already mentioned, I am fairly sure you could get it up and running 90% on XP, you might have some trouble with getting things like the quick access buttons and maybe bluetooth (depending on the module used) to work though.

One other option you do have, depending on how demanding your CAD software is, you could run an XP virtual machine from within Vista, and run the CAD software in that. You will see a performance drop, but as I say, it depends how demanding it is I suppose.

This way Vista will be the OS directly interfacing with the drivers and controlling the power managment etc, so it should work fine in this regard. Although I think XP will work ok anyway.
 
I take it you've yet to try installing it using the compatability mode? Just getting to grips with vista myself and my old xp only progs are running fine installed that way. Just right click the installer and select compatability mode then choose xp. If you've already tried this I do apologise.
Further note, I'd edit/delete the posts where you're advertising in this thread before you get a suspension.
 
End Creditz said:
I take it you've yet to try installing it using the compatability mode? Just getting to grips with vista myself and my old xp only progs are running fine installed that way. Just right click the installer and select compatability mode then choose xp. If you've already tried this I do apologise.
Further note, I'd edit/delete the posts where you're advertising in this thread before you get a suspension.
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Hi

I've done a fair bit of research on the topic of this CAD program now and it seems to be a stuborn one which refuses the compatability mode and everything. The sole purpose of the laptop was to run this though.

I think I've edited the posts to be safe. Let me know if there is anything else thats suspect. I get carried away sometimes when I'm typing, a bit like i'm chatting away to someone without really thinking.
 
Yeah looks fine. I just remember having a few probs installing autocad on my dads old laptop till I installed it using compatability mode.
Which CAD software is it? Maybe have more luck if someone else in the CAD side of things reads this and has relevant experience ;)
 
What CAD sofware is it, i cant think of many that arent compatible and i'm fairly well connected in the CAD world ;)

EDIT: Ady2009 - drop me an email on simon(at)so3d(dot)net and i will see what i can do to help.
 
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