Ok ignazatsatsonic I'll see if they have one - Toshiba that is only problem is the machine won't even fire up to do that, so am wondering how I am going to do it.
If I have to take it out problem is they will see that I have and maybe just void the warranty.
Burn the Hitachi test program to CD and boot from CD.
Hitachi Drive Fitness Test
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/suppor...2_v416_b00.iso
tests SCSI, IDE and SATA drives without overwriting data
Ok mate I'll give that a go and see.
Thanks
Well we had a a go eh? It starts as if nothing is wrong then the little stars come in > spinning circle > error message.
Meant to say set it to boot from the cd that right or not - it did last bit longer than usual but.....
Last edited by ICIT2LOL; 18 Jun 2011 at 01:38. Reason: Addition another ad
I'm not clear on your meaning.
Do you mean that you made a bootable CD as Karl recommended, but could not boot from it?
Or you did boot from it but could not run the hard drive test??
Or???
ignasatzatsonic
I stopped for a break and just before I left I opened up the laptop and thought I would try it again.
I held down 0 while turning on power and it went into it's usual starting up Windows and I then hit F8 to safe boot - and it came up with a black screen as it has done quite a few of times before and had some options - safe mode and a few others below. One of them I think was safe mode with debugging at least I am sure that is what it was was. I thought I would try that for something different and hit Enter and the list of files ran down - as before and stopped.
The screen now stayed black - just as it had done before but this time it did not go to that error message, doing nothing.
So I went for something to get something to eat assuming it would then shut itself off.
When I came back from tea the screen was blank and I thought well that was that.
I reached to close the lid down and touched Enter as I did and noticed it make a noise. On pushing the power on button - there it was ready for it's first setup just as it had done on previous factory defaults.
I have now entered through the set up process and am ready to install whatever - updates etc etc.
I don't have the foggiest idea what has happened - did the safe mode start with debugging do something or what? I shall now start attaching the router and do the updates and security.
But I am at a loss as to how this has happened after trying all day using different ways of getting it to boot - safe mode, rescue disk, that has always come up with that error result - any ideas?
But it is booted in Windows!!
I can't say what happened. I don't know much about laptops and it's tough visualizing what steps you have taken from afar. There's always a bit of unexplainable voodoo involved as well.
I'd run a complete hard drive test as soon as possible and generally keep my eyes open for any hints of problems until you are satisfied all is well.
Congratulations. Who knows what happened. These are computers, sometimes they have a mind of their own and just do what they want to.
Yeh essenbe I have no idea what has gone on I thought when I moved the highlight to that - I am sure it was the option that had something to do with debugging in it and selected and did what I did I thought what the heck have I got to lose??
After a very frustrating day for not just myself but also all those kind souls on here and my local forum the thing is up and running. However I am not going to hold my breath for too long as this is the 4th factory default and I suspect everyone is right and that my hard drive needs replacing.
However this time I shall be sending it back to Toshiba in Sydney I think because my local dealer is not such an understanding fellow - from past experience.
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