Toshiba Win 7 Satellite  - recovering / reloading windows

Here you go:

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/System-Recovery-and-Recovery/How-To-Perform-system-recovery-Windows-7/ta-p/279643


Using Partitioned Recovery Method (Free Recovery)

Most Toshiba laptops with come with the factory software recovery image stored in a special hidden partition on the hard drive of the laptop. The factory software recovery image allows the user to recover the laptop to its factory fresh condition as when it was new.
This partition may also be referred to as the Partitioned Recovery Method or Free Recovery option.

 

IMPORTANT: The recovery process deletes information stored on the internal storage drive. Be sure to save your work to external media before executing the recovery.

 

Make sure the computer is turned off ("Shut-down" from the Windows Start menu)
Remove any peripherals such an external mouse, keyboard, monitor, USB flash drive etc.
Make sure the AC Adapter is plugged in and working.
On machines with the F key numbers on the top edge of the keys and in White:
• Press and hold the 0 (zero) key and power up the laptop.
• Release the 0 (zero) key when the recovery warning screen appears.
On machines with the F key numbers on the bottom edge of the keys and in Gray:
• Power up the laptop.
• When the initial TOSHIBA screen displays, press the F12 key to enter the boot menu.
• Use the arrow keys to select the HDD Recovery option and press the enter key to begin.
The TOSHIBA recovery wizard warning screen appears stating that when the recovery is executed all data will be deleted and the original factory software image will be rewritten. If the recovery process offers a choice of Operating Systems, select the appropriate one for you.
After you are sure you have everything you want from the laptop saved, click Yes.
When the Toshiba Recovery Wizard opens, the default and recommended option is "Recovery of Factory Default Software".
After selecting your desired recovery method, select Next.
On the next screen you may have recovery method options. The default and recommended method is to Recover to Out of Box state.
Select next to continue.
Follow the on screen instructions as you navigate through the system recovery steps.
The laptop will restart multiple times and install the needed components.

Try removing the battery and disconnect the power for 60 seconds and try again.

I've done this on my wife's laptops for her school and it works every time.

A reset is different than a system restore.  A restore places the machine in out-of-the-box status.

Now on my Toshiba, I can create the recovery disks and boot from them to do a system restore.

I know it's not your preferred method, but you should consider this option.

There are many different Toshiba satellite models, and there are many different generations of them.Manufacturers often change the recovery methods over time, so it would be best to look for the manual for your specific model, where everything should be explained.

If, once you got the correct manual for your model, and the factory restore still doesn't work when you follow the instructions, you may have used a wrong timing with your key-pressing, so trying again and again might help. Other problems could be that the recovery partition has been deleted or is corrupt. Many people think they don't need it and just delete the partition, or sometimes it is also possible that the disk was changed during the PC's lifetime, and the new disk wouldn't have such a recovery partition.

Sometimes it can also help if you make the recovery partition the partition that has the "boot" flag set, then a normal boot should go directly to that partition. You can set that boot or active flag using most partition utilities, for instance GParted which is included on the PCRepix LiveDVD:

http://pcrepix.sourceforge.net

I do, but sometimes you need to take the path where you are making progress rather than sitting in one place spinning your wheels.