Toshiba Satellite A100 Win XP home will not boot!

Would this work using WinXP pro to do the recovery install on a Win home based Toshiba A100 Satellite Lp.Tp? That's the situation I'm in, 2nd hand Laptop with no install or recovery disks,but I have a copy of WinXP-Pro.

 

Before a wipe and reinstall, perhaps it's better to look at why it isn't booting... what error(s) do you get on power up?

 

It Says 1.to insert widows installation disc and restart. 2.Choose language settings, then click "next ". 3.Click repair computer. If you do not have disk, contact Administrator or manufacturer for assistance.Then File:\Boot\BCD,Status:Oxc000000f. Then it says, Info:An error occurred while Attempting to read boot config. data. That's all I get,not to informative really.

 

My first step would be to test the hard drive for errors, there's no point in restoring a system if the HD is messed up.

If you can determine the model (check BIOS), you can download relevant tools here...

ExcelStore, Hitachi/IBM, Samsung, Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum, Western Digital

After that I'd strongly advice asking Toshiba for recovery discs, they shoud supply those with a nominal fee.

However, if you wish to use you XP Pro disc you will need a valid and unused license key and you'll probably have to download additional drivers from the Toshiba website for the laptop.

 

I ran chkdsk from recovery console on Pro and all it said was there was a few errors but it did not sound that messed up.Thanks for your time by the way!!

 

Probably still best to run one of those diagnostic tools, and then requesting recovery disc(s) from Toshiba though.

You're welcome,

The A100 is a series of laptops, if you look underneath you should see a label that will help ID it further. If you post that then I or someone else will help direct you to the drivers for that particular model if you decide to go the XP Pro route.

 

That's a Vista operating system. With a Vista disc, one of these repair options might get it going again.

 

Thanks Dave,

Totally missed that, Sorry Stryder007

 

Actually it is an A100 PSAA8C-0FH00E. Must be older,when I was running the Win XP PRO repair console I did a command that allowed me to view the partions, Diskpart or CHKDISK, something like that, and that is where I was told it was XP HOME.If memory serves,that is.I've been at this awhile now (days),so I can only be kinda sure.As a matter of fact the windows install sticker is on the bottom of it boldly stating XP HOME.Now I'm sure,Sorry guy's.I\ll try those hard drive Utilities you linked me with earlier,and post tomorrow night.I'ts a hitachi HD. Thanks again!!

 

Regardless of what the sticker says, the message you posted is in line with a Vista operating system.

Being a second hand computer, are you quite sure someone didn't upgrade it to Vista?

 

Haven't been Geekin long enough to know anything for sure.So I'm definately open to any sound advice.Thanks.Gotta crash started to get buggy.Tomorrow!

 

Sound advice.