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