OT....major computer issues

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

So my computer took a major dump and I'm looking for some advice as to how to fix it in hours that I don't have to buy a new one...here is the back story

I turn it on and a toshiba load screen comes on and them the screen the screen goes completely black with a small white cursor in the corner...computer was working great and then all of a sudden it just went black...

my first thought was the recovery disk but unfortunately that is nowhere to be found... I know I would never throw it away but I still cannot find it anywhere in my house

is there anything I can do to fix this problem? any advice would be greatly appreciated

I'm using my phone for all posting and gambling and it is getting a little annoying so I would like to get this fixed as soon as possible

thanks for any input

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

What model laptop and do you need the data off of it?

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

It is a toshiba and no I don't need anything on it I just want it to work

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Ok.

1) Hold down the power button for 10 (ten) seconds to switch off your machine.
2) Press and hold the 0 (zero) key and at the same time, tap the power button once to switch on your notebook.
3) When the machine Starts beeping; release the 0 key.
4) When prompted by the warning screen; select Yes to continue with the system recovery.
5) There should be an option to recover to factory default. Select that and click Next.
6) Click Next to Start recovery process.

Let me know if that works.

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

Ok trying now I will let you know

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

after I turn it on pressing 0 it brought me to a screen describing the inside of a computer it wants me to press f 2 for setup or f 12 for boot menu after hitting f 12 it take me to a boot menu with 3 choices "hdd1/ssd1" "cd/dvd" or lan f 2 took me to a setup menu not quite sure what that does

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Damn it sounds like it was not installed with a recovery partition. What's the exact model #?

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

If I am looking at the right thing it is

Toshiba
Satellite L455-S5975

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Hmm it says it comes with the recovery partition, I'm trying to figure out which key accesses it when you startup though.

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

Thanks for your efforts

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Try this in the mean time. Press F8 when you power the notebook on, should bring you to a set of windows options. Try booting to Safe Mode. If it starts up, let it sit for 5 minutes then restart.

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Here's the recovery steps directly from the user manual.......I recommend holding down the zero key the entire time after powering on your laptop. It should start beeping.

Make sure the computer is turned off.

2 Press and hold the 0 (zero) key on your keyboard while
powering on the computer.

3 If your system offers a choice of Windows® 7 32-bit or 64-bit
operating system, select one at this time. If not, skip to step 4.

4 A warning screen appears, stating that when the recovery is
executed all data will be deleted and rewritten. Click Yes to
continue.

5 When the Toshiba Recovery Wizard opens and the Selecting a
process screen displays, select Recovery of Factory Default
Software and then click Next.

6 The Recovery of Factory Default Software screen appears.
Select Recover to out-of-box state.

7 Click Next.
A confirmation message displays reminding you that all data
will be lost during the recovery process. Be sure to save your
work to external media before proceeding.

8 Click Next to begin the recovery.
When the process is complete, a message displays indicating
that the internal storage drive has been recovered.

9 Press any key on the keyboard to restart the computer.

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

Ok giving it a go

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

I'm a must be missing something or doing something wrong because holding zero is now taking me to a black screen with a single blinking cursor at the top and at the bottom it says "***hdd recovery mode***" and that is it

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Hmm, that's where you want to be. It just sits on that screen?

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

Yea just sitting blinking no beeps just a simple black screen

FearTheRaven · Feb 22, 2011

Damn, sounds like the recovery partition is damaged. Your best bet is to get them to ship you some recovery discs. I'd have you ship it to me so i could take a look but getting the discs is probably faster.

Here's a link to request the recovery discs:

https://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/serviceUnitVerification.jsp?orderType=SFF

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

Very good I ordered it...hopefully that will do the trick

BigPapaPat · Feb 22, 2011

This may ber a dumb question but I have recovery disks from an old dell I had with vista on it...would it do me any good to throw that in there?

Betallsports · Feb 22, 2011

BigPapaPat said:
This may ber a dumb question but I have recovery disks from an old dell I had with vista on it...would it do me any good to throw that in there?

NO, different components