Laptop no find hdd.

NeoStarO1 · February 22nd, 2003, 04:24 PM

well specs outta the way here.

Toshiba Satelitte 1400-S151
256mb mem
30 hdd (still trying to find out which model.)

Few months ago I got rid of XP Pro cuz I don't like it and had partitioned and installed win2kpro. Everything has been running smooth as a babies butt. then 2 days ago I had my first Blue screen. Sorta, I just did a Ctrl + O to enter in a web address and it gave me a fast blue screen and then rebooted on its own. All was fine after the reboot.

Yesterday it did it again but this time when I click on a application icon on my launch bar. Same thing, Fast blue screen and then just rebooted on its own. Everything was fine after reboot, didn't see any ill effects or nothing.

Then powered down last night for the night. Wake up this morning and it hangs for about 2 minutes at the toshiba splash screen. then gives me option to F1 cuz says check disk. okay so do that and i see in bois no hard drive is set. okay. so go to next page and i have absolutely no option in the bois to auto detect or put user pre-defined paramaters for the hard drive in there. Won't let me do squat.

i can't access any of the partitions in dos.
C: Local System
D: page file
E: by stuff
F: my stuff.
G: cdwr/dvd (however this letter for some reason chnaged ot Q. )

I tried reinstalling theos and nothing, said no drive found.
I tried re installing the restore disk nothing, it just goes in a hicupping loop warning me i will loose all data if i choose to continue.

So looking for suggestions of what to do before i crumble and break down and call toshiba. Trying to figure out if this is a bois issue not allowing me to define the drive or if the hdd is bad now.

Looking fo the type of hdd that is in there to see if i can find a diag tools to use.

Any suggestions welcome please. My last back up was about a month ago. and lot has accumulated on it in a months time. I know i will probably loose all that hard worked data and will have to recreate them all again. i just want the damm thing working like it was.

TIA

Edit: Well here aer the hdd specs. I am assuming that toshiba is using thier own brand.

Quote:

Primary Hard Disk Drive: 30gb hdd; Enhanced IDE (ATA-5): 9.7mm height, 0.2lbs, 14.3ms average access time (read/write), 3ms track to track seek time (read/write), supports PIO Mode4, ultra DMA mode5, Multiword DMA mode2, service removable.

I belive the bois is APM.

pickel · February 22nd, 2003, 05:06 PM

Sorry to hear about your problems. The only thing that I could think of, not knowing much about laptops , would be, like a desktop, try uplugging the drive and plugging it back in, may have come loose, just guessing....Can you reset CMOS ????? I have a reset on my handheld and has worked many times. Good luck

February 22nd, 2003, 05:30 PM

Neo, maybe the BIOS battery died. Check that as well as loose connections as pickel says.

"....smooth as a baby's butt..."

cowboybooter · February 22nd, 2003, 05:44 PM

As above, connections and CMOS battery, do you have access to another hdd to check a) your HDD, and b) cabling connectors.

Is there a BIOS option to restore factory defaults ?

[Edit: I can't find anything on APM bios, are you sure that's the one ? ]

CBB

NeoStarO1 · February 22nd, 2003, 06:15 PM

oops my bad, Bois is ACPI Bois version 1.30
I have tried "Set Default values"

I think to reset cmos battery i would have to pop open the case, which would void the warrenty. (that is if it ain't voided already. )

Um let me check the rest of your possibilies and check back in, Just got back home from dropping my son off at the shop.

Edit:

Okay here is the exact message im getting upon booting.

Intel(R) Boot Agent Version 4.1.03
Copyright (C) 1997-2002, Intel Corporation
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting Intel Boot Agent.
Insert system disk in drive.
Press any key when ready.

I'll see if I can find any cables but not sure without opening the case itself other than the back panels. but will see what i can see.

will post back wanted to post the exact message.

Also how can a cable get loose on a laptop?

NeoStarO1 · February 22nd, 2003, 06:43 PM

well finally figured out how to remove the hdd, its in there pretty solid, no way for it to come loose. still no go.

oh ya finally registered the thing so I can get replacement hdd if that is the case. now that I think about it, i recall upon booting up the hard drive while my hand is sitting there I could feel it grinding a bit, like if it was hard time spin up or something. I just presumed it was normal behavior for laptop. maybe no??? Dunno.

Be cool if they sent me a replacement hdd without having to send the laptop to them if that turns out to what i need to do.

Edit:
how do i figure out what type of hard drive they used? So I can download some sort of hdd diagnostic utility to see if its the hard drive. This is the info i got off the hard drive.
242702000
Toshiba
02354F

cowboybooter · February 22nd, 2003, 07:18 PM

Sorry Neo, didn't see your previous, was gonna say there is usually a panel to unscrew underneath to get at HDD.

The numbers mean nothing but you could search Toshiba / google for a match. I'd guess that one is serial no, other is batch, but hey.

[Edit: ACPI

ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is an open industry specification co-developed by Compaq, Intel, Microsoft, Phoenix, and Toshiba.

ACPI establishes industry-standard interfaces for OS-directed configuration and power management on laptops, desktops, and servers.

ACPI evolves the existing collection of power management BIOS code, Advanced Power Management (APM) application programming interfaces (APIs, PNPBIOS APIs, Multiprocessor Specification (MPS) tables and so on into a well-defined power management and configuration interface specification.

The specification enables new power management technology to evolve independently in operating systems and hardware while ensuring that they continue to work together.]

CBB

samwichse · February 22nd, 2003, 07:26 PM

Well, Toshiba's site isn't too handy is it? I did find this in the FAQs though:

Quote:

Q:
I have a question concerning the CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM or Hard Disk Drive that was installed in my new Toshiba Computer. Can you help me?

A:
All questions regarding CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, DVD-RAMs or Hard Drives installed in Toshiba computers are handled through the Computer Systems Division Technical Support Department. On-line support is available at the Computer System's Website or you can contact them at (800)457-7777.

At least it's toll free.

cowboybooter · February 22nd, 2003, 07:36 PM

Not Toll Free from the UK, but even though I tried it I got no reply !!

Heads up, Toshiba, Sort your site out !!

CBB

NeoStarO1 · February 22nd, 2003, 07:44 PM

307$ fo the hard drive. Wow,
Well I hope they replace it under warrenty. Im guessing its shot. I hate sucumbing to having someone else fix my computers its like a major blow to my ego.