Computer help!

[adamwolff11]

I have no idea what has come over my laptop, but I don't like it. Starting today, it won't boot up. It stays in the opening Windows screen for about 10-15 minutes and then goes to an all black screen. It's a Toshiba laptop that I've had for about 8 or 9 months, and I've never experienced any problems with it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Mark Carver]

Try and boot into Safe Mode, holding the F8 key when you turn it on.

[adamwolff11]

Just tried it in safe mode..it basically did the same thing, I ended up with just a black screen..is there anything else I can try?

[Mark Carver]

1) Do you have the original O/S disks? If so, boot up with it and try Windows (R)epair function from the disk. You might have have to go into your BIOS and change the boot-up sequence for your CD/DVD Drive. Check this page (http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/bootorderchange.htm) to figure how to do that.

Further explaination can be found here (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html) with this tutorial.

2) If you don't have the original O/S disks. Go this page (http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/). It will explain how to create a Windows Vista Recovery Disc. Once you do that, boot the CD like I explained in #1.

[allstar1579]

I have no idea what has come over my laptop, but I don't like it. Starting today, it won't boot up. It stays in the opening Windows screen for about 10-15 minutes and then goes to an all black screen. It's a Toshiba laptop that I've had for about 8 or 9 months, and I've never experienced any problems with it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My Gateway did the same thing yesterday. I think it's just a Vista glitch. Try hitting Ctrl-Alt-Delete when it's on the black screen and see if it will bring up the task manager. I rebooted from there and it was fixed.

[itsernst]

Toshiba laptops have a built-in recovery partition on them already. I believe if you press and hold the 0 (zero) key while you press power it will reboot to it.

See if you can boot to that and if there is a repair option.

[Mark Carver]

Toshiba laptops have a built-in recovery partition on them already. I believe if you press and hold the 0 (zero) key while you press power it will reboot to it.

See if you can boot to that and if there is a repair option.

That is cool! Home-built desktop machines don't have this feature. ;)

I found this.



To access the Toshiba recovery partition, power off the laptop. Hold down the 0 (zero) key and turn the laptop on. Keep holding down the zero key until the TOSHIBA logo appears, where you should start tapping the zero key repeatedly. Stop if the unit beeps or when the TOSHIBA logo disappears. The screen should flash ** HDD RECOVERY MODE ** for a split second, then load the Toshiba recovery program right from the hard drive.

Note that this erases all data, and reloads all factory default software. Be sure to back up all your important personal data beforehand!

Tanarus Asamiya
ConnectPro Computer Technician @ Future Shop #615: Orangeville, Ontario

source (http://www.futureshopforums.ca/futureshop/board/message?board.id=techservices&message.id=3824)

[itsernst]

That is cool! Home-built desktop machines don't have this feature. ;)

I found this.



source (http://www.futureshopforums.ca/futureshop/board/message?board.id=techservices&message.id=3824)

There should be another option though besides that. There should be one that says repair system or something to that effect. I worked on one the other day that we had to do it. It could be different now...

[ScottieBaseball]

I'm running Vista on my Gateway laptop. Twice now I've tried to create backup disks and both times it results in a bluescreen error message and a memory dump that disappears before I can read it. The error occurs after the DVD-RW is finished formatting and just a few minutes into the actual copying of files.

"Problem Reports and Solutions" popped up about 10 minutes after I re-started. Here's what that said:

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem
Mini051009-01.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 7a
BCP1: C0403F80
BCP2: C0000185
BCP3: 3210B860
BCP4: 807F0A9A
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1

Any advice/help would be appreciated.

[itsernst]

I'm running Vista on my Gateway laptop. Twice now I've tried to create backup disks and both times it results in a bluescreen error message and a memory dump that disappears before I can read it. The error occurs after the DVD-RW is finished formatting and just a few minutes into the actual copying of files.

