Solved Why does Windows fail to load on some occasions?

[BJC1992]

I'm writing this post on behalf of my Grandad who is experiencing problems with his laptop. The laptop can run perfectly for two weeks for example, and then all of a sudden it will start playing up. So today it was having one of its moments, so after pressing the 'on' button it just shows a blank screen with a flashing underscore at the top left of the screen, this will go on for about 15-20 minutes, before being presented with the image in the screenshot below.
After pressing F1 the laptop starts as normal and is absolutely fine, perhaps for another two weeks. The laptop has recently had a new HDD fitted so we know its unlikely to be a fault there as the laptop also had this issue before the HDD change.
The laptop in question is a Toshiba (Model: Satellite L450D-13p)

 

[SIW2]

Most recent bios is 1.30-WIN

dynabook

https://support1.support.emea.dynabook.com/tedd-files2/0/bios-20101217131914.zip

 

[BJC1992]

So as this particular problem is a bit over my head could someone explain exactly what is happening with the laptop, can anyone tell from the screenshot what is going on? Also with the links mentioned above by SIW2 what do I need to do with that as it wants me to download the zip file, I try this but my PC says the file may be dangerous.

 

[SIW2]

The message indicates it didn't boot with configured settings, so it reverts to defaults.

Because it happens every couple of weeks, it might be a bios issue. There is a newer bios for that machine, which is linked in my post. It is from the dynabook site. It doesn't say what the changes are, but they are often for "improved stability".


If you dont know how to update bios, there are many youtube videos.

 

[BJC1992]

OK many thanks for that, I should be able to have a go at that when I next have access to the laptop, probably next week, then I'll update the thread and mark as solved if I am successful.

 

[flavallee]

BJC1992:

What is the exact serial number on that Toshiba Satellite L450D-13P laptop.
What country was it originally purchased in?

Be real careful about updating the BIOS from 1.20 to 1.30.
If the BIOS update fails, you may be left with a paperweight or a doorstop.

 

[BJC1992]

The serial number is 3A557514K, and was purchased in the UK.
I'll be careful when updating the BIOS, I'll research the above points first. And I do have another laptop that can be used if this one gets messed up so is definitely worth me trying.

 

[flavallee]

Your Toshiba Satellite L450D-13P laptop was purchased in the U.K. on 2010-04-08, so it's more than 10 years old.

This is the details for its BIOS 1.30-WIN update.

 

[BJC1992]

OK great, many thanks for that, I'll have access to the laptop within the next week so will update this thread once I've sorted it out.

 

[BJC1992]

I've had a look at the information above, but can't find online what I need, just a bunch of other stuff. the BIOS thats currently showing is "Toshiba V1.20, 17/11/2009", what the easiest way to update that?

Would appreciate any help/advice.

 

[Megahertz07]

It can be that your CMOS battery need to be replaced.
The CMOS battery holds the BIOS configuration and power the RTC (real time clock)
Did you noticed that after some hours powered off, when you boot the clock is wrong (near midnight on another year)?

To update the BIOS, Download the BIOS1.30- Win and extract the BIOS130.exe to a folder.

Disable the anti virus and close all active programs.
Run BIOS130.exe

 

[RolandJS]

...and hopefully, maybe, possibly, you have a borrowed or owned UPS with AVR, you do not want any surge, brownout, or blackout during BIOS updating operation. That would be ultra-safe

 

[BJC1992]

It can be that your CMOS battery need to be replaced.
The CMOS battery holds the BIOS configuration and power the RTC (real time clock)
Did you noticed that after some hours powered off, when you boot the clock is wrong (near midnight on another year)?

To update the BIOS, Download the BIOS1.30- Win and extract the BIOS130.exe to a folder.

Disable the anti virus and close all active programs.
Run BIOS130.exe

I had the CMOS battery changed a few years ago, the clock is showing correct so that can't be the culprit. I'll proceed with the BIOS update and see if that helps.

 

[Megahertz07]

Normally when it stop during POST is the CMOS battery.
Do you have a CMOS battery sensor on BIOS?

Did you do a disk check?
Open a CMD window as administrator and type:
chkdsk c: /f
It will say your disk is in use and if you want to schedule to next start = yes
Restart
Pay attention on the results, specially bad blocks, bad clusters, bad sectors etc

 

[BJC1992]

I haven't done a disk check but I will do so when I next have access to the laptop.
So from the last few posts it would seem that it's either the CMOS battery, or the BIOS update. It could be a few weeks before I have access to the laptop so I'll mark the thread as solved. If the above doesn't work I'll open the thread again.