5 replies to this topic

[jubedube]

I had opened my notebook to look something up when my browser (firefox w/ noscript and adblock +. Operating System: Windows Vista Home Edition 64-bit) suddenly didn't respond. I decided to let it wait out to respond again, but after taking a break and coming back 10-20 minutes later my laptop still did not seem to respond to anything. I decided to reboot the computer, since I could not do anything anyway. After I started the computer back up, my computer had a constant stream of crashing errors whenever it turned on. I decided to use my backup and did a "system restore", but that did not work either. I then did a complete restore to bring the laptop to an "out of the box" condition. This leads to my current problem: Whenever I start up my notebook it goes into an "infinite loop". It completely starts up, loading the desktop and the programs and suddenly starts "configuring Toshiba". After 20-30 minutes of "configuring" it restarts, loads up the desktop and "configures" again like it never had. I've tried starting the computer in safe mode and it then says "Cannot finish installation [of windows]. Please restart to complete" <-- generally this is the error I get. I do not have a great deal of hardware expertise (I'm currently on a computer I built, but that is the extent of my knowledge), and was hoping somebody would consider reading over my dilemma and giving me some advice. I have not tried a great deal of things, and cannot send it back to Toshiba free as my warranty expired a few months ago (1 year warranty). There is no start-up disk to speak of, and am hoping there may be some kind of future for my laptop other than an eternal "configuring toshiba" light show.

[paws]

Hi and welcome to the WTT forums Sorry to hear of the problems with your computer. As you have already tried a "restore to Out of the box" state you will almost certainly need to do this again as it did not complete satisfactorily. When you do this don't forget to remove all discs from your laptop, all USB connected peripherals etc. your Internet connection (Pull out the plugs from the machine's sockets) and then double check that you have nothing in any of the drive bays and only have your AC power cable/adapter (don't try it using battery power only!) and a mouse connected via USB (if you must!)... the recovery on a lot of Toshiba A505's is initiated by making sure that the machine is fully powered down (not asleep, hibernated or on stand by but fully shut down....and then waiting one minute (by the clock is best) then power up your Toshiba and at the same time press the 0 Key on the keyboard (that is the Zero Key) and it should take you into the Recovery process.....Good luck It could also ,of course be a hardware failure, and if this is the case then a Factory or "out of the box" system restore will not help. When you have tried the "Out of the Box" restore again, and if it still does not work then post back with the exact model number of your Toshiba and we will advise the steps necessary to test your hardware. Regards paws PS

Edited by paws, 10 November 2010 - 06:38 AM.

[jubedube]

Thank you. I retried the "out of the box" system restore and it worked when I did it a second time. Oddly enough the first time I did it I had all of those variables you insisted (nothing inside, fully shut down, etc.). My computer is working again.

[paws]

That's good to hear well done, and I'm glad to hear its all working OK now. Regards paws

[computers_4_life]

I'm having the same problem except I have tried restoring it to "out-of-the-box" condition 3 times and it did not work. I have a Toshiba Satellite A505. Please help?

[paws]

Hi and welcome to the WTT forums,
Sorry to hear of the problems with your Toshiba.

To help us, in determining the best way forward for you please let us know the following;

1 Have you tried using a system restore point created prior to the trouble starting?
2 What problems were you trying to cure by restoring it to its "out of the box" state?
3 Can you boot into safe mode?
4 What operating system is installed? (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 etc.,) and level of service pack.... the exact model number of your Toshiba would also help us help you...
5 Is your back up 100% effective? and with at least one copy kept safe offsite on removable media?
6 Have you a system repair disc or a Microsoft windows installation disc for the operating system that is installed.
7 Is the 25 character alpha numeric product key on the Certificate of Authenticity legible (don't tell us what the number is...) just check that it's legible, as you may need it.
8 Have you tried booting the machine from a CD/DVD either Windows or Linux or hard drive testing utility? etc?
9 What LED's are illuminated on your computer? are there any flashing or are they solid? Are there any sounds of the hard drive spinning up or vibrations when you power on from a cold start ( you will need to get your ear right down hard on the computer's key board to feel/listen for this)Check the VDU is working even if the screen is black and appears blank( after you have tried to boot it up shine a flashlight on at an angle of about 45 degrees from 2 centimetres away and examine all parts of the screen, can you see any images ( they may be very dim)?
10 Is the power supply outputting the correct voltage?
11 and finally please list the exact steps (all of them) that you have taken in order to achieve the restore to "out of the box" and post them back in your reply. If uncertain of any of them or the exact order in which you did them please start and do it one more time but note down each step please, and please be sure to not miss any of them out (no matter how obvious they may seem to be, when you post back the list in your reply.)

Once we have the above information then we should be able to determine the best way forward to help you.
Regards
paws