Toshiba W-7 went dark

"Paul" wrote in message
news
HB wrote:
All I know so far is Fatdog will run in RAM from the DVD. It doesn't
install on the HD. I have no idea where to find a command prompt or what
it's called in Linux. Or a "run" window. I know zero about the system.


I showed a picture. I put the word "Terminal" in it, and
a red arrow. That's how you get to the command line,
similar to using Command Prompt.
Fatdog64 doesn't have a lot in it.

OK found it. This is what I get:

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/



However, using the terminal, I discovered a smartctl
command to read out the SMART Health info of the hard drive.

In addition, I discovered the ddrescue package is available
in the Package Manager on Fatdog64, and it will download ddrescue.

A "package manager?" What is it called in Windows? I know nothing about the
Linux OS.

By running ddrescue, it's possible to "read scan" the disk drive,
and determine whether any sectors show actual CRC errors. If the
hard drive is not healthy, and cannot be scanned from
end to end, that gives a possible justification for
seeing "disk read error" when booting Windows.

Even when Fatdog can only run from the DVD in the DVD/CD drive? What code
do I type in the terminal for it to access the HD from the DVD it's running
from?

There can also be software reasons for having a disk read error.
Maybe if winload.exe is missing or something. Sometimes the
STOP code on the screen, gives a hint as to what the root cause
might be, and you can use the AUMHA Stop table for decoding
the error.

http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

I've read what seems to be hundreds of pages and have not found the answer
to getting the Toshiba to boot.

"Java Jive" wrote in message
news
On 19/03/2018 11:08, Paul wrote:

If a command shell has actually been reached, as the '# -' ending of HB's
quote suggests it may have, then anything he types at that point should be
echoed after '# -', and we should be in business, but he doesn't explain
whether he actually tried to type anything there. His reply suggests that
he didn't realise that we're asking him to try booting from the Linux DVD
again, and then try typing what I suggested once the '# -' appears. I
think he's just thinking "Linux failed, so how could I type anything?"
without actually *trying* what I suggested.

There are so many posts in this thread I can't reply to them all at one
time. This is what I got when I typed in that code.

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/

"Java Jive" wrote in message
news ..

It will be useless, because Linux failed to load properly and tried to
fall back to a command shell. There will be no GUI and no icon.

Linux Fat dog loads properly from the DVD. But the code to type in to bring
up that window doesn't. Maybe because it's rumming from the DVD.

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/

"Java Jive" wrote in message
news
On 19/03/2018 18:30, Paul wrote:

Java Jive wrote:

But he hasn't got a GUI!

I do now. The first version 500 didn't work. The later version loads and
runs from the DVD.

On 21/03/2018 08:08, HB wrote:
"Java Jive" wrote in message
news
On 19/03/2018 11:08, Paul wrote:

If a command shell has actually been reached, as the '# -' ending of HB's
quote suggests it may have, then anything he types at that point should be
echoed after '# -', and we should be in business, but he doesn't explain
whether he actually tried to type anything there. His reply suggests that
he didn't realise that we're asking him to try booting from the Linux DVD
again, and then try typing what I suggested once the '# -' appears. I
think he's just thinking "Linux failed, so how could I type anything?"
without actually *trying* what I suggested.

There are so many posts in this thread

Yes, too many perhaps, because even we are getting confused, so I
hesitate to reply further, however ...

This is what I got when I typed in that code.

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/

.... at least you've successfully got to a command prompt!

What you appear to have done wrong there is type the word 'return' where
you were intended to press the Return or Enter key -
traditionally, some computer documents going way back used to use angled
brackets to denote a keystroke, which is how I come to be doing it still
after all these years. I'm not sure you'll see this much nowadays, but
this little bit of confusion shows why it is still a useful thing to do.

So bearing in mind that, in all the following, Return means press the
Return or Enter key, what happens when you type the following:

1) Let's try Paul's, I think it was, command that you've already
included a photo of yourself trying to do ...
smartctl -a /dev/sdaReturn
.... then if the smartctl program doesn't abort with an error because it
can't find the hard disk, which would show that it's dead, you could
continue as follows ...

2) See if we can list the hard disk partition(s):
fdisk /dev/sdaReturn
.... then in the fdisk program ...
pReturn
.... in other words press the P key followed by the Return key, which
should list the partition(s) on the hard disk ('P' stands for 'print'),
then ...
qReturn
.... to quit back to the command prompt.

