Laptop won't start up - please help

closed

Assuming the factory restore partition is intact, and the disk is actually ok (The fact that you are getting windows messages means the disk is not completely dead, and may not have any physical problems at all.), then the instructions are in post 43, put the disk back in the machine and try it, it takes seconds to test - it will wipe all data.

If the factory restore partition is gone or the disk is really faulty, heretoday may come up with a windows disk for you - see post 8

Spiggle

closed wrote: »

if you're sure all your data is backed up somewhere else, factory restore it (boot holding zero (0)), 10 minutes later, it will probably be working ...

Thanks closed,

The HDD is back in and I tried booting holding zero an it kicked into Windows Boot Manager giving me the option to choose an OS where W7 is the only option or run Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.

If I run W7 I end up back at the beginning again as in original posts. I tabbed to the diagnostic tool and it's currently running.

I'll report back when its complete.

Thanks again,
Spigs

Spiggle

OK, so as before no problems detected by the Memory Diagnostic Tool and ended up getting all the way back to the black screen/white pointer again.

Tried starting again using zero F8 etc but then tried with I think F10. Not really sure was just restarting and holding buttons down. (Can you tell I'm getting just a tad frustrated with this flaming machine?)

Anyway, I now have the following on screen and would be grateful for a translation/advice for next step please:

Edit Boot Options

Edit Windows boot options for: Windows 7
Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Partition: 2
Hard Disk: 19bd0b3a
[ /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN ]
Enter=Submit Esc=Cancel

I'm not sure I can change anything on this screen as the cursor (a solid white rectangle) is stuck after the 'N' of 'OPTIN' and I don't seem able to delete the apparent extra space before the closing square bracket, although I can back space delete.

closed

http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/support/items/faq/71

Spiggle

Thanks closed,

I've tried both of those options on the link - zero and inserting DVD (from post 8 image) together with holding down c on start up. Still end up back at the Windows Error Recovery page.

I also tried going through F12 to select the ODD to boot from but got the same result.

To be honest I could throw the damn thing out now I'm so frustrated with it.

As you didn't comment can I presume that the Edit Boot Options page is irrelevant too please?

Thanks,
Spigs

closed

how did you create the post 8 image disc, it needs to be burnt to a disc as a disc image (imgburn can do this), not as a file, otherwise it won't boot, and you need to use the F12 selector to get it to boot

what's the history of this machine, has anyone wiped the factory restore partition, any infections? Pressing the correct 0 key at the right time?

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/wont-boot-unless-i-use-edit-boot-options-f10-at/1bc8b9e8-dca6-491d-b5ee-06639ffdcbef

Spiggle

closed wrote: »

how did you create the post 8 image disc, it needs to be burnt to a disc as a disc image (imgburn can do this), not as a file, otherwise it won't boot, and you need to use the F12 selector to get it to boot

I downloaded and burned the image as advised in posts 8 and 15. I used the holding c and the F12 method to get the machine to boot from the DVD. I had none of the options as described in the page you linked me to but the DVD was certainly spinning whilst I had a 'Windows is loading files...' visual on the screen which once complete changed to the black screen with pointer yet again.

what's the history of this machine, has anyone wiped the factory restore partition, any infections? Pressing the correct 0 key at the right time?

The machine is a Toshiba - Satellite C660-258 Refurbished 15.6" laptop bought from Dixons in June 2012. It was on offer at £349.99 but they had an offer on which brought the price down to £297 odd. Nobody has done anything to it at all since I bought it. It is very regularly updated, scanned and backed up (although not of the recovery type I now realise) as I lost all my data in early 2012 and have been sensitive to another loss. No bugs or infections have been found or reported by either MSE or Malwarebytes and I keep the drive clean with Ccleaner.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/wont-boot-unless-i-use-edit-boot-options-f10-at/1bc8b9e8-dca6-491d-b5ee-06639ffdcbef

I'm going to try and edit that page from under F10, can't do any more harm than is already being experienced.

Thanks again,
Spigs

Spiggle

Nope that didn't work either.

closed

I used the holding c and the F12 method

holding c?

if you hold F12 only, you should get a boot menu, which enables you to select dvd

if you have another machine available, check the contents of the dvd, if there is one file on there, the iso mentioned in post 8, then it's not bootable.

if you have lots of files on the dvd, take the hard disk out, and keep trying F12 method until the dvd boots to prove the disc is ok

Spiggle

closed wrote: »

I used the holding c and the F12 method

holding c?

if you hold F12 only, you should get a boot menu, which enables you to select dvd

if you have another machine available, check the contents of the dvd, if there is one file on there, the iso mentioned in post 8, then it's not bootable.

if you have lots of files on the dvd, take the hard disk out, and keep trying F12 method until the dvd boots to prove the disc is ok

Sorry closed I wasn't clear. On the Tosh FAQs page you gave me a link for it said to boot from DVD by holding 'c'. That didn't work and so I used F12 to boot and selected the ODD from the setup menu. That also failed to get a positive result.

On the other page you linked me to, one of the solutions was to boot through F10 and delete the text I've noted above. That didn't work either.

There are 9 files on the dvd - 5 are folders (boot, efi, sources, support and upgrade), and then bootmgr and bootmgr.efi, autorun and setup.

Ok, I'll go take the HDD out again and try one last time.

Thanks,
Spigs