Crying Toshiba Tears

EeferNet · 01-14-2008, 06:37 PM

Hey all.

I came across this site by way of Google, and decided to give it a shot since my current problems greatly exceed my technical expertise. With no further preamble....away we go.

My sister's laptop has been handed off to me because it appears to have been KIA. Here's what I'm working with:

Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 running Windows XP Pro (so I'm told. I've never seen it actually make it as far as a loaded O/S).

Here's the problem:

On power up, I get the Toshiba "splash". As soon as it's done its thing, I get

Quote:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \windows\system32\config\system

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM. Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

Naturally, the original CD-ROM is MIA. I do, however, have two alternatives on hand. I have the disc for Windows XP pro (not the 6100 reco-disc) and I have the reco-disc for _my_ laptop (Toshi 1110 Satellite...don't laugh). Once I coerced the 6100 into booting from the disc drive, I was confronted with the following:

Quote:

A disk read error occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

which I take to mean something like:

Quote:

You're an idiot+For thinking that+Doing this would help

.

I spoke (briefly) with Toshi tech support who, charmingly enough, wanted $35.00 dollars (out of warranty you see) _just_ to tell me that the failure to read was proprietary and I would have to cough up an additional $40.00 for a new 6100 reco-disc.

What I want: Options. What can I do? I'm not looking for bootlegs or anything of the sort, but surely there must be some alternative method for getting this heap up and running again...at least in a capacity that would allow my sister to use it for school (word-processing, etc).

*plants n00b beacon*

EeferNet · 01-14-2008, 07:41 PM

No one has any ideas? =(

bhahar84 · 01-14-2008, 08:40 PM

Hi EeferNet!!

Remember that this is a forum, not a chat. You might get a reply a little bit late as all the technical person here will check each forum one by one. Sometimes it may even get a week for a reply

No worries, I'll try to help you. Let me check this issue further. I'll get back to you in a moment. Meanwhile, can you try to get any windows xp cd, maybe from your friend? This might resolve the issue

EeferNet · 01-14-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhahar84

Hi EeferNet!!

Remember that this is a forum, not a chat. You might get a reply a little bit late as all the technical person here will check each forum one by one. Sometimes it may even get a week for a reply

No worries, I'll try to help you. Let me check this issue further. I'll get back to you in a moment. Meanwhile, can you try to get any windows xp cd, maybe from your friend? This might resolve the issue

Thanks for the reply! It wasn't my intention to sound impatient, only surprised; I frequent many forums and very few have the user-base this site boasts...it just stunned me a little that with so many people around I'd gone without a response to what I had hoped/anticipated would be a "Ahh one of THOSE" problem. At any rate, it's all good. :)

I did mention in the original post that I have an XP Pro disc which garners no different a response than the reco-disc(s) I've also tried. Any help you might be able to lend would be appreciated.

bhahar84 · 01-14-2008, 08:51 PM

Hi again EeferNet!!

Can you try to start your computer, and keep tapping F8 button which will bring you the Advanced Boot Options. Here, choose the Recovery Console. It might ask the Windows XP cd, just keep the cd handy, ok

Then, type in chkdsk /p and press Enter. Let it do its thing a while. After its finish, try to restart your computer.

Is it working now? Whether its working or not, post back here so I can guide you again, ok

EeferNet · 01-14-2008, 09:00 PM

Alright, I've started it up as suggested, but I don't see a "recovery console" in the Advanced Options menu. I have:

Quote:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA Mode
Last Known Good Configuration
Directory Services Restore Mode
Debugging Mode
Disable Automatic restart on system failure

Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu

Thoughts?

bhahar84 · 01-14-2008, 09:06 PM

Ok...it seems like you don't have the options to Recovery Console. Try restart the computer, and enter the BIOS screen. Change the CD drive as first boot device inside BIOS. Save changes and restart computer. Make sure the Windows XP cd is inside the CD drive before restarting.

Now, boot from windows XP cd at beginning, you have to press any key when you prompted. When you get to the setup page, press R for repairing windows. Then, choose the partition.

WARNING:
Make sure you choose Repair not formatting instead!!

EeferNet · 01-14-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhahar84

Ok...it seems like you don't have the options to Recovery Console. Try restart the computer, and enter the BIOS screen. Change the CD drive as first boot device inside BIOS. Save changes and restart computer. Make sure the Windows XP cd is inside the CD drive before restarting.

Now, boot from windows XP cd at beginning, you have to press any key when you prompted. When you get to the setup page, press R for repairing windows. Then, choose the partition.

WARNING:
Make sure you choose Repair not formatting instead!!

