MsImperfection

This is my first post and I was unsure where to post this...I really don't know a whole lot about computers. I am sure I can follow step by step instuctions though.

I bought my laptop in 2007. I probably burned several dvd's before the burner just stopped working. Then, it wouldn't read any movies that I put in...or any other disk for that matter. I was still able to burn music cd's and read them until recently...2 days ago actually. I have looked up troubleshooting on my computer and tried to get answers from other sites. I have no idea what is wrong with it...but it seems these problems with this computer are common.

Also, about a month ago my touchpad stopped working and I had to purchase a mouse.

I planned on using the recovery disk that came with the computer...but it will not read it!

I have tried to update the drivers and everything...it says the devices are working properly. They aren't.

I am extremely irritated. I have only had it for 2 years and it's just falling apart on me. My 2 year warranty that I purchased expired in February.

I don't know what other information is needed to assist in helping me.

It came with Windows Vista (which I hate)

Madcatz

Ok, for the dvd drive. you tried doing the recovery, but did you tell the laptop to boot from the dvd drive? by default toshiba's boot from the hard drive first. To tell it to look at the drive first, put the first recovery disc in the dvd drive. restart or turn on the laptop, when you see the Toshiba logo screen, start pressing the F12 key, then the logo screen will go away and you should be at the boot option menu, arrow down to the dvd drive and hit enter.

If it then boots to the hard drive, you need to replace the dvd drive, let me know and I can give you the part numbers to look for and give you prices from toshiba for them. (I'm a Toshiba ASP )

for the touchpad, have you tried holding down Fn key and press the F9 key? that enables and disables the touchpad.

MsImperfection

First, thank you for responding.
My touchpad is now working. Thank you!!!

As for the dvd drive...I followed the instructions. It booted up and everything. A few different messages popped up. Somethin about the ethernet....It also said "Media Test Failure".
Like I said, I am kinda clueless as to how everything operates.
Does this help? Do I need a new drive?

If so, how did this happen? It stopped working a long time ago. I thought it might have been from some software I downloaded...for the codecs or something of that sort. I have never dropped it or mistreated it. I don't know why it would just stop working.

Thanks for your help. Please get back to me.

MsImperfection

::bump::

mobiletechnik

hmmm......

Madcatz

Sorry for not replying sooner, had a busy weekend.

Ok, so you put the recovery disc in, pressed F12, selected to boot from the cd drive and then what happened? I'm understanding the next thing you saw was the ethernet and media test failure? or did it go into the recovery program? If you told it to boot from the cd and the next thing you saw was the media test failure, that was your computer trying to do a network boot, which means booting from the cd drive failed and you would need to replace the drive.

Drives do just stop working, they are a peice of electronics just like everything else. Most drives will start failing and you will notice it by them not reading certain kinds of discs, and it gets worse from them to them not reading any discs anymore. Some of them will just flat out stop working all together. Its not really anything your doing, just the electronics inside going bad.

MsImperfection

Well, I guess I need a new drive then...
I put the disc in and hit F12 and it went into the black screen and I got the media test failure message...The recovery didn't do through. It just took me to my startup from there.

Thank you so much for your help. At least now I know what's wrong with it and could possibly look into getting it fixed.

Any idea how much a drive runs? Also, the service fee to fix it would run around how much?

It is a Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K17A-(SM) If that helps at all...or do you need other information?

Thanks again!

Madcatz

you say you hit F12 and it went to a black screen? did it not bring up a boot menu window with options like hard drive, cd drive, floppy drive, network, things like that? If it doesn't bring up that menu then something isn't working right.

The toshiba logo screen on yours should have a gray bar at the bottom, it should say to Press F2 to enter Setup, and Press F12 for Boot option. Keep pressing F12 until that changes to say entering boot option menu. If it doesn't switch, try pressing F2 to enter Setup. Let me know what version of BIOS its running.

As for replacing the drive, you could post the model part number, the A135 will start with a PSAD0U or PSAD6U just need the last 6 digits as theres probably about 30-40 different A135 models.

MsImperfection

Sorry, I am kinda confusing here...

It did go to the boot screen. I selected the dvd drive option and pressed enter. It went there and that is when I got the media test failure message...then it took me to my startup.

The Toshiba is an A135-S4427
Part # PSADOU-03H00P

Thanks!

Madcatz

Ah ok, then yeah, you would need a new drive. Here are the part numbers that will work in your laptop:


K000043460 Hitachi $99
K000045550 Pioneer $99
K000045560 Panasonic $70
K000043890 Toshiba Samsung $99

prices are from blueraven.com, the panasonic I also seen for about $54 from codemicro.com, we use both for parts sometimes. Just thought I'd put those up there so if you look on ebay you have a good idea what they should be, and not more.

MsImperfection

Alright, well thank you for all your help!