"Problem Reports and Solutions" popped up about 10 minutes after I re-started. Here's what that said:

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem
Mini051009-01.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 7a
BCP1: C0403F80
BCP2: C0000185
BCP3: 3210B860
BCP4: 807F0A9A
OS Version: 6_0_6001
Service Pack: 1_0
Product: 768_1

Any advice/help would be appreciated.

Alright...usually when things like this happen, my course of action is as follows:

Update all drivers. To see if your drivers are out of date, go to www.driveragent.com and download the small file there. Run it and it will produce a report that shows you what is out of date and what isn't. If you know what hardware you have, or if you can browse by model of laptop from the manufacturer, do so and get the latest drivers.

If that does not work, run a check disk on your harddrive. Check disk will scan through your hard drive to see if there are any errors. To run check disc, Go Start>Run> type in Cmd and press enter. For Vista, in the search bar in the start menu, just type cmd and press enter. Once the command prompt window opens, type chkdsk /f /r and press enter. In XP it will run and report back if any errors were found and repair (that is what the /f /r switches are for). In Vista, it will ask you to reboot after chkdsk is entered. Once reboot starts, chkdsk will run before your operating system loads back up. It will report if there are any errors that were found and fixed.

If these two issues do not solve bsod, check RAM. There is a Microsoft Memory Diagnostic Tool that you can download. When you download it, it creates a bootable CD that you insert and run before windows loads. It will torture test (sounds bad but it isn't) to see if there are fault's in your Memory.

If you have any more questions or concerns, I charge 135$/hour. :D

[ScottieBaseball]

Alright...usually when things like this happen, my course of action is as follows:

Update all drivers. To see if your drivers are out of date, go to www.driveragent.com and download the small file there. Run it and it will produce a report that shows you what is out of date and what isn't. If you know what hardware you have, or if you can browse by model of laptop from the manufacturer, do so and get the latest drivers.

If that does not work, run a check disk on your harddrive. Check disk will scan through your hard drive to see if there are any errors. To run check disc, Go Start>Run> type in Cmd and press enter. For Vista, in the search bar in the start menu, just type cmd and press enter. Once the command prompt window opens, type chkdsk /f /r and press enter. In XP it will run and report back if any errors were found and repair (that is what the /f /r switches are for). In Vista, it will ask you to reboot after chkdsk is entered. Once reboot starts, chkdsk will run before your operating system loads back up. It will report if there are any errors that were found and fixed.

If these two issues do not solve bsod, check RAM. There is a Microsoft Memory Diagnostic Tool that you can download. When you download it, it creates a bootable CD that you insert and run before windows loads. It will torture test (sounds bad but it isn't) to see if there are fault's in your Memory.

If you have any more questions or concerns, I charge 135$/hour. :D

I can't wait to get home and try this. Thanks for the solid!!!

[itsernst]

I can't wait to get home and try this. Thanks for the solid!!!


No problem. If you are not having consistent issues, RAM most likely isn't the issue. Driver updates solve most problems.

[TyCobb]

No problem. If you are not having consistent issues, RAM most likely isn't the issue. Driver updates solve most problems.

Wow. Nice find for me. Is DriverAgent worth the $30 bucks?

[itsernst]

Wow. Nice find for me. Is DriverAgent worth the $30 bucks?

Personal opinion...no. But it gives you an idea of what you need to update. It may be worth it to some people if they just want to download drivers from one place, in which driveragent would be a good fit. I like it because it lets me know what drivers are out of date, and then I just go to the manufacturer's site.

[TyCobb]

Personal opinion...no. But it gives you an idea of what you need to update. It may be worth it to some people if they just want to download drivers from one place, in which driveragent would be a good fit. I like it because it lets me know what drivers are out of date, and then I just go to the manufacturer's site.

RadarSync http://www.radarsync.com/

Does the same thing but for free (ad when downloading the drivers)

[itsernst]

RadarSync http://www.radarsync.com/

Does the same thing but for free (ad when downloading the drivers)

Even better...good find.

