Startup Problems, continuous startup loop

[MamaLoca]

This is just NOT my week. I tried to boot up my laptop and it keeps looping through the startup screen. I get a Post Beep, and then a black screen, then back to the Startup screen.

I can not start in Safe mode, I can not get it to go back to a previous restore point. I removed the battery pack and disconscted the electrical cord and that didn't do anything. I'll have to go back and check if the fans are turning, but I almost think they are not.

I have not cracked the case yet, but that is next. What should I be looking for?

This is happening on a 4 year old Toshiba Satallite P15.

Nila __________________________________________________________________
Life would be so much easier if I only had the source code.

 

[bcastner]

If running XP:

Use Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...efault.aspx?scid=kb;en-gb;307654&ln=en-gb

From Recovery Console type:

chkdsk /r
(Note: this takes a long while)

exit

Reboot and test.

 

[MamaLoca]

I can't even get any kind of screen to type that into before I can do that. I think I'll just bang my head on the keyboard for a while.

Nila __________________________________________________________________
Life would be so much easier if I only had the source code.

 

[cdogg]

Try this first:

1. Unplug the laptop from AC power and remove the battery.
2. Hold the reset button down for at least 30 seconds.
3. Only reconnect the power cord (leave the battery out).
4. Turn the laptop back on and cross your fingers!

I know you've already tried to remove the battery and so forth, but doing these steps in order can make a difference. Toshibas and some older Compaqs are notorious for having power issues like this. By holding the power button down, you're forcing a hard internal reset that drains any active capacitors.

If that doesn't help, then it's likely some other hardware issue. The beep you're hearing is likely a code telling you what's wrong. Perhaps you can see what it is out at Toshiba's site for your model or in the manual. Try emptying the bays if there any used by a DVD/CD drive or other device. Even pull the hard drive and just see if you can get into the BIOS.

Good luck!


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[MamaLoca]

Well, I remembered this old version of Knoppix I had stashed away ( this is the first time I was ever able to get it to run, but then I never had this much motivation either) and so I am able to boot up, and access my c drive. I can not, however access my external drive.

I will try what you suggest as soon as I log off. I wish I knew more about these programs, I am so NOT used to a Linux interface although this is very easy to manuever.

Right now I need to find out what to do to back up all my email corrospondence. For the life of me I don't know if I can just save my mailbox info and just plop it back into the folder if/when I reinstall windows. and I have to snag my email address book. Hope I can figure out how to upload to my domain for temp storage because this says c is not writable. Yikes.

Nila __________________________________________________________________
Life would be so much easier if I only had the source code.

 

[MamaLoca]

Reloading everything is So time consuming, I gotta learn how to image a hard drive. Now My USB is giving me trouble. My USB mouse works fine but when I go into Device Manager it says there are no controllers. So I can't get to my external Hard drive

If it ain't one thing it's another. LOL


Nila __________________________________________________________________
Life would be so much easier if I only had the source code.

 

[bcastner]

Try this first for reluctant identification of USB devices:

1. Click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then click OK.
2. Double-click the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" section. Highlight each entry that says "USB Root Hub" and right-click and uninstall.
3. Reboot. XP will rebuild your USB root hubs and hopefully correct your issues.

Other checkpoints:

XP SP2 and USB Power requirements:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=870893

Driver Detection Issues:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=873169

Sometimes you do have to use a Hotfix:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=892050

 

[MamaLoca]

Again, thanks for all the help. Yous guys rock. Everything seems to be working alright, I did loose some stuff that I plum forgot about copying, but all in all it was a success.

And low and behold, this thing is as fast and efficient as when it was new.

Oh, how I hate the process but oh, how I love the results. lol



Nila __________________________________________________________________
Life would be so much easier if I only had the source code.