Your computer was unable to start

[igao89]

Hi everyone,

I forgot to plug in my computer and the battery died. When I tried turning it back on, it takes me directly to:

"Startup Repair"
"Your computer was unable to start
Startup Repair is checking your system for problems
If problems are found, start up repair will fix them automatically. Your computer might restart several times during this process.
No changes will be made to your personal files or information. This might take several minutes." Followed by a loading bar that says searching for problems.
After leaving this on for a while it gives the system restore option, however this just takes me back to the previous screen. I cannot cancel the Start up repair and I can't access safemode. After searching for over an hour the only solution i've found so far is reinstall the OS, however my computer did not come with the OS disc and I have school related files on the computer that I can't lose.

I am using a Toshiba Satellite A505-S6981 T6600 That's 9 months old with windows 7, Specs (To my limited knowledge) say:
C2D 56600, 4GB DDR3
16", 400 GB HD, DVDRW
W7 P 64 Bit, 80211bgn


I would appreciate any help you could give on the subject and if you need more information please ask (and preferably tell me how to access it, I'm not very tech savvy). Thank you!

 

[marsmimar]

Can you remove the battery and try starting using just the AC power cord?

 

[igao89]

I just tried removing the battery, however it just goes to the same screen. This is a video I found of the message I get if that helps any YouTube - Windows 7 Failed to start

 

[marsmimar]

Just trying to fully understand your situation so please bear with me. When you use the power button to start your machine is there any delay before you see the "Your computer was unable to start" screen? If yes, can you access safe mode by immediately and continuously clicking the F8 key as soon as you push the power button?

 

[igao89]

There is a delay, and it takes me to the screen i would normally see before my login screen. I can access the BIOS settings, but not safemode. It gives me the options to "Restart windows normally" or "StartUp repair (recommended), however both take me to the StartUp repair.

 

[marsmimar]

When you power up try clicking the F5 key immediately and continuously (instead of the F8 key.) I'm hoping you'll see a screen like this:

 

[igao89]

I've got that screen (From pressing F8 though) with the added option of Repair your computer, but that takes me to the same screen.

 

[marsmimar]

Try using last known good configuration. Give me about 30 minutes. I'm going to try to research some Toshiba troubleshooting manuals

 

[igao89]

Thank you very much, I tried the last known good configuration however, it still brings me back to the same startup repair.

 

[marsmimar]

I'm stumped. If one of the more knowledgeable forum members has any ideas I hope they jump in with a suggestion. If your comp is still under warranty (I think Toshiba has 1 yr) you might consider contacting their tech support:

Contact Toshiba

Sorry I couldn't help you solve this. If you do find a solution, please post back so everyone can benefit from your unfortunate situation.

Added thought: If you can borrow someone else's install disk (has to be the same as what's installed on your machine) you could still do a repair install of the operating system. You won't lose personal settings, files, folders, documents, photos, etc. Or possibly a system recovery.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?filter

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[igao89]

Thank you so much for your help. Unfortunately, I bought the computer from frys and did not purchase the warranty since it never seems to actually work so I don't believe toshiba will be much help. I would really appreciate it if someone else had anymore suggestions! And I'll be sure to post if I can find any solutions.

On the other hand, does anyone know if I'll be able to pull files from my computer or how I could do that?

 

[marsmimar]

I added some additonal info to my previous post if you can borrow someone else's installation disk. As far as being able to retrieve data from the hard drive ... if the drive cannot be accessed via normal startup, I believe it would have to be removed from the laptop and installed as a secondary drive on some other computer. There are some specialized software like Recuva but again you need to be able to boot the computer.

Again, sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[igao89]

This is just a follow up. After leaving the computer on with the Start Up repair running for several hours (Around 10, I did this while i was sleeping) It seems to have fixed itself. Thank you again Marsmimar.

 

[marsmimar]

Awesome news! Thanks for posting back.

 

[Aric]

I experienced the same issue on a Toshiba P740. The Start Up repair did not take 10 hours, rather 30 mins., however it occured multiple times. The Toshiba Service Station 2.2.13 utility (icon tray) provided a BIOS update, which I downloaded and installed. It was a fairly simple process and appears to have fixed the issue. Here is the description of the update from the utility:

"BIOS version 2.00 is available as an optional update primarily for Best BUY SKUs. (my laptop was provided by my employer, and I don't know from where it was purchased) See below for a list of change points and install instructions. For a complete BIOS change history, click here. To check your computer's BIOS version from the Windows 7 Start Menu, type HWSetup and Enter.

Change Points:

1. Updated: ME Firmware to 7.1.52.1176."

 

[Klenator]

this just happened on my Compaq mini 110c, it was again in the arse to get it working, but i read this thread and, i got it to work, shut down pc, push the power button, (or slide it over, like on mine) and repetitively push f8 until the boot options menu pops up, highlight boot in last known good configuration, and on mine it booted up perfectly fine

 

[sherwin18]

same problem last night it very fine and then this morning cant start

Same problem in my hp loptop use and i scan and defrag my loptop then 7 at tne morning cant start up i repair but said cannot repair..i system restore and the other file cant work ..sad..