Laptop won't start up - please help

Spiggle

I've got to the select Language page, hooray!


What to do now please?

closed

Toshiba and their odd keypresses ...

ODD?

put hard disk back in, boot from dvd again

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/windows-7-recovery-environment-command-prompt/

startup repair

failing that run chkdsk under cmd prompt

--

you're sure you were pressing the correct zero key at boot, to attempt a factory restore.

Spiggle

Thanks closed,

ODD? Onboard Disk Drive???? That's the option beneath the HDD and above the (I think) Ethernet LAN boot options that come up.

Thanks for that link, I would get to the figure 1 screen, then get the Windows is loading files at the bottom of the page with white line (time) graphic, this was while the disk was spinning and green light flashing, then it cuts to either the original Windows Error Recovery age or the Windows flag that stutters, stalls and goes to black screen with arrow cursor.

I will try to do it with the HDD inside but I really think there is a problem on that disk. If it fails this time. I will get a new HDD and then try with that.

Yes, I'm absolutely sure I was pressing the right zero key.

Thanks,
Spigs

closed

Said it before, but you haven't proved there is anything physically wrong with the internal disk yet, so little point spending money replacing it until you do. All you have proved is windows isn't booting fully/properly, that doesn't mean the hard disk is faulty. If you can't boot off dvd with a hard disk inside, then a new hard disk isn't going to solve anything.

If you are getting the same screen as when you boot off hard disk, then the dvd is probably not booting, it's booting off hd. The screen should look the same as it does when you boot without a hard disk in, if you are actually booting from dvd.

As the factory restore button doesn't appear to be working, your best options at this point are to try the various fix/repair options the dvd provides, or format the hd, and reinstall windows - don't forget to choose Uk keyboard/locale. A possible alternative is to try the repair options provided by the paragon rescue kit, free download, burned to a cd/dvd. http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Back-Up-and-Recovery/Paragon-Rescue-Kit-Express.shtml rkfree.exe is the download, don't click on adverts. Even if it doesn't fix anything, it's a useful disk for rescuing data from unbootable systems in future, and could probably rescue any data you need off this machine before reinstalling

don't forget to create system restore discs and a macrium backup image and boot cd in future for all your machines, it removes all these headaches.

Spiggle

Right without the HDD in the machine, it booted off the dvd into the screens on the last link you gave me i.e. fig 1, fig 2 and fig 3. I then couldn't go any further as there was no HDD in the machine.

With the HDD in it doesn't boot off the dvd when F12 is held down or rather it appears to be giving me a 'false positive' i.e. I get the fig 1 screen from your last link, hit a key and then get "... a black screen with a white status bar at the bottom stating Windows is loading files.... After a while, the status bar will turn completely white ..." at which point the screen switches to say starting Windows and then goes to the black screen with arrow cursor! It does not load to a screen like figure 2.

So, what could be the problem if not the HDD?

I really do appreciate your help but I'm unwell and can't cope with all this going around in circles all the time. If necessary then I'll buy a new HDD and W7 software and see if I can start again with it but for me I need a new reliable machine.

Thanks for your help and goodnight,
Spigs

closed

It's starting to make me feel unwell too

Check there is no factory restore option under F8, advanced, in case Toshiba have put an odd factory restore method on this model

you have a hard disk, and a windows 7 disc, so replacing them at significant expense is unlikely to change anything other than your bank balance, you may end up going around in exactly the same circle.

have a poke around in the bios settings, to see if you can force the boot order to be dvd first, and if it still won't boot from dvd, download and create the paragon rescue cd, and try booting from that. If the dvd boots without the disk in, it should boot with the disk in if the same procedure is followed regarding keypresses and timings, although machines and odd bioses sometimes do unusual or unexpected things

samsmoot

I wonder if it's anything to do with the ACPI? Some Toshiba Satellites suffer from problems due to this. I can get more info if anyone thinks it might be something to do with that.

Spiggle

closed wrote: »

...
Check there is no factory restore option under F8, advanced, in case Toshiba have put an odd factory restore method on this model

you have a hard disk, and a windows 7 disc, so replacing them at significant expense is unlikely to change anything other than your bank balance, you may end up going around in exactly the same circle.

have a poke around in the bios settings, to see if you can force the boot order to be dvd first, and if it still won't boot from dvd, download and create the paragon rescue cd, and try booting from that. If the dvd boots without the disk in, it should boot with the disk in if the same procedure is followed regarding keypresses and timings, although machines and odd bioses sometimes do unusual or unexpected things

I will check under F8 closed, thank you. I think you mean the stuff under F2 by bios settings? I have already been in there and changed the boot priority sequence so the dvd is first but still no luck when the HDD is present. Please believe me, I am following the same key presses and timings.

If I do get a new HDD is the W7 image I have created ok to use to install as an OS then? I presumed it was only for repairing where there has already been one installed.

samsmoot wrote: »

I wonder if it's anything to do with the ACPI? Some Toshiba Satellites suffer from problems due to this. I can get more info if anyone thinks it might be something to do with that.

OK, thank you samsmoot but I have no idea whatsoever what the ACPI is. Anyone care to illuminate please?

Thanks again,
Spigs

HereToday

What happened at the point in post #45 when the HDD was in the external USB caddy? Have you used the possible solution to "The disk check could not performed because windows cannot access the disk"..?

samsmoot

Spiggle wrote: »

I have no idea whatsoever what the ACPI is. Anyone care to illuminate please?

This may help to start off with:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Configuration_and_Power_Interface



I don't know a great deal myself but I do know someone who does. Some links to user issues caused by the ACPI configuration may be available.


It will be a bit of bother so first it should be established that the ACPI may be a possible cause of the problems. I'm not sure whether it goes right down to affecting the BIOS. I guess that if this is a fairly recent problem it's unlikely to be the ACPI, as something would probably have been amiss from the start.


If it is the ACPI it may be fatal.