PC won't boot up! - help!

[mapleleaf]

Hiya,

 

Firstly must point out, im a total PC clutz, so if anyone's kind enough to offer help, please use basic terms!.

 

Ok, I have a Toshiba Laptop Equium U400-124, with Windows Home Premium 32 installed. I was surfing last night, and the PC kinda froze up on me, so I rebooted.

 

The bootup screen went past the initial opening screen where it says F2 for setup blah blah, but the next screen was black with the comment ""a disk read error occured, press ctrl+alt+del to restart".

 

Restart repeats the above.

 

I've looked about on my desktop pc on the net for answers - some have suggested the HDD is dead but it does show up when I access the bios.

 

Being a clutz, I didn't make a recovery disk (aaggh), but have borrowed a friends Vista disc and tried to boot from that - the screen said "windows is loading files" and then onto the black screen with the egg timer, before finally another black screen (with white arrow pointer visible) which is where it hangs.

 

I really don't know what to do - I've been told that a recovery disc from Toshiba is 29-99 GBP which I would purchase if I was sure it would boot from this.

 

Can I find out if it's something more sinister?

 

Any help would be much appreciated....thanks!

 

Kathryn x

[Ravon]

sounds like a failing hard drive to me

[Ravon]

At boot up is there and F key option for advanced boot menu?

[mapleleaf]

At boot up is there and F key option for advanced boot menu?

 

Not at initial start-up, but if I attempt the boot from the vista disc I can depress F8 and get one.

 

However, it doesn't list any type of recovery there, just the options of start with safe mode, start with last know working configuration....all of which still lead to it just hanging.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I have to agree with Ravon that the drive is goosed, you could attach the hard drive to another pc to get your stuff off but don't bank on it.

 

New hard drive time I reckon and you can either get on to Toshiba for a new set of disks or buy a new copy of Vista but Tosh is the best bet as it will save you hunting for drivers.

[mapleleaf]

I have to agree with Ravon that the drive is goosed, you could attach the hard drive to another pc to get your stuff off but don't bank on it.

 

New hard drive time I reckon and you can either get on to Toshiba for a new set of disks or buy a new copy of Vista but Tosh is the best bet as it will save you hunting for drivers.

 

 

Ouchy!, sounds like I need to get myself a new hard-drive then!, I was budgeting for some new GHDs as well!.

 

Would I not be able to hunt down the necessary drivers online as a complete d/l as opposed to requiring a disc from Toshiba?

 

 

Thanks for your help x

[RandyL]

Since you never made any recovery disks for your Toshiba you have no way of reinstalling Vista on a new drive.

 

If you can get those revovery disks from Toshiba the cost would be minimal and you would have all the needed drivers.

 

Otherwise you would need to purchase an expensive Vista Home premium and then obtain the drivers from either Toshiba or from your various hardware manufacturers.

 

Look at this Vista Price Link.

 

I think you want to try Toshiba.

[mapleleaf]

Since you never made any recovery disks for your Toshiba you have no way of reinstalling Vista on a new drive.

 

If you can get those revovery disks from Toshiba the cost would be minimal and you would have all the needed drivers.

 

Otherwise you would need to purchase an expensive Vista Home premium and then obtain the drivers from either Toshiba or from your various hardware manufacturers.

 

Look at this Vista Price Link.

 

I think you want to try Toshiba.

 

Hi,

 

Well, the good news is that my friend has a copy of Vista Home Premium, which I'd imagine I can use, as I do have a valid product key for it, on the back of the laptop.

 

Toshiba's site does seem to have all the drivers available for download, so I guess I'll have to whack them onto a USB drive or something and then transfer them as applicable?

 

x

[RandyL]

mapleleaf despite the fact you have a product key not only is it illegal to use a borrowed disk but you would probably also have activation issues.

 

I believe you have been given good advice here on what your best options are. Like I said Recovery disks from Toshiba are likely cheap.

 

Advice on your main issue is also good. A failed drive.

 

Advice on the impracticality and illegality of a borrowed disk is also good.

 

Considering what advice has been given which is good and your reluctance to persue it but rather persue an illegal method I think this thread has run it's course.

 

If you have any further issues in the future please feel free to post.

 

Good luck.

 

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Maple

 

This is what will happen ok if you borrow your mates disk.

 

You can install it and then at the end, that's if you get by the inputting of the 25 number/letter keycode, which I doubt, then dear old Microsoft will ask you to Activate it.

 

This is over and above the fact that your friend may have an OEM disk peculiar to his/her machine and if that is the case then your on a hiding to nothing.

 

The thing is ok that that copy has already been activated and your system hardware parameters will not match your mates so MS will say up yours.

 

As I have previously stated it will save you time to contact Toshiba to procure some new disks, ie; Operating System disk and Drivers disk.