Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: gator on May 12, 2010, 08:47:44 PM

Title: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 12, 2010, 08:47:44 PM
I have a toshiba g35-av650 with two hard drives; it will not boot up, and keep sgiving me a loop back error message.  before i can read the message it is gone.  I have reseated everything in the system, flashed the bios and nothing works.  I used the recovery disks and still get nothing.  2x i got a message that the OS had not fully installed.  Ubuntu will install and operate, but not the windows xp.....any ideas??????
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: Allan on May 13, 2010, 05:45:54 AM
1) What led up to this (what is different since the last time the system booted properly)?
2) At what point in the boot process does the error message appear?
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 08:11:51 AM
that part is unknown; this is not my computer. it was given to me to see if I could repair it; and #2, the windows logon screen comes up and processes then it goes to a blue info screen that talks about loop back errors ?????
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: patio on May 13, 2010, 03:14:57 PM
Where is this Windows CD from and what exactly does it say on it ? ?
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: Computer_Commando on May 13, 2010, 04:14:39 PM
Is this the computer?  A laptop with 2 hard drives in a RAID configuration?
That's a weird one!!  Where does Toshiba come up with these configurations?
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/qosmio_G35-AV650.pdf
My 1st guess is one of the hard drives has failed.
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 05:59:30 PM
HDD failure would be my guess, but when I run the system diagnostics, everything passes as OK;  I have the OEM recovery disks that came with the laptop; however, even when it has been restored it still changes nothing.  I talked to Toshiba on the phone today and they said "maybe" the disks were defective, but they could sell me a new set.
I am thinking maybe that I need to download ALL of the drivers and reinstall them just like this is a new build ?  The only other odd thing that I noticed is that the system came with two 100Gb HDD, but now has one 160Gb Fujitsu and one 160Gb WD (that has an HP sticker on it)...........oh, by the way guys thanks for the help.
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: patio on May 13, 2010, 06:00:56 PM
That can be tried...overwriting drivers whether they are bad or not will cause no harm...
Just make sure you grab the correct ones.

PS What did they want for 2 new drives ?
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 06:05:51 PM
I did not ask about replacement drives, they said that they could sell me another set of recovery disks......sorry, if I did not say it right.
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: Computer_Commando on May 13, 2010, 06:07:53 PM
HDD failure would be my guess, but when I run the system diagnostics, everything passes as OK...
Is it set up as RAID 1 or RAID 0?  Go into BIOS & turn RAID off.
Since they are probably Toshiba drives, you can attempt to use Seagate Seatools.  It recognizes my Hitachi drives.
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287#toshiba

I did not ask about replacement drives, they said that they could sell me another set of recovery disks......sorry, if I did not say it right.
I think Toshiba drives have a "special" interface.  There was a thread here a couple weeks ago about this.  But that was IDE, the Spec says SATA
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 06:09:37 PM
Is this the computer?  A laptop with 2 hard drives in a RAID configuration?
That's a weird one!!  Where does Toshiba come up with these configurations?
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/qosmio_G35-AV650.pdf
My 1st guess is one of the hard drives has failed.
    Yes, this is the computer, except for hard drive changes; and yes, it is a pretty weird config.
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 06:17:02 PM
I cannot access the BIOS as of yet; I downloaded from another computer and run them on a CD.  Here is what is in system setup:

LDO-1 / online / 160Gb WDC WD1600BEVS-60RST REV. 04.01G04
LDO-0 / online / 160Gb Fujitsu MHY2160BH REV. 0000000B

Level : 2RAID-0

ACPI Bios version = 3.90
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: Computer_Commando on May 13, 2010, 06:21:00 PM
...The only other odd thing that I noticed is that the system came with two 100Gb HDD, but now has one 160Gb Fujitsu and one 160Gb WD (that has an HP sticker on it)...........
Sorry, I missed this.  Use FJDT for Fujitsu  & Data Lifeguard for WD.  I wouldn't expect the Toshiba diagnostics to work with these drives.
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287#toshiba

I cannot access the BIOS as of yet; I downloaded from another computer and run them on a CD.  Here is what is in system setup:
LDO-1 / online / 160Gb WDC WD1600BEVS-60RST REV. 04.01G04
LDO-0 / online / 160Gb Fujitsu MHY2160BH REV. 0000000B
Level : 2RAID-0
ACPI Bios version = 3.90
RAID-0 is striped data, the least robust of any configuration.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 13, 2010, 06:25:02 PM
Thanks, I'm going to take a break and get back to this later tonight.  I appreciate all of the help; later I will post again to let you know how things turn out. 

Right now, it's time for some SCIFI and popcorn.....................
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: patio on May 13, 2010, 08:18:22 PM
Quote
Right now, it's time for some SCIFI and popcorn.....................

Both excellent choices ! !
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 14, 2010, 09:49:35 AM
well.....the scifi and popcorn were good; now back to business.  I ran the WD hard drive diagnostics and it checked out as a "pass".  I checked the Fujitsu HD using Seagate tools an it also checked "pass".

What I am currently doing is erasing both drives (the Toshiba recovery disk is telling me 16:53:28 to complete) and will try to reinstall OS using the recovery disks from Toshiba.  I also have some extra Kingston memory laying around and I will try that also.    That's the latest............if I sound frustrated, I am not; I like the challenge ;D
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: Computer_Commando on May 15, 2010, 12:34:02 PM
...I ran the WD hard drive diagnostics and it checked out as a "pass".  I checked the Fujitsu HD using Seagate tools an it also checked "pass".  What I am currently doing is erasing both drives (the Toshiba recovery disk is telling me 16:53:28 to complete) and will try to reinstall OS using the recovery disks from Toshiba.  I also have some extra Kingston memory laying around and I will try that also.    That's the latest............if I sound frustrated, I am not; I like the challenge...
When data gets corrupted on RAID-0, you're SOL.  Drives are probably good, but the testing tools are not perfect.  16 hrs to "erase" drives seems excessive.
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: gator on May 15, 2010, 03:41:10 PM
You're right; the drives checked okay; the only thing I haven't done is to load new drivers for windows xp, or try a new copy of xp.  I have been using the recovery disks that came with the laptop

FYI:  when the system attempts to come up for the first time, is when I get the blue info screen with the loop back message; however it is only up for about 3-4 seconds.  I did notice that if I leave it running for a few more minutes, you can "faintly" hear the music that Microsoft uses as you set up your new system???? no screen image though. :-\ :-\
Title: Re: toshiba won't load
Post by: patio on May 15, 2010, 04:29:16 PM
If you have access to an XP CD i'd suggest this is the way to go...
DLoad all the appropiate drivers beforehand so your ready.

You won't have all the pre-installed bloatware on it after the install and the activation key will work as long as
A) The CD being used is an MS CD and
B) The machine has a legit Code sticker on it.