3) See if lilo is available, in case we need it to fix the MBR, but note
that if this program is present, the screen is likely to scroll, so
either copy the previous output by hand or photo it before giving this
command (if you are going to photo it, try and avoid the reflection of
the flash falling where it will obscure the command output) ...
lilo --helpReturn
.... if lilo is present, then you will get a screenful of text, but if
it's not installed, you will get a terse message along the lines of ...
lilo not found
.... or similar.

In message , HB writes:

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message
...
In message , HB writes:
[]
I never thought to and now it's wiped clean and doing a backup as I type

What's doing a "backup"?

It doesn't say. It just says " Backup in progress." After removing
everything off the Seagate I did a backup, through it's "right
click/properties/tools (tab)" and it did a "Windows Image backup."
There's the date followed by 6 numbers. I don't know if my news server
allows images to be sent to Usenet.

I see.

I've just been poking around in there, under "advanced recovery", and
one of the options is "Use a system image you created earlier to recover
your computer
If you have created a system image, you can use it to replace everything
on this computer, including Windows, your programs, and all your files,
with the information saved on the system image."

Which is interesting: it makes it clear that the built-in software can
make an image that can be used to restore everything, _including_
Windows. It does _not_ *at that point* explain _how_ you'd use such an
image if the computer won't boot. I presume you have to have made, as
well as the image, a bootable CD of some sort, which it doesn't make
clear. In other words, same as Macrium - you make an image _and_ a
bootable CD to let you use it.
[]
Yes, there is some sort of backup facility built into Windows itself; I'd
forgotten about that. However, to reinstall from the image it makes, you
need to be able to boot _something_ if Windows won't boot.

No info if windows don't boot using the disk. I made one of those System
Repair disks on this healthy problem free W-7 computer and tried to boot the
Toshiba with it. The Toshiba saw the rescue CD,said "press any key to boot
from CD or DVD"

So did you press a key at that point, before the message disappeared?

- but then gave me the same "Disk read error occurred"
error.

If you _didn't_ press a key before the "press any key" message appeared,
the PC would have assumed you'd left the bootable CD in the drive by
mistake, and go on to try to boot from the hard disc as normal (and
fail).
[]
I don't know since these so called Repair disks didn't work when the is same
black-screen-of-death happened to the XP and Vista computers in the past.

Hmm, I wonder what you're doing that kills PCs (-:! I _think_ I've had
that, but maybe only once or twice; mostly my PCs have died due to other
things (the last one from overheating), or have just been superseded by
technology/software (i. e. still work - my Windows '9x laptop does).

OK, so on your external 500G Seagate, you could make three images of that
(using Macrium - I don't know about the basic Windows method), or one or
two plus one or two of the Toshiba, assuming we ever get that back working
again.

Honestly, I've given up hope. It can run software like Linux from the DVD
drive but as far as ever getting Windows to load - I can't see how.

1. Worst case: if the drive is toast, you'd need to buy a new drive, and
load Windows onto it. It _might_ not be necessary to _buy_ the Windows,
but you'd at least have to download it.
2. Medium case: If the drive is OK but its *contents* are _completely_
screwed up, you'd have to reload Windows onto it. (Then as 1.)
3. Good case: if some basic part of the drive is corrupted - such as the
partition table or boot sector (I'm not sure of those are the same thing
- Paul knows better than I do about disc intricacies), we may be able to
fix/reload/whatever those, so that the Toshiba can see its files.
4. Best case: just some of the files have been corrupted (ones that
Windows needs to be able to boot); if that's the case, we just need to
repair those files.

1 and 2, you'd probably do on the Toshiba itself; 3 and 4 we might help
you to do on the Toshiba having booted from some sort of CD/DVD (Linux,
Windows repair disc, Macrium boot disc, ...), or we might help you to do
by taking the drive out and connecting it to something else.

Go on,
buy one of them; they're cheap enough, and always useful. It's possible
you're going to need to buy the laptop a replacement HD anyway, so you
could combine the orders.

I can't see what use Linux is since the Toshiba runs it just fine from the
DVD. What useful info do we get from that? It's like W running OE6 from a

You get the information that all parts of the laptop except the drive
are OK; we have yet to determine whether the drive is faulty or just
corrupted (see next post). If the drive is just corrupted, then Linux
may well be of use in fixing that (though not with me giving the help).

thumbdrive. It not just the cost of a new HD but then paying for the W OS to
load on it. There is no existing OS CD for the Toshiba.

