[Bob Loblaw]

My computer froze for a few minutes so I shut it down. Now it won't load up. I can type my password, choose which mode (safe mode, start windows normally, etc), and click F2 and F12 for setup and boot options but it never loads long enough to get to my desktop and allow me to run the internet or any programs. It just keeps restarting. I tried the recovery disk but it came back an error and said hard disk not found and only gave me the option to turn off the computer. Searched google but couldn't find anything. If someone can fix this for me I'll give points sometime down the line.

[onlooker]

I hope your hard drive isn't failing.

[Bluehorseshoe]

So you can get into safe mode?

[mighty maron]

safe mode doesnt work?

You can make a bootable usb drive with linux from another computer....adjust bios in the computer that has a problem...this will see if it loads the linux os or if its hardware related

[blackbeSSt]

im guessing you are either on a phone or another computer huh?

if you are comfortable enough with computers you can crack open the case to make sure something didn't come loose. all it takes is a loose cable and boom, hard disk not found

[Bob Loblaw]

onlooker - the only thing on google I found similar to this problem said I might need a new hard drive

bluehorseshoe - I can get to the screen where it gives me the option to run in safe mode that's as far as it goes. I click on safe mode, it starts loading, then stops and restarts

mighty maron - I appreciate the repsonse but I'm computer illiterate and only understood about 4 words in that post

blackbesst - another computer. I'm not comfortable cracking it open. I know nothing about computers.

[onlooker]

Yeah. I had something similar happen. I did a disk scan and it came up with bad sectors on my hard drive.

[Bob Loblaw]

This is something I found on a blog relating to the error I got. As you said, sounds like a hard drive problem. How do I replace it and what's the cost?

p Repair Blog.

Toshiba Satellite ERROR F3E1000001
Thursday, August 07, 2008


If you encounter error F3E1000001 while running your recovery disks on a Toshiba Satellite A105 or P105, it is most likely because the hard drive is BAD.

As of right now, this is not documented on Toshiba's site.

This threw up for a loop for a few minutes today- a customer's P105 came in with a bad hard drive. Our new hard drive kept giving us an error- it turned out the new hard drive was bad as well. It would show up in BIOS just fine but Windows XP Media Center Edition couldn't find it. Running DFT revealed the drive was defective. Drive #3 is in and working! Yay!

[blackbeSSt]

yeah hate to break it to ya but you're hard drive sounds like toast. if you ever get into windows download hdtune and run some tests on it for bad sectors like looker just mentioned.

got anyone around that knows about computers that could crack it open?

and just out of curiosity, what kinda computer is it and how old roughly? and what version of windows?

[blackbeSSt]

another thing to check would be the bios to see if it finds the hd there. if you get in there don't fukk around with anything or you could really jack your system up

[G's pks]

Bob...same thing porn...you must resist..points please...

[onlooker]

The cost depends on the size hard drive. Under a 100 bucks could get you a good size and you will need a Windows CD to load the OS back on.

If your uncomfortable, find a friend who could do it for you.

[Bob Loblaw]

yeah hate to break it to ya but you're hard drive sounds like toast. if you ever get into windows download hdtune and run some tests on it for bad sectors like looker just mentioned.

got anyone around that knows about computers that could crack it open?

and just out of curiosity, what kinda computer is it and how old roughly? and what version of windows?

I don't think anyone around here can crack it open and know what they're doing

It's old. I remember winning 3k from pacific poker and buying it. Whenever that original ban on internet poker took place, I probably bought it a year before that. It's a toshiba A105

[Bob Loblaw]

Bob...same thing porn...you must resist..points please...

I'm so very weak. Can't resist.

[Bob Loblaw]

I really don't completely understand what the hard drive is. I don't care if I sound stupid saying that. You guys think that a hard drive problem would allow the computer to start up normally? By the sounds of it, I figure a hard drive problem would shut the computer down altogether.

[blackbeSSt]

I don't think anyone around here can crack it open and know what they're doing

It's old. I remember winning 3k from pacific poker and buying it. Whenever that original ban on internet poker took place, I probably bought it a year before that. It's a toshiba A105

ahh. so its a lappy. and its looking like about 5 years old roughly so im guessing windows xp.

I really don't completely understand what the hard drive is. I don't care if I sound stupid saying that. You guys think that a hard drive problem would allow the computer to start up normally? By the sounds of it, I figure a hard drive problem would shut the computer down altogether.

think of the hd as your brain. thats where all the info is stored. but unlike a human body you can start up a computer without the hd. but you won't get anywhere cause everything is stored on the hd that it can't find.

[Bob Loblaw]

Oh ya, windows xp. Sorry, forgot that part. It's gotta be more than 5 years old. I would say a minimum of 7

That brain analogy makes sense. Looks like I'm ******. I might just start unscrewing some things and see if I can see if something is loose.

[maersksealand]

I have Toshiba computers all my life...sound like yours it's done. RIP. Get $500 and buy the new http://thetoshibatablet.com/

[BettingGeek]

Do a clean Win XP install. Do you still have the disc?

[MarlinsFan2212]

Restore to Factory Settings if you have nothing important on your computer. Otherwise Id advise you take it in for repair somewhere.

[Bob Loblaw]

Do a clean Win XP install. Do you still have the disc?

the only disc I have is Toshiba Recovery and Applications/Drivers Media

[Bob Loblaw]

Restore to Factory Settings if you have nothing important on your computer. Otherwise Id advise you take it in for repair somewhere.

