Windows 7 - Hard Drive problem

Recently i've been having some problems with the HDD startup, it dissappeared from the boot list on the setup utility and only come back to normal with several rebootings.
But now, even though it starts the windows 7 loading screen, it just stays black with only the cursor to move before reaching the "welcome" screen.
Now, I don't really care about losing all the information on the hdd, I want to format it (if this even solves anything), but with only the utility to work with I don't know how should I do it without getting things worse.
Any help or knowledge of what is going on?

Hello Lolai, welcome to Seven Forums!


First run the HDD manufacturer's diagnostic tools to see if there are any issues with the HDD itself, at this first link below.

Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities

If there's any data you need to copy-out to external media, have a look at this one.

How to Copy & Paste in Recovery Console on Windows 7 or Vista

To run a wipe (secure erase) of the HDD have a look at this one and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

Secure Erase / Wipe : Definition and Methods

Thanks for your quick reply!

I did run the diagnoser, and the trouble seems to be that "no memory manager is found"
It directs me to several options:
1st "program is loaded into conventional memory"
2nd "lookahead buffer is in conventional memory, sice in kb"
3rd "do not lend cache memory to other applications"
And "write delay is disabled, caching is write-though"

Ok, I'm completely lost now, what shoul I do next? What option is better? Is this a lost battle?

It would be very helpful to know what kind of computer we are dealing with.

Is this a desktop or a laptop?
Brand and model number?
How many hard drives are installed?
Do you have more than one operating system?

Please tell us your systems specs to the best of your ability.

What diagnostic utility did you run?
Did the diagnostic run for a while and then return that error message, or did the message appear right away?

It's a Tosiba Satellite C660 laptop, just one HD, one OS, about the specs I don't really know.
About the diagnoser, I used one from the page BFKid posted, so the Hitachi DFT and I think it didn't run at all in the end.

For a couple of days I've been receiving a message about some failure in the hard drive, but everything was running normally so I ignored it. Seems like it finally bit me in the bum.
Is that case, is hard drive repairable by my hand or would I need some pro to do it?

Without the HD Drive test.
IMO, you need to replace the HD Drive.

Did you make your Recovery Disk?



How to use Toshiba Recovery.
How to use the Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility

You can order Toshiba Recovery disks from here:
https://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...rification.jsp

If you are mechanically inclined, and especially if you can find a repair manual online, then replacing a hard drive in a laptop is actually quite straightforward.

But if you buy the replacement hard drive from a computer repair shop or even some of the big box stores they will install it for you, normally at a pretty reasonable price.

Time vs money - as usual .

I've never done a Toshiba before, but My laptop holds 2 hard drives. I just replaced both of them in about 10 minutes. It is usually a matter of 3 or 4 screws and you are done. Your manual should give you instructions of exactly how.

It just seems like a waste of a hard disk, the laptop is quite new.
I've even tried entering safe mode but it doesn't let me, and when I try to use the internal recovery disk the same thing happens, black screen with the cursor and no more.
This indicates a software or a hardware problem? I remember something in those messages the system sent me to be about some "graphics" problem, never noticed anything. Until now.

As the Notebook is NEW, return to Toshiba for repair.