[TyCobb]

Even better...good find.

It is all because of you.

I hate finding Drivers so once I had a good setup I never updated them. I am not finally up to date in a long time.

[ScottieBaseball]

RadarSync http://www.radarsync.com/

Does the same thing but for free (ad when downloading the drivers)

Still updating drivers. Radarsync.com is awesome, by the way! It's taking time because my drivers were so out-of-date and I've been handling them one at a time...sometimes they require a reboot, so I don't want to be in the middle of installing one driver and need to shutdown.

I couldn't get the chkdsk to run...message said something about not being elevated? I'm logged in as an adminstrator, so I found it a bit curious.

So far so good, by the way. We haven't seen the blue screen since I started. I also used a Vista utility that identified places where disk space could be freed up.

[itsernst]

Still updating drivers. Radarsync.com is awesome, by the way! It's taking time because my drivers were so out-of-date and I've been handling them one at a time...sometimes they require a reboot, so I don't want to be in the middle of installing one driver and need to shutdown.

I couldn't get the chkdsk to run...message said something about not being elevated? I'm logged in as an adminstrator, so I found it a bit curious.

So far so good, by the way. We haven't seen the blue screen since I started. I also used a Vista utility that identified places where disk space could be freed up.

You have to run the command prompt as an administrator (vista goof). Go to start> programs> accessories> right click command prompt and choose run as administrator.

[ScottieBaseball]

You have to run the command prompt as an administrator (vista goof). Go to start> programs> accessories> right click command prompt and choose run as administrator.

Done. It took a long time (over an hour?). I didn't get to see any results, but I did get another blue screen a short time later. I've copied various important files from my hard drive to CD, but I'm worried my hard drive is going to crash.

Any other thoughts/ideas?

[itsernst]

Done. It took a long time (over an hour?). I didn't get to see any results, but I did get another blue screen a short time later. I've copied various important files from my hard drive to CD, but I'm worried my hard drive is going to crash.

Any other thoughts/ideas?

How big is the HDD? An Hour for a chkdsk is pretty long. I would suggest getting backup software just in case. Does your hard drive seem to take longer to respond to accessing files? If so, it is possible it may be in the early stages of failing. Acronis True Image is what I use on my home computer and its great. Any new and interesting noises coming from the computer?

Also, if it is producing a minidump file when you get the BSOD, there is a program from Microsoft that reads the minidump file.

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/devtools/debugging/default.mspx That is the tool you can download free from microsoft.

This is a KB article on how to read it.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315263


If you can get it to read the report, lmk and ill give you my email and may be able to help you out with what is causing the issue.


Sean

[ScottieBaseball]

So I ordered a new hard drive for my laptop. The blue screen problem is happening now about twice a day along with regular freezing and unfreezing.

Question: What's the best process for replacing the hard drive? I can't even get it to run a complete backup right now but I did manage to copy some important files (pictures, etc.) to CD. I guess I'll have to manually re-add my IE favorites?

Any advice/input would be appreciated.

[itsernst]

So I ordered a new hard drive for my laptop. The blue screen problem is happening now about twice a day along with regular freezing and unfreezing.

Question: What's the best process for replacing the hard drive? I can't even get it to run a complete backup right now but I did manage to copy some important files (pictures, etc.) to CD. I guess I'll have to manually re-add my IE favorites?

Any advice/input would be appreciated.

Thats ok that you can't run a backup. You can always slave the drive up and copy it over that way. Best way may be to buy an external 2.5" HDD case. You put your old hdd in and plug it into your laptop over USB. You can copy things from it that way. External USB enclosures run about 15-20 bucks.

[ScottieBaseball]

Thats ok that you can't run a backup. You can always slave the drive up and copy it over that way. Best way may be to buy an external 2.5" HDD case. You put your old hdd in and plug it into your laptop over USB. You can copy things from it that way. External USB enclosures run about 15-20 bucks.