No. (As for the HD - I recently bought a 1T laptop HD at a computer fair
for 45 pounds; I could have got it slightly cheaper online. And you
don't need a 1T drive; I'd say for a laptop you don't use much 250G or
500G would be fine - or even less, but you won't _find_ less than 250G
new these days. You told us how much you'd actually used on the W7
machine you're using now: I think it was only 1xxG, presumably after
some years of use.) If it does come to needing to reload Windows onto
the machine (which obviously will be the case if you have to replace the
drive), I'm _hoping_ we can help you download one that can be activated
with your existing Microsoft label. (Copy that
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx number somewhere, incidentally; they're
notorious for wearing off, or becoming illegible.) There are also ways
of illegally activating Windows - for example google "DAZ loader" - but
we're not endorsing that.

Give me the name of that docking thing again. Do you know who makes it?

COPY THESE LINKS, or print or save this post: it's taken me a while to
find it again!

I've just looked at mine, and there's no maker's name on it anywhere -
it just says "ALL IN 1 HDD Docking" on the front of it.

I'll call around and see if someone local carries it. I also have to make
sure it has the inserts for the 2 flat cables from the Toshiba's HD. I also

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202052568442
Look at the sixth picture (under the main picture are three thumbnails,
with a "" to the right of them; click that to see the next three, then
click on the right one and it'll replace the main picture. Then click
that. The back slot is for SATA drives. I think this is the image:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DvYAA...eW/s-l1600.jpg

I don't think you'll find them locally, though I don't know US computer
stores - they might be much better than ours; but if you just put "disc
dock" into the search box in ebay or amazon or whatever you normally
use. https://www.ebay.com/itm/151504204416 Seems to be a US seller (I'm
assuming you're in the US).

Here's the "cable", which is cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/172256326228 - the search phrase is "USB to
SATA", and you should find even cheaper, though make sure it's one with
a power supply. You will see the connectors you want, on the ends of the
power supply (four wires) and SATA (red) cables.

Here's the housing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/112652273779 - you can't
see the connectors, but be assured they're on the back of the circuit
board you can see in the second picture. Search for "external housing"
or similar.
[]
A bit of confusion here. It is mine now. My elderly Aunt gave us the
Toshiba when she replaced it with something newer faster and better. I don't
know why because she seldom uses a computer. My youngest daughter had her
games and her email account on it. Because it was slow it wasn't the most
popular PC in the house.

Hmm. It _sounded_ like a good PC - 1T drive, lots of RAM (don't know
about the processor though) - so I'm puzzled as to why it was slow; we
might have to look into that if we ever get it going. (If the drive was
failing, that _might_ have been the reason and we'll find it's faster
after replacement.)

She bought it somewere up in Atlanta GA were she lived back then.

By "it", I presume you mean the computer, rather than a separate box
labelled "Windows 7" with a CD or two in it. In other words, the Windows
was bought as part of the computer, already pre-installed.

Yes. That's how PCs are sold here now. The OS is already on the HD, a copy

Here too.

of it in a seperate petition as I understand it. You have to make your own

Not quite a copy - the separate partition just has a way of fixing
certain things, it doesn't hold a complete copy of the OS (it isn't big
enough, usually just 100M, 0.1G).

DVD and Repair Disks. My aunt never did that, nor did I when I got it from
her. For some reason it never crossed my mind. We used to get the DVD with

Don't worry, you're not alone; most people don't )-:. Then things go
wrong and ... they usually just buy another computer.

the OS on it with a new PC. The only time I know of when someone buys the OS
disk itself is if the PC is custom made at home. At this time I'm not sure
if the DVD we make, and only 1 copy is allowed, would work on a new HD, a
replacement for one that failed.

If put into the same computer, it _is_ supposed to.


I'm not sure where you'd use the Toshiba number(s): if you're very
lucky,
it might be possible to download something from the Toshiba website
using
them. I've no idea if Toshiba offer anything like that.

I can check.

Any luck?

Before I order a CD of the OS for the Toshiba I want to know if the HD is

I meant, do they offer anything for download, rather than for sale.
Probably not, but you never know until you look.

bad. I also have to price HDs. Laptops are not that expensive anymore. It
may not be worth it to put a lot of cash into the Toshiba if I could buy a
new laptop for a few bucks more.

