Can't boot XP or from CD/DVD!

I have a Toshiba Satellite A60 notebook that i just recieved 2nd hand.

It will not boot the OS as it states invalid partition table.

I cannot use a recovery cd as when i try and boot from cd i get the error "No bootable cd in ATAPI CD-ROM".

My intention was to wipe it clean and install ubuntu onto it, both the windows xp disk i burn from msdn and the ubuntu installation disk work on my desktop but just receive the same old error from this laptop!

Here is a screenshot of the bios:
http://i33.tinypic.com/8xqw4w.jpg

Here is a screenshot of the booting erros:
http://i33.tinypic.com/1z18xl3.jpg

Please help
All I can think of is that there was a virus on it and the the dvd drive is broken or something.
Is there any way of booting from something else? Resetting the partition tables somehow or something? I'm at the end of my knowledge on the matter!

 

Oh and a page 2 of bios as well it seems:
http://i37.tinypic.com/2ltft34.jpg

 

Did the previos owner state any issues? Intermittant troubles? Can you still ask of any 'little' issues? Or more major ones?

 

I cannot exclude options, I have 6 set boot priorities available and have tried them all to no avail :/
HDD->FDD->CD-ROM->LAN or
FDD->HDD->CD-ROM->LAN or
HDD->CD-ROM->LAN->FDD or
FDD->CD-ROM->LAN->HDD or
CD-ROM->LAN->HDD->FDD or
CD-ROM->LAN->FDD->HDD

I popped the hdd out and back in and it seemed to make a good connection, though im not sure how to remove cd drives from laptops so i didnt do much with that in fear of breaking it

I'll ask her as soon as i can but she's not that technically minded tbh

 

Changing the date doesn't seem to make a difference, would have been nice if it did though!

I added a red splodge next to all the bits in the bios that are editable, and no you can't change that hdd listing:
http://i37.tinypic.com/2u5ur6s.jpg

Previous owner said it was overheating and shutting down frequently, unfortunately that suggests damaged parts to me
But the dvd drive always worked apparently.. hmm..

 

Hold down the C button when pressing the start button, as this is a Toshiba trick to force boot from cd .
The other thing is with the A60, if the cd drive is not fully inserted, or, the screw holding it is in wrong, it will not show. Try pushing the cd drive in as it starts- sometimes that works- I managed to get these A60's to boot from the cd that way.
Another thing with Toshiba's (and some others)- if the time and date is wrong it will be a problem- this will indicate that the cmos battery is low, and these are soldered in (not an easy job to replace)- To recharge the cmos battery, you need to leave it charging for 24 hours- if that does not work, cmos battery has to be replaced, if it is too low.

 

If it is overheating, then 10 to 1 the filter s bunged up, between the fan and the filter. Its properly cleaned by dismantling the laptop to get to it, as I find its usually a solid block about 10 to 15 mm thick.

 

No hard drive listed- check if it is connected properly- otherwise that might also be dead, as it should show in built in hdd.
I have checked this in one that I am repairing- as it had a dead hard drive.
Another thing- if the cmos battery is low, it will usually fail ti install XP, as I found many times when learning.

 

The first time I turned it on the date and time popped up and i had to input them manually, it had been turned off and without charge for rather a looooong time. since it didnt work on the current date i tried whatever it shows on that screenshot which didnt work either.

Still tells me "no bootable cd in atapi cd rom" after holding the c key and pushing the drive inwards.

I'll keep trying suggestions and leave in plugged in

 

Already tried making sure the hdd was properly connected, so maybe it is dead :/

How much do replacements cost?

Btw, anything to watch out for when opening up the laptop? Haven't opened up laptops before.

Oh and I know it will be the same, but I don't want XP, I want ubuntu

 

Where these play up. I try changing cd drives, but in the end I find it is usually a bad contact with these as it is held in by one screw- if it is not, and comes out without undoing a screw on the underside of the laptop- that will be the problem- these laptops all have different fixing tabs on the rear of the cd drive, and if its missing, you will need one its a b8 screw on these- if its longer it will knock out the keyboard section of the motherboard, and the keyboard will lose the use of the arrow and other buttons (I know because I inadvertently did it some time ago)
If it is loose, then if you keep trying, the motherboard connection to the cd drive will become damaged.

 

If you are going to use Ubunto- then theer are versions of Linux that you can use from the cd.-without a hard drive

 

IDE hard drives can be bought of ebay for around £10-£25 - depending if 10gb- 40gb
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....26155&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1468wt_1137

 

Before you try to open it up, try to see if the cmos battery will charge up- if it does not-then as I said, they are soldered in, and it needs a very good man at soldering - otherwise you will be wasting time and money. I have stripped and rebuilt sveral, , but I will try to comeback with a typical laptop strip, if I can , shortly.
TAKE IT APART INSTRUCTIONS
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA65/satA65_1.htm

 

I took out the hdd again and slotted in back in, but also managed to take out the cd drive (didnt realise the whole thing came out!), blew inside and slotted that back in - now instead of saying "Invalid Partition Error", it states "Press any key when ready....".
It had the screw so no need to worry about that.

It's nice that something's different, but i still can't boot from the hdd it's just a friendlier message.

I would be ok with running linux off a disk, though happier with it running properly from the hdd... but first i need that strange "there's no bootable cd in atapi cd-rom" message to go away.

Really appreciate you helping me

 

How will i know if the cmos battery was successfully charged?

I can change the date and it sticks as whatever i enter it as if that has any relevance

 

Yes, if the date stays correct, then the cmos could be recharged- you can tell if you left it off for a few hours then checked again.

 

If it still will not recognise the cd, then it might not be fitted snugly-
remove battery before removing anything- remember that.
Remove cd drive, and if you have a clean small paint brush, gently brush the slot at the back of the cd drive, and replace- - be sure that the screw is located in the hole in the rear of the cd rom, as it is easy to miss it- if it does not locate properly, it will not work efficiently.Look for the metal sliding over the screw hole to be sure- and make sure its a b8 size- no longer.
Got to go now, got company- good luck.

 

Thankyou again, I was actually given an older model satellite at the same time and tried swapping the HDDs, the HDD from the old machine worked perfectly and loaded up with "ARK LINUX" (which I am REALLY unfamiliar with) so it seems the other HDD has a problem.

The CD-ROM drive still doesn't function however and I will try what you suggested later as I also have to go

 

Tried brushing it out - no luck.

I guess it's possible that both the hdd and cd-drive could have failed, i just really never saw that as likely and hoped there was software problems, dodgey connections or something relatively easy like that :/

 

If the other laptops dvd/cd drive is similar, you could take the cd/dvd drive out of the other laptop, and change the connecting tab at the back of the dvd/cd drive.to fit into the A60, to see if it then detects the cd. But just lay them together the same way up so that you put the connecting tab i the correct screw holes- and mark where you took the other connector off, for refitting, later, unless you leave it in the A60.
The front bezel needs to be flat as is the A60- they are easy enough to change, but, sometimes the little clips will break- so be careful, if you try that

 

A60 is a DVD drive and the 2550CDT is a CD drive, though that wouldn't bother me much but ubuntu 10 is bigger than a CD!!

It would still be nice to just have XP or puppy linux or something on the laptop however, the problem is i have no idea how to take out the connector screw for the 2550:
Piccy:
http://i35.tinypic.com/2vcxhqq.jpg

Need to buy some new CDs actually I don't have any spare.