Is My Laptop Toast?

[alkie]

Suddenly and for no apparent reason my laptop isn't booting up.

I switch on, a get a black screen for longer than normal then the Toshiba screen appears, (pressing F2 or F12 gets me nowhere), it remains there for a while and then returns to the black screen again.

Previous to this happening, I had not installed any software that could be causing a problem and as I do not have my Windows 7 disc to hand I am at a loss to find a solution to this problem.

The fact that I am getting power but it isn't accessing my hard drive leaves me with the impression that it could be my h/d is failing, if so, is it terminal?

 

[NoN]

maybe this post should highlight:
http://www.sevenforums.com/news/930...ws-7-rtm-boot-freezes-please-wait-screen.html

 

[alkie]

maybe this post should highlight:
http://www.sevenforums.com/news/930...ws-7-rtm-boot-freezes-please-wait-screen.html

Thanks if this hotfix indeed solves the problem, how can I download and install it onto a laptop that refuses to boot?

 

[theog]

Press the F8 key repeatedly at boot up.

Try this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html?ltr=P

 

[electrotune1200]

Do you have your data backed up? If you do,

Hold down 0 (zero) while pushing the power button. Keep holding 0 until you see the Toshiba screen. This will take you to the recovery partition. If you end up at the recovery options and don't want to proceed, you can cancel out of the recovery. You can at least use this to test. If it works, you know that your Windows installation is corrupted.

At least you see the Toshiba screen, so I doubt it's the motherboard.

 

[alkie]

Press the F8 key repeatedly at boot up.

Try this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html?ltr=S
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html?ltr=P

Unfortunately I Have tried F8'ing it but it makes no difference, after a period of time the screen just moves on to the Tosh opening screen, then reverts back to a black screen where you have a blinking cursor on the top left hand corner for a while then it too stop blinking.
Thanks anyway

 

[theog]

Do you have your data backed up? If you do,

Hold down 0 (zero) while pushing the power button. Keep holding 0 until you see the Toshiba screen. This will take you to the recovery partition. If you end up at the recovery options and don't want to proceed, you can cancel out of the recovery. You can at least use this to test. If it works, you know that your Windows installation is corrupted.

At least you see the Toshiba screen, so I doubt it's the motherboard.

If Toshiba Recovery screen come up you can do will all Options.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[alkie]

Do I keep both the power button and the zero depressed til I see the Tosh screen?
Either way I have had no luck so far finding the recovery screen.

 

[electrotune1200]

No,

Just keep holding down zero until you hear a beep at the Toshiba screen.

 

[alkie]

No,

Just keep holding down zero until you hear a beep at the Toshiba screen.

Still no luck, Just keeps doing the same thing, I guess this must be pretty serious now, thanks anyway to all who have responded

 

[theog]

Have you try the F8 key?

 

[alkie]

Have you try the F8 key?

Unfortunately I Have tried F8'ing it but it makes no difference, after a period of time the screen just moves on to the Tosh opening screen, then reverts back to a black screen where you have a blinking cursor on the top left hand corner for a while then it too stop blinking.
Thanks anyway

Yes.

 

[electrotune1200]

If you're having no success using any of the suggestions, It sounds like it is a malfunctioning HDD.

One the bright side... it's probably the cheapest component to replace. Do you have your data backed up?

 

[theog]

Go to this tutorial & download the Startup disk burn to CD.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[alkie]

If you're having no success using any of the suggestions, It sounds like it is a malfunctioning HDD.

One the bright side... it's probably the cheapest component to replace. Do you have your data backed up?

Most of it, it hasn''t been long since I did a fresh install on the pc so anything else I am sure I can pick up again..
Are laptop h/drives reasonably cheap and easy to fit then, (I am in the UK, no surprise there huh?), can you use any type of laptop h/drive?

 

[theog]

If you're having no success using any of the suggestions, It sounds like it is a malfunctioning HDD.

One the bright side... it's probably the cheapest component to replace. Do you have your data backed up?

Most of it, it hasn''t been long since I did a fresh install on the pc so anything else I am sure I can pick up again..
Are laptop h/drives reasonably cheap and easy to fit then, (I am in the UK, no surprise there huh?), can you use any type of laptop h/drive?

As you have no install disk you can not reinstall.

 

[electrotune1200]

Do you have a local computer shop? They can install a new HDD. If you have your Microsoft key still attached to the bottom of your laptop, they may provide you with a burnt copy of an installation disc.

 

[alkie]

Sorted!!

Problem solved, I let the cycle run its course and I noticed the pc switched itself off, so I restarted and amazingly it booted up, I have no idea what happened or what it did to clear the fault but I am just glad it did.

Thanks for all your help guys!!

 

[theog]

That is news.

 

[Kirsch]

Problem solved, I let the cycle run its course and I noticed the pc switched itself off, so I restarted and amazingly it booted up, I have no idea what happened or what it did to clear the fault but I am just glad it did.

Thanks for all your help guys!!

Happy to hear it is working now, I would HIGHLY suggest backing everything up now though. This might be temporary and if it does happen again you don't want to be smacking yourself in the forehead