Computer help forum: my Toshiba satallite laptop with windows 7 wont load windows

With the situation as you describe the only option seems to be a complete reinstall.

But to get your photos and other files out, I would try this;

1] On some other computer and with a CD/R handy, download Ubuntu Live CD and burn it as an ISO to the CD.

2] Take the CD to your own laptop and insert it into the drive, restart the laptop.

3] Immediately on restart, enter the BIOS to make sure that it, (the BIOS), is set to boot from the CD. There may be some clues how to enter the BIOS in this discussion, but a bit scarily, I see some Toshiba's are called "Legacy" and have no BIOS.

If that is the case with your Toshiba then just see if it will boot from the CD anyway.

4] Ubuntu Live CD is an OS, (Operating System) wholly contained on the CD. When loaded it makes no changes to your existing OS. If Ubuntu can find the hard drive you can then use Ubuntu's own native File Manager to find and copy out those files onto some other removable media, like a memory stick or similar.

Here is the link for downloading the Ubuntu Live CD, with guidance how to burn/copy it to CD.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/try-ubuntu-before-you-install

About reinstalling Windows if this comes to that. I don't know how Toshiba allows for that, but it might be an option on power up to access a hidden partition to return the system to factory settings.

Good luck and I hope that helps.

Mark

like a failed hard drive. If not, you really need the OS CD, boot from it and start the Repair Console.

You have few options and since cash is a problem too, that's not good. I would remove the HD from the laptop and using an adapter for laptop drives, attach to a desktop. Treat it as another HD on that desktop and see if it can be accessed. If YES, then retrieve any data but scan 1st. You can also run any AV scanner to directly check scan that laptop HD in case it's infected. Once scanned and OK, then retrieve data. If you can't access it and was attached correctly, then you have a bad HD. The cost of the adapter is minor and can be used later so not wasted. The only other option is to find out who made the laptop HD. proceed to be support website and get their diags. pgms. Run them using the "non-destructive tests" and see what the results are to prove the HD is OK or not.

You can use a live version of Ubuntu Linux disc. Burn then boot it up and then retrieve data that way. The live version allows that OS to be loaded and the laptop HD is treated as storage, thus retrieve to disc or flashdrive. Google for instructions on data rescue, very popular idea. Of course the laptop HD has to be good.

Last, you can use a "Win7 repair disc" from another PC of the same win7(32 or 64-bit). Using your friend's PC generate a disc and use that for basic OS repairs. Is is NOT a recovery/restore disc and is OK to do provided you have the same win7 type. This is the same repair option if you had access to the authentic recovery disc from it's menu list.

tada -----Willy