If you had to buy an unused Windows 7 disc/licence [assuming you could
find one!], it probably _would_ not be economic compared to the cost of
a new PC. If we can find you one which you do not have to pay for -
which I think you're entitled to, having (or your aunt having) bought it
with the PC, and it's the same PC you're trying to fix - then I would
say it _is_ worth it, even if you had to buy a new HD. It would
_certainly_ be worth making a Linux PC out of it, since Linux is mostly
free, but like you _I_ would not really want that.


--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

# 10^-12 boos = 1 picoboo # 2*10^3 mockingbirds = 2 kilo mockingbird
# 10^21 piccolos = 1 gigolo # 10^12 microphones = 1 megaphone
# 10**9 questions = 1 gigawhat

In message , HB writes:
[]
Found it. It's a blank black window. Since I know zero about Linux I don't
know how to get that info to show.

You got so close! Read on.

Failing all else, can you post (this means upload somewhere, and tell us
where - you can't attach here) a shot of the screen when Linux has
finished booting, taken with your ancient digital camera? Doesn't matter
if it's a bit blurry, we should be able to figure out what's where.

This is the best the old camera can do.

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/

(In the first two images, I can see two labels - on one of which I think
I can see the word Microsoft. That's the one with the licence key you
should note.)

supposed to be? Or how do I bring up that screen for that information? I
don't know what "Terminal, smartctl -a /dev/sda" is or what it means.

Terminal is what the window is called; smartctl -a /dev/sda (followed by
return) is what you type into it once you've opened it.

Doid that is it says, "Smartctl not found."

I _think_ I know why: unlike much of Windows, much of Linux is
case-sensitive. I think you typed smartctl with a capital S the first
time.

I added "return" and some other info came up. White text on the black
background. See images online.

https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/

The second time would have been fine if you'd just pressed the return
(sometimes called enter) _key_ at the end of the line, rather than
actually typing r e t u r n! The error message that resulted says,
basically, that smartctl takes one parameter and you'd given it two, so
it didn't know what to do with the second one ("return"). Just type it
again - (a) with the cases exactly as specified (no capital s), and (b)
just _pressing_ return at the end (as you obviously do anyway). Then
tell us (or snap for us) what happens.

You could also try fdisk with parameters and following p and q lines, as
in Java Jive's post. (Maybe another snap.)

What does this have to do with Linux? This looks like a simpler OS than

Linux is as complex as Windows, and in the last decade or so has
approached it in graphical user interface. (Which is not bad considering
it's all free.) Though to get it to do things, you need to learn how to
do things in it, just as you did in Windows. (And despite what [some of]
its enthusiasts will claim, it _does_ still use the command
prompt/terminal more than Windows does - or, at least, you're more
likely to get command prompt instructions from most Linux enthusiasts
than you are from most Windows ones.)

Windows. There are no graphs like these. I didn't see anything like there
while it was loading. I don't understand.....

No, any more than you'd see them while Windows is loading; you have to run
things to generate them. And Paul was telling you where to get the things
to run. But that's a bit down the line: if we're going to go the Linux
route, let's just get a terminal up, and run smartctl (which apparently is
included in fatdog Linux) in it first, to see if there's any point in
continuing to work with this hard drive.

See the images at the site posted above. Nothing like the image you
showed.

The third one _is_ similar: it shows a fatdog GUI, with a terminal
window open, and the results of you typing things into it - just not
_quite_ the right things (-:


--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you can't construct a coherent argument for the other side, you probably
don't understand your own opinion. - Scott Adams, 2015

"Paul" wrote in message
news

What you should notice about the links, is they have a Microsoft URL
or a Microsoft CDN (content distribution network) URL. They are
genuine links, with the links being valid for 24 hours, just
like a TechBench download would be.

So I would have to check the site every day to make sure I get there during
those 24 hrs?


With your limited 8GB/mo cap on Internet, these represent
a significant chunk of your limit.

It's 20 GBs a month and there are 5 people sharing it.

When downloading DVDs, you want to download the same version
as is on the hard drive.

So what's on the hard drive. A guy here shows us.

https://blog.skullsecurity.org/2010/...ersion-offline

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion
CSDVersion Service Pack 1
CurrentVersion 6.1 Vista=6.0, Win7=6.1,
Win8=6.2, Win10=10.0
Product Name Windows 7 Home Premium

Since all I can get are disk read errors with rescue disks, how likely is
this one going to be, to be read?


