Toshiba Laptop booting up into error Mode. Can see recovery but can't run

I don't mind loosing all the data on the drive I just want to get it back working.
Thx

i was able to start recovery by changing the recovery partition to ACTIVE, with the FREE Paragon partition manager : http://www.paragon-software.com/home/pm-express/

be sure to have your data copied before starting the recovery !

Being able to see the data on the drive doesn't mean it is good. First test the disk using the manufacturer's diagnostic utility. Also test the RAM of your PC using memtest86+. You'll find both of these tools on the UBCD:

http://ultimatebootcd.com

If both those tests end up without errors then you can try restoring the system to factory default. If not, either replace the bad RAM or the disk.

Toshiba, if I'm not mistaken, uses ghost images on it's recovery partitions (at least it used to). If you have the ghost utility available to you, you can try restoring the images with it. Since you can access the disk on another PC, check the contents of the recovery partition and look for files with the *.gho extension. If such files exist, and you don't own ghost, you should be able to buy a copy from symantec or PC shops near you.

If it isn't ghost that was used, you should be able to order recovery DVD from toshiba.

How do I get the imagex.exe off the ISO file? Do I run the ISO file and it extracts?
I don't want to screw up my working good Windows 7 desktop.

thx
Paul

You can either burn the .ISO and install it onto your computer, or I will also upload the imagex.exe file, however you will need to change the extension from .jpg to .exe before using.
imagex.jpg

Ty for the file.  I did backup the main drive c: and my friends contents, but it seems to me that I have lost the recovery part.

Maybe the hard disk is going? Or can the recovery be hidden?

Paul

I did see the recovery part before.

Where did you see the recovery part?  Either way, follow the original instructions and your partition should be there.

"run DISKPART.  Then select your disk by typing 'list disk', 'sel disk 0' (or whatever number the hard drive is.  Then select your part, again, 'list part', sel part 1' (here you select the partition that is approx. 10GB in size).  Lastly, let's assign it a letter, 'assign letter=R'.  Type 'exit'"

If you do not see the partition that contains the recovery files, then we have an issue.

the recovery can be hidden
you can change the attributes of the partition with diskpart

I see the 3 choices in the list part.
                                     size         offset  
part 1   recovery    1500mb     1024
part 2   primary      580 gb        1501 mb
part 3   primary      14 gb           581 gb

The recovery disk I saw before was 14 gbs. Should I choose that one? Even though it doesn't say recovery.    The part 1 recovery seems too small.

After I sel  the the part I assign the drive but it says no volume specified.
So what is the full assign command?
Thx

You want part 3. That contains the files. If you still get no volume specified we get to have more fun! :-)

if you want  to see the properties of the partitions, use detail partition command
more info :  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415

I did that and it says there is no volume specified.

Anything else?

What did the disk diagnostic I told you to run show???

Yes you do want to run a chkdsk on the hard drive. download and install EASEUS Partition Manager from here.
 http://m.download.cnet.com/EaseUS-Partition-Master-Home-Edition/3000-2248_4-10863346.html
slave the hard drive again to your computer and unhide the 14GB partition. Apply the changes, then put the hard drive back in the laptop and try again.

Not a chkdsk, that only tests the file-system, but not the disk. You MUST run the manufacturer's diagnostic utility first, and if that has NO errors you can run chkdsk later.

That is true, I agree with rindi.

If it is multiple .SWM files
imagex.exe /ref RECOVERY*.SWM /apply RECOVERY1.SWM 1 C:\

What I have are preinst* files.

imagex.exe /ref PREINST*.SWM /apply PREINST1.SWM 1 C:\

Is the above correct?  Or do I have use the wildcard on the 2nd PREINST ?

list this?
imagex.exe /ref PREINST*.SWM /apply PREINST*.SWM 1 C:\

thx
Paul

Nope, that is correct paulbarstool.  The first listing is to describe ALL the files, hence the wildcard.  The second listing is to tell it which .swm file to start with.  So

imagex.exe /ref PREINST*.SWM /apply PREINST1.SWM 1 C:\

is correct.

I've tried both and it says error opening PREINST* .SWM.

Can I run them individually?  

Paul

The first preinst file is

preinst2.swm
preinst3.swm

so on

there is no preinst1 file

there is a PREINST.SWM file

Paul

I changed it to my files and it's working now.
Will let you know.
ThankS

Okay, what do you mean by changes it to your files?

Yes, PREINST.SWM would be the first file by the way.

imagex.exe /ref PREINST*.SWM /apply PREINST1.SWM 1 C:\
This is what I typed in before, but I don't have a preinst1.swm file.

I just have the preinst.swm then preinst2.swm then preinst3.swm files. I don't have a preinst1.swm file.

So I changed my line to
imagex.exe /ref PREINST*.SWM /apply PREINST.SWM 1 C:\
Just removing the 1 from the 2nd preinst file.

Paul
It's going right now.  Hopefully its good?!  :)

It ran and I rebooted the computer, it sat for 10 minutes on the boot screen, it hasn't gone past that yet.

If it is just a blinking cursor, insert your Windows disc and run automatic repair.  This should find the installation and change it to the bootable partition.  If that doesn't work, download burn UBCD.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

ok.ty

The install completed and I restarted the computer and let it fix errors and it still gave me problems.  I think the hard drive might be bad.  If I did a backup of the recovery drive can I reformat the drive to see if that would help?

Thx
Paul

What problems are you having?  Have you ran a chkdsk with the drive slaved?

i.e.  chkdsk E: /v /x /r

I did run a chkdsk beforehand and it hung.  To answer the other question my friend DID NOT make system restore cd/dvds.

I have the laptop drive connected to my windows 7 desktop now,  I found the application area in the Toshiba HD recovery folders.  Can I run this program on my desktop?  I just don't want to screw up my PERSONAL desktop.

Thx
Paul

I don't know if you can run it externally like that for making the Recovery DVD's.  What are the error messages that you are getting?  Maybe I can help you through them.  It is still not booting into Windows, or it is in and you are getting error popups?  Any pictures of what it is doing would be helpful also.  It sounds like we are at least halfway there! :)

I also noticed I have boot*.WIM files.  Do I have to imagex them too?

I have three of them   boot.wim, boot64.wim and bootre64.wim.

I didnt do those before.

Paul

No, you should not have to imagex.exe those. What are the errors specifically you are getting?

>>  I did run a chkdsk beforehand and it hung  <<  thsis indicates disk or disk info problems, so the partition can be bad
maybe best to order the recovery CD's from toshiba

Good solutions.  Most likely a hardware problem.  Will buy new recovery cds first then buy hard disk if needed.