Unfortunately, I cannot get that far. I've already tried altering the BIOS settings to give priority to the CDROM (with XP and with Reco-disc in and ready), but I'm met with:

Quote:

A disk read error occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

bhahar84 · 01-14-2008, 09:12 PM

You might want to refer this page as reference:

Repair using Recovery Console

Same Error Message on this Page

Another same resolution page here

I'll be here. Post again and I'll get back to you

EeferNet · 01-15-2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhahar84

You might want to refer this page as reference:

Repair using Recovery Console

Same Error Message on this Page

Another same resolution page here

I'll be here. Post again and I'll get back to you

Thanks for the links! I've quickly skimmed their contents (I'm just heading out to work) and the procedures seem simple enough...except that the Toshi Satellite 6100 does not want to recognize the discs I've tried to start it from; instead it gives me the error I mentioned in my last post. It seems as though getting around that is going to be the tricky part!

EeferNet · 01-16-2008, 01:32 PM

*bump*

bhahar84 · 01-16-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EeferNet

Thanks for the links! I've quickly skimmed their contents (I'm just heading out to work) and the procedures seem simple enough...except that the Toshi Satellite 6100 does not want to recognize the discs I've tried to start it from; instead it gives me the error I mentioned in my last post. It seems as though getting around that is going to be the tricky part!

Ok EeferNet

Can you tried to get a external CD or DVD drive instead? perhaps from any of your friends?

EeferNet · 01-16-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhahar84

Ok EeferNet

Can you tried to get a external CD or DVD drive instead? perhaps from any of your friends?

No such options exist, I'm afraid.

bhahar84 · 01-16-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EeferNet

No such options exist, I'm afraid.

Emm, this might be a little bit difficult then. Ok, I would ask my mentor, and see if they can came with a solutions maybe, ok

**BCCOMP** · 01-17-2008, 05:52 AM

Hi All,
Try going into the BIOS and load the default values. Just be sure that the boot from CD is the first one in the boot order. Also, make sure in the BIOS that your Harddrive is detected.
Are you trying to save the info on this machine or do you wish to do a clean install and loose all info?
Have you tried another bootable disk of any kind and get results? This will determine if you CD is working. Your XP disk maybe damaged. Is it an original or a copy?
Thanks,
Bill

01-14-2008, 07:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
EeferNet Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP(SP2)	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears No one has any ideas? =(

01-14-2008, 08:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
bhahar84 Mysterious Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Malaysia Posts: 1,375 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears Hi EeferNet!! Remember that this is a forum, not a chat. You might get a reply a little bit late as all the technical person here will check each forum one by one. Sometimes it may even get a week for a reply No worries, I'll try to help you. Let me check this issue further. I'll get back to you in a moment. Meanwhile, can you try to get any windows xp cd, maybe from your friend? This might resolve the issue __________________ .:CPU-Z::Power Supply::Recuva::Unlocker::SensorsView::PSU Calculator::Everest:.

01-14-2008, 08:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
bhahar84 Mysterious Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Malaysia Posts: 1,375 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears Hi again EeferNet!! Can you try to start your computer, and keep tapping F8 button which will bring you the Advanced Boot Options. Here, choose the Recovery Console. It might ask the Windows XP cd, just keep the cd handy, ok Then, type in chkdsk /p and press Enter. Let it do its thing a while. After its finish, try to restart your computer. Is it working now? Whether its working or not, post back here so I can guide you again, ok __________________ .:CPU-Z::Power Supply::Recuva::Unlocker::SensorsView::PSU Calculator::Everest:.

01-14-2008, 09:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
bhahar84 Mysterious Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Malaysia Posts: 1,375 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears Ok...it seems like you don't have the options to Recovery Console. Try restart the computer, and enter the BIOS screen. Change the CD drive as first boot device inside BIOS. Save changes and restart computer. Make sure the Windows XP cd is inside the CD drive before restarting. Now, boot from windows XP cd at beginning, you have to press any key when you prompted. When you get to the setup page, press R for repairing windows. Then, choose the partition. WARNING: Make sure you choose Repair not formatting instead!! __________________ .:CPU-Z::Power Supply::Recuva::Unlocker::SensorsView::PSU Calculator::Everest:.

01-14-2008, 09:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
bhahar84 Mysterious Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Malaysia Posts: 1,375 OS: Windows XP SP2, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears You might want to refer this page as reference: Repair using Recovery Console Same Error Message on this Page Another same resolution page here I'll be here. Post again and I'll get back to you __________________ .:CPU-Z::Power Supply::Recuva::Unlocker::SensorsView::PSU Calculator::Everest:.

01-16-2008, 01:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
EeferNet Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8 OS: Windows XP(SP2)	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears bump

01-17-2008, 05:52 AM	#15 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 5,788 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Crying Toshiba Tears Hi All, Try going into the BIOS and load the default values. Just be sure that the boot from CD is the first one in the boot order. Also, make sure in the BIOS that your Harddrive is detected. Are you trying to save the info on this machine or do you wish to do a clean install and loose all info? Have you tried another bootable disk of any kind and get results? This will determine if you CD is working. Your XP disk maybe damaged. Is it an original or a copy? Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ \| PC Running Slow Speedfan