Toshiba Satellite bios quits

This laptop running WindowsXP was given to me to see if I could fix it. I assume it has malware because kids used it and I don't think they were very careful. When I first tried to boot it I could get to where I have the option of going to Setup, or selecting a boot device. I set the boot device to the cd drive and made an Ultimate Boot CD in another computer to try. The ubcd was used to boot another computer so I know it works. The Toshiba would not boot from the CD and now when it gets to the option to go to Setup, or Select a boot device it shuts down after about 3 or 4 seconds.

I doubt that they have any backup disks or restore disks for it.

Is there any hope for it at this point. I'm not going to put any money into it myself. I don't see any way to boot it up to do anything anymore.

TIA,

Jim

 

I am back where I started when I first got the laptop and forgot to mention. The first message I get when I try to boot it is that there is:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

Then it says if I have the original Setup CD I could try doing a repair. But I don't have that. I did try my WindowsXP cd from another computer and it wouldn't boot the laptop.

Jim

 

Do you have the original installation disk that came with the dell computer? It sounds like you have a corrupt system driver and need to repair the computer with the original disk. You could also try to error check the disk if you are able to get into safe mode or a dos prompt. (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265)

BTW, do you hear any odd noises coming from the hard drive?

 

No, I don't have the original disks. The owner was going to look, but he doesn't seem to know where they would be. There are no sounds coming from the hard drive. This is a Toshiba laptop, not Dell.

I tried another windows XP disk to see if the laptop would boot from it but it didn't. I don't see why it shouldn't. But I could easily be wrong.

I just tried booting to safe mode and I get the same message that a file is missing or corrupt. I think I need the original disks.

Thanks for the help.

 

Ops, meant Toshiba. They also have restoration disks available when the computer was purchased. The previous owner might have them.

Toshiba doesn't have a restore portion of the hard drive. However, there is a shortcut key that will be needed if the original owner has the CD's. The shortcut key will be written on the CD sleeve, CD case, or on the CD itself.

 

Which model number Toshiba laptop is this? We should check the user's manual to see if there is a recovery partition available.

Perhaps there is something wrong with the CDROM drive?

 

All I can find for a model is P15-S479 on a tag on the bottom. Does that help?

I'm not sure about the CD drive. The ultimate boot cd can be difficult to get working if what I have read is true. Especially in Toshiba laptops. It could be a problem with the CD. But then the Windows CD should probably work.

I also tried booting the ubcd from an external CD/DVD drive. I'm not sure if it should work or not. It didn't.

Just googled the model number. The laptop first came out in 2003. OS is Microsoft XP Media Center Edition. I don't know about a partition yet.

Thanks,

 

Yes, that model number helps out a ton. Here is the link to the product and the documentation to the product.

Link: Toshiba Support

Again, there is a Recorvery CD per the index of the manual. Toshiba, Gatewary, and Dell 9 times out of 10 do not include the recovery software on the hard drives like some manufacturers do (example: HP)

There is a bio's update in 2006 that you should apply first since you feel the bios are messed up. Try that and let us know what happen.

 

Do you think if I had a bootable CD that I could boot this laptop from an external CD/DVD writer? As a last resort I wouldn't mind formatting the disk and installing a version of linux on it. Or could someone tell me the best way to do that with this laptop in the shape it's in?

 

Affirmative: the machine should boot from an external optical drive, if the internal drive is damaged...since you do have an XP disk, you should be able to access the Repair Console if the laptop will boot to the disk, from which you can run a chkdsk /r, fixboot, fixmbr, etc...

I'd suggest trying that first, see if you can get the XP up and running, before wiping it out and installing a Linux distro: at least you should be able to tell if the optical is your only problem, or if you've got some other ghosts in the machine...

 

This is probably a bit redundant, but have you tried pressing the F11 key when first powered on? I have come across a few Toshiba's that do have a recovery partition installed, but you have to access it upon first power on and with F11 and sometimes Ctrl+F11. You can also try a boot disc called Hiren's Boot Disc if UBCD is hard to get going.

 

The laptop won't boot from the external CD/DVD drive with the WinXP disk from my desktop. The computer just hangs and nothing happens. I don't think it's the optical now with both not working. Could malware have infected it this far? I'm going to try Hiren's bootCD, but it probably won't work either. Without either drive booting I guess there's no hope of doing anything with this laptop.

Also tried the F11 key and there wasn't any response.

 

Are you even able to get into the bio's of the computer?

 

Yes I can get into the bios. I set the boot sequence there. I can also get to the menu to boot to safe mode, but it won't boot there either. That's about all the computer can do.

 

Definitely try another bootable CD. Hiren's would be OK but a live Linux distro like Linux Mint or Ubuntu would let you see how Linux would run on the laptop without actually installing. They have gotten very user friendly and you don't need to know much of any Linux commands. You could also get any data off it to a USB flash drive if you have one.

From the manual, Da Bell is correct, there is no recovery partition.

In BIOS have you tried disabling the HD in the boot order so it only has the choice of booting from CD? (I mean booting from the internal CD because I'm not sure it can boot from the USB CD drive)

 

I tried disabling the HD so it keeps trying the internal CD and it says there is a cable disconnected. Maybe taking out the CD and unplugging it and replugging it in might do something. How does that come out? There's a screw close to it I will try first. But that doesn't look promising. Not tonight though. I might have to lay off this for a few days now. Thanks for all the help so far. Have a great holiday if you're celebrating.

Jim

 

Have a great holiday!

I was thinking that you might have to move to disconnecting the DVD or HD to troubleshoot. Here is a quick guide that doesn't look too difficult. DVD and HD are not too deep in the laptop.

When you get back to this thread let me know if "The Toshiba would not boot from the CD and now when it gets to the option to go to Setup, or Select a boot device it shuts down after about 3 or 4 seconds." is still happening or was that just temporary.

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Just so you know the "loose cable" might actually be a faulty drive. I think the drive just slides in and out and fits into a connector. There is no actual cable that is visible.

 

I figure it's probably a faulty CD drive. But what else besides replacing it can I do. Sometime you get lucky.

After the Setup or Select boot device menu it goes to the Windows could not start message again. The time it got stuck at that point I think I had the external CD drive plugged in.

Wish I had a second laptop to steal parts from.

Have a great holiday to you too.