You can get this information, using the Registry Editor in
the Kaspersky Rescue Disc.

https://support.kaspersky.com/8092#block2

2. Download the iso image of Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 and a special
utility


http://rescuedisk.kaspersky-labs.com..._rescue_10.iso

(The last one I downloaded, seemed to be corrupted. 337,133,568
bytes)

Then I wont take a chance until someone downloads it and it's not corrupted.


Anyway, using my last known good one, we can take a stab at it with
an archived copy like this. I don't really think archive.org had this
in mind, but if they archive these things, they have to expect people
to download them. Most of the time, archive.org gives a "Gateway 500"
error, which is how I wasn't able to get some DigitalRiver Windows 7
images
off the archive.org site :-)

https://web.archive.org/web/20170702..._rescue_10.iso

If YOU can't get them my chance is zero. The Toshiba can't read these rescue
disks.


Anyway, that one is downloading now. 324,018,176 bytes.

Here, I'm using the Kaspersky Registry Editor to check the version in C:
partition.

https://s10.postimg.org/w8fdxrzs9/Ka...ws_Version.gif

I assume your computer can read them without giving you the read disk error
every time.


If Heidoc ever gets Ver.6 of their tool ready for release, I know what
version I will want to snag, for reinstall etc. Because I checked the
registry file, using an "offline" tool.

On a working computer - right?

You could go to
Best Buy and ask about media, but of course the dude will
say "for $200, let me install it for you". Which, again,
is ridiculous. This is labor you can easily do yourself.
Even if it is, "hard labor" :-)

So which rescue disk do you think will work? None have so far. One I
downloaded from the MS site. Same old disk read errors. The other info isn't
important right now since the Toshiba can only run software through the DVD
drive. The more I read the more frustraited I get because all I get are disk
read errors. So far, after all these days and over 50 hrs spent on this
problem all we learned is the DVD drive works, Toshiba sees it and can run
software from it.
--

Microsoft motto "If it ain't broke keep fixing it till it is."

In message , HB writes:

"Paul" wrote in message
news

What you should notice about the links, is they have a Microsoft URL
or a Microsoft CDN (content distribution network) URL. They are
genuine links, with the links being valid for 24 hours, just
like a TechBench download would be.

So I would have to check the site every day to make sure I get there during
those 24 hrs?

No, it's not some random 24-hour period in the future, it's 24 hours
from when the URL is generated, which it is while you are on the site:
in other words, you go to the site, get the URL, and you then have 24
hours to do the download.

With your limited 8GB/mo cap on Internet, these represent
a significant chunk of your limit.

It's 20 GBs a month and there are 5 people sharing it.

When downloading DVDs, you want to download the same version
as is on the hard drive.

So what's on the hard drive. A guy here shows us.

https://blog.skullsecurity.org/2010/...ersion-offline

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion
CSDVersion Service Pack 1
CurrentVersion 6.1 Vista=6.0, Win7=6.1,
Win8=6.2, Win10=10.0
Product Name Windows 7 Home Premium

Since all I can get are disk read errors with rescue disks, how likely is
this one going to be, to be read?

You'll just have to use whatever information you have - it's probably
OEM not retail, and either Home Premium or Pro, I've never seen a laptop
with Ultimate on it (from new anyway), or Home Basic (let alone
beginner). I don't know if it says on the Microsoft label whether it's
Home or Pro. (If it doesn't, it might say on the Toshiba website -
and/or in the downloadable handbook - which version was normally
supplied on that model.) It's also probably Windows 7 SP (service pack)
1.

This is assuming you do need to download a Windows at all, though that's
looking increasingly likely.

OR you should be able to find out with this method Paul's explaining
(with a screenshot):

You can get this information, using the Registry Editor in
the Kaspersky Rescue Disc.

https://support.kaspersky.com/8092#block2

2. Download the iso image of Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 and a special
utility


http://rescuedisk.kaspersky-labs.com..._rescue_10.iso

(The last one I downloaded, seemed to be corrupted. 337,133,568
bytes)

Then I wont take a chance until someone downloads it and it's not corrupted.