Aw, crud. I didn't know what it was and could have tacked one on to my order from New Egg for $10.00.

***EDIT*** Actually, it was for free. Is this what you're talking about? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817816001

[McLovin]

If it's an IDE hard drive, I have an enclosure lying around you can have. If it's SATA, not so much. Lemme know.

[ScottieBaseball]

If it's an IDE hard drive, I have an enclosure lying around you can have. If it's SATA, not so much. Lemme know.

You sure do talk funny!

Great news! I was able to cancel my order.

The hard drive I'm ordering is this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136071

That's a SATA. You can add for free the enclosure I linked to in my previous post. I don't have a clue as to how it all works, but I'm hoping you guys can help me out?

[sbauer]

That's a SATA. You can add for free the enclosure I linked to in my previous post. I don't have a clue as to how it all works, but I'm hoping you guys can help me out?

I have a different SATA enclosure. You just have to slide the drive in a certain way, and hook the enclosure up to your computer via the USB cable. The computer will recognize it and your drive will appear under My Computer. Pretty easy.

[ScottieBaseball]

I have a different SATA enclosure. You just have to slide the drive in a certain way, and hook the enclosure up to your computer via the USB cable. The computer will recognize it and your drive will appear under My Computer. Pretty easy.

So after I replace it I use the enclosure last?

[ScottieBaseball]

You sure do talk funny!

Great news! I was able to cancel my order.

The hard drive I'm ordering is this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136071

That's a SATA. You can add for free the enclosure I linked to in my previous post. I don't have a clue as to how it all works, but I'm hoping you guys can help me out?

I re-placed the order to include the external enclosure for free. So can I use the enclosure and old hard drive as an external storage device? Do I need to modify it or anything to use it as such?

[TyCobb]

Ok I am late to the party Scott, but I can help. Where are you at now in the process? Did you order your new HDD yet?

Could you provide whether or not your current Hard Drive is SATA or IDE.

[ScottieBaseball]

Ok I am late to the party Scott, but I can help. Where are you at now in the process? Did you order your new HDD yet?

Could you provide whether or not your current Hard Drive is SATA or IDE.

I ordered the hard drive. The new one is a Western Digital, 160 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA. The old one is an Hitachi 120 GB, 5400 RPM, SATA.

[TyCobb]

Oh ok.

So your going to need help once the drive comes in then.

[ScottieBaseball]

Oh ok.

So your going to need help once the drive comes in then.

Yeah? Take out the old, insert the new (including removing the old HD from the sled and putting the new one on it), install Windows, put the old hard drive in the external enclosure, connect via usb, and copy as necessary. It's not that simple?

[sbauer]

Yeah? Take out the old, insert the new (including removing the old HD from the sled and putting the new one on it), install Windows, put the old hard drive in the external enclosure, connect via usb, and copy as necessary. It's not that simple?

Yeah, that's basically it. Not a whole lot to it. Solid pick on the drive, BTW. I purchased the 320gb 7200rpm version for my laptop and it's working well.

[TyCobb]

Yeah? Take out the old, insert the new (including removing the old HD from the sled and putting the new one on it), install Windows, put the old hard drive in the external enclosure, connect via usb, and copy as necessary. It's not that simple?

Yep. That is it.

[itsernst]

It is that easy...just don't forget any screws. Once you are inside of a laptop they become too damn tiny.

[ScottieBaseball]

Hard drive replaced. The external enclosure is pretty handy. This thing is flying and so far no freezing, no blue screens, and no memory dumps.

FYI...I bought a Western Digital 2.5", 160 GB, 5400 RPM SATA hard drive AND an external enclosure with USB cable, pouch, and screwdriver for $54.99 and free shipping from newegg.com. The biggest PIA was waiting for the 77 Windows updates to install and configure before I could do anything else.