I have nothing too important. I wouldn't know where to begin doing this though. I also would like some other opinions on this. I don't want to do this process, lose what I do have on the computer, and have it still not work.

[BettingGeek]

the only disc I have is Toshiba Recovery and Applications/Drivers Media

Use the disc to restore it to the manufacture state.
It will give the option to back up and reformat the drive.

[mminkovski]

HD is gone. Go see the pros so they can restore your info.

[Bob Loblaw]

Use the disc to restore it to the manufacture state.
It will give the option to back up and reformat the drive.

It doesn't give me any options to do anything other than shut down the computer. It keeps coming back as an error and says hard disk not found.

[Bob Loblaw]

For those talking about getting a new hard drive, this is the first thing I found on ebay. Would you recommend?

http://cgi.ebay.com/250GB-HARD-DRIVE...item56422cc208

[Bob Loblaw]

For those talking about getting a new hard drive, this is the first thing I found on ebay. Would you recommend?

http://cgi.ebay.com/250GB-HARD-DRIVE...item56422cc208

Or what's the GB I'm looking for?

[Robust]

HD is not gone if it shows up in the BIOS.. it is just corrupt.. load an NTFS4Dos disk (or similar) to boot from and run chkdsk (check disk) like so:

chkdsk /f /r

let it do its thing.. when done, reboot.. if it is not fixed, your last option (since i am not at the keyboard working on it myself ) is to format and reinstall windows.. download xp from a torrent or usenet and install it.. after you are done, load up your recovery disk from toshiba and she will be back to normal - LESS your files.. (THIS WILL LOSE ALL YOUR FILES.. FYI)

good luck and post back with results..

Robust

[LVHerbie]

Although it is likely that it is the hard drive (as all of them will eventually fail) you might want to take it to someone to look at it before you replace it... Most computer places shouldn't charge much just to diagnosis the problem...

The size you get really depends on your usage... Hard drives are so cheap anymore I wouldn't worry too much as long as long as you get say at least 500 GB as you can always add a second one or get a external if you need it later...

Also if you don't want to wait for amazon to get one to you can get one at somewhere like walmart as well... If they don't have internal you can get a external and just pop it out of the case as they are the same once you open the case...

[brad89]

Or what's the GB I'm looking for?

1) Try to borrow a Windows XP from someone and follow a guide on how to perform a Repair (do it correctly and you don't lose anything)
2) Use your Recovery disc to set it back to default (you will lose all your documents etc.)
3) If you can get a XP disc, then perform a clean format and then use your Drivers disc to install the required drivers (again, this will wipe everything clean)

I would try doing it in that order to eliminate a software problem.

If you end up purchasing a new hard drive, I would probably avoid that ebay one you posted as it's refurbished. I would buy a new one, just make sure it's 2.5" and SATA. From what I can see on google your current drive is 120gb (you can check under My Computer the used/total size) so it's up to you what size you want/need to get.

See if you can find out how to remove the current hard drive (from what I see, all you do is remove the bottom left panel on the back and then slide it out) because if you can't remove it you will need to take it to someone anyway. If you need to do that, you may as well get them to check if it's actually faulty or not before replacing it.

Regardless of what you end up doing, backup anything important so you don't lose it!

Does the Windows loading screen flash up just before it reboots itself?

Edit - I'm pretty sure it would, otherwise it would sit on a black screen. That points towards a corrupt installation (which step 1 would fix) or possibly a sector problem as mentioned above.

[LVHerbie]

For those talking about getting a new hard drive, this is the first thing I found on ebay. Would you recommend?

http://cgi.ebay.com/250GB-HARD-DRIVE...item56422cc208

Sorry... is this for a laptop? If so disregard what I said about buying an external...

Also if you need to reinstall windows and don't have or can't find the install disk you can them online through a google search with instructions on how to burn the files an install cd...

[Roadtrip635]

I just replaced the hard drive in my PC on Monday. I bought a new HD at Best Buy 500GB for $60. If you really want to check for deals online go to Newegg.com, great deals, selection and super fast delivery (usually free delivery too). It really is simple to replace, usually just a couple connecters and that's it. One power connection cable and one data connection cable, it will take you longer to open the case than to change out the HD. The connecters are of different sizes so you can't mix up which connector goes where. If it helps check out YouTube if you can for video demonstration.

The new HD is a blank slate so you will need an OS installation disk (Operating System, in your case Microsoft XP). Put the installation disk in your DVD/CD drive and when you power up it will start to install, just follow the on screen directions. You will need to update the OS from Microsoft Windows Update and that will take awhile. Again if you want, check out youtube for video demonstrations.

Due to the age of your PC, you might want to consider getting a new one if that's not possible a new HD will hold you awhile.
My hard drive had a bunch of bad sectors and was slowing to a crawl or just completely freezing up. I had a hard time booting up sometimes 15-20 restarts just to get it booted. My HD replacement went smooth and easy, just takes forever to download all the Windows Updates. It really is easy to do. You can ask for prices to recover the info off your old HD, but prices are usually pretty steep. Hope this helps.

[jjgold]

Boby get anew fukkin computer

I am tired of this Bobby

[obamaismyuncle]

run this program..should help http://www.tube8.com/

[excel]

sounds like catastrophic hd failure to me.