Anyway, using my last known good one, we can take a stab at it with
an archived copy like this. I don't really think archive.org had this
in mind, but if they archive these things, they have to expect people
to download them. Most of the time, archive.org gives a "Gateway 500"
error, which is how I wasn't able to get some DigitalRiver Windows 7
images
off the archive.org site :-)


https://web.archive.org/web/20170702...uedisk.kaspers
ky-labs.com/rescuedisk/updatable/kav_rescue_10.iso

If YOU can't get them my chance is zero. The Toshiba can't read these rescue
disks.


Anyway, that one is downloading now. 324,018,176 bytes.

Here, I'm using the Kaspersky Registry Editor to check the version in C:
partition.

https://s10.postimg.org/w8fdxrzs9/Ka...ws_Version.gif

I assume your computer can read them without giving you the read disk error
every time.


If Heidoc ever gets Ver.6 of their tool ready for release, I know what
version I will want to snag, for reinstall etc. Because I checked the
registry file, using an "offline" tool.

On a working computer - right?

You could go to
Best Buy and ask about media, but of course the dude will
say "for $200, let me install it for you". Which, again,
is ridiculous. This is labor you can easily do yourself.
Even if it is, "hard labor" :-)

So which rescue disk do you think will work? None have so far. One I
downloaded from the MS site. Same old disk read errors. The other info isn't

I'm somewhat puzzled by that, since it can boot OK from the Linux fatdog
disc you've made. _Are_ you pressing a key when the "press any key to
boot from CD" message appears? I don't know if only Microsoft CDs do
this. Or is it coming up too when you boot from the fatdog CD, but you
_are_ pressing a key then?

important right now since the Toshiba can only run software through the DVD
drive. The more I read the more frustraited I get because all I get are disk
read errors. So far, after all these days and over 50 hrs spent on this
problem all we learned is the DVD drive works, Toshiba sees it and can run
software from it.

So it ought also to run Microsoft DVD/CDs, assorted. But you might have
to press a key at a relevant time. (If you look at those discs on a
working CD, what do you see as being on them?)

Oh - have you tried (making sure there's nothing in the CD/DVD drive
and) powering up with the 0 (zero) key held down, as someone suggested
might get you into the recovery partition?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

.... a series about a grumpy old man who lives in a phone box is unlikely to
have been commissioned these days. 798 episodes later ...

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in message
...
In message , HB writes:

It doesn't say. It just says " Backup in progress." After removing
everything off the Seagate I did a backup, through it's "right
click/properties/tools (tab)" and it did a "Windows Image backup."
There's the date followed by 6 numbers. I don't know if my news server
allows images to be sent to Usenet.

I see.

I've just been poking around in there, under "advanced recovery", and one
of the options is "Use a system image you created earlier to recover your
computer
If you have created a system image, you can use it to replace everything
on this computer, including Windows, your programs, and all your files,
with the information saved on the system image."

The Seagate makes images, or windows intitiates them, and they collect. I
remember reading something about the oldest ones being deleted as new ones
need the space. This SG must have had info that came with it - but none of
that is of any use when a PC can't read the disk. And I'm learning that
Rescue disks don't work. They didn't work for the other two that had this
black screen w/blinker and they'er not working now. For some reason the
Toshiba is unable to read them. Macrium will not download. I get the
installer OK, but then get an unable to download error.

In other words, same as Macrium - you make an image _and_ a
bootable CD to let you use it.

The installer for Macrium gave a download error. I tried again this
morning - same thing. The Toshiba doesn't boot from those rescue boot CDs I
found online. There is no info online (that I could find) as to what to do
when these disks fail.

No info if windows don't boot using the disk. I made one of those System
Repair disks on this healthy problem free W-7 computer and tried to boot
the
Toshiba with it. The Toshiba saw the rescue CD,said "press any key to boot
from CD or DVD"

So did you press a key at that point, before the message disappeared?

Yes. So I know it saw the disk because it said: "press any key to boot from
CD or DVD.

- but then gave me the same "Disk read error occurred"
error.

If you _didn't_ press a key before the "press any key" message appeared,
the PC would have assumed you'd left the bootable CD in the drive by
mistake, and go on to try to boot from the hard disc as normal (and fail).

Nothing said it would boot from a DVD if no keys were pressed. ***** The
Toshiba saw the rescue CD,said "press any key to bootfrom CD or DVD."*****

Hmm, I wonder what you're doing that kills PCs (-:! I _think_ I've had
that, but maybe only once or twice; mostly my PCs have died due to other
things (the last one from overheating), or have just been superseded by
technology/software (i. e. still work - my Windows '9x laptop does).

Considering I've been online and owned PCs since 1995, and only 2 before
this one got the black screen of death, I think I'm doing pretty good.
Every few years I'd do a System Recovery on them, donate them to a charity
and buy something newer with a larger HD and more RAM. Most lived to go to
some charity or church. I never knew why those 2 never booted. I do
remember the teach where I took XP telling me he didn't know why it wouldn't
boot from their boot disks. He couldn't find any problems with the hardware.
Everything checked out. It went to the hazardous waste recycle center. With
Vista I went through the same thing as I'm going through now. It never
booted again. I didn't feel like paying another $50 to hear the same thing
from another tech. Usually, if a PC had some issues a system-restore or
system-recovery fixed them.


Honestly, I've given up hope. It can run software like Linux from the DVD
drive but as far as ever getting Windows to load - I can't see how.


4. Best case: just some of the files have been corrupted (ones that
Windows needs to be able to boot); if that's the case, we just need to
repair those files.

If we can get past the "disk read error occured" error.

1 and 2, you'd probably do on the Toshiba itself; 3 and 4 we might help
you to do on the Toshiba having booted from some sort of CD/DVD (Linux,
Windows repair disc, Macrium boot disc, ...), or we might help you to do
by taking the drive out and connecting it to something else.

That was discussed here already. The "dock" thing. I need that thing I can
plug the 2 ribbon cables into and then plug that into the USB port on this
PC.


You get the information that all parts of the laptop except the drive are
OK; we have yet to determine whether the drive is faulty or just corrupted
(see next post). If the drive is just corrupted, then Linux may well be of
use in fixing that (though not with me giving the help).

With no help it's of no use to me. I never heard of one OS showing the
system info of another OS and fixing it, though it may be possible.

I'm _hoping_ we can help you download one that can be activated
with your existing Microsoft label. (Copy that
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx number somewhere, incidentally; they're
notorious for wearing off, or becoming illegible.) There are also ways of
illegally activating Windows - for example google "DAZ loader" - but we're
not endorsing that.

Yeah, the label is getting in bad shape.


I've just looked at mine, and there's no maker's name on it anywhere - it
just says "ALL IN 1 HDD Docking" on the front of it.

that. The back slot is for SATA drives. I think this is the image:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DvYAA...eW/s-l1600.jpg

The bottom image is the one I think would work. I assume need a cable to go
from it to the healthy PC.

I don't think you'll find them locally, though I don't know US computer
stores - they might be much better than ours; but if you just put "disc
dock" into the search box in ebay or amazon or whatever you normally use.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/151504204416 Seems to be a US seller (I'm
assuming you're in the US).

I am.

Here's the "cable", which is cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/172256326228 - the search phrase is "USB to
SATA", and you should find even cheaper, though make sure it's one with a
power supply. You will see the connectors you want, on the ends of the
power supply (four wires) and SATA (red) cables.

The ends on the red one don't look like they are for USB ports.

Here's the housing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/112652273779 - you can't see
the connectors, but be assured they're on the back of the circuit board
you can see in the second picture. Search for "external housing" or
similar.

What is the housing for? The HD from the Toshiba is inclosed with 2 ribbon
cables.

Hmm. It _sounded_ like a good PC - 1T drive, lots of RAM (don't know about
the processor though) - so I'm puzzled as to why it was slow; we might
have to look into that if we ever get it going. (If the drive was failing,
that _might_ have been the reason and we'll find it's faster after
replacement.)

It was slow for having 4 GBs of RAM.

Any luck?

Before I order a CD of the OS for the Toshiba I want to know if the HD is

I meant, do they offer anything for download, rather than for sale.
Probably not, but you never know until you look.

No because time is limited. I haven't got to it yet. Maybe later today.

If you had to buy an unused Windows 7 disc/licence [assuming you could
find one!], it probably _would_ not be economic compared to the cost of a
new PC. If we can find you one which you do not have to pay for - which I
think you're entitled to, having (or your aunt having) bought it with the
PC, and it's the same PC you're trying to fix - then I would say it _is_
worth it, even if you had to buy a new HD. It would _certainly_ be worth
making a Linux PC out of it, since Linux is mostly free, but like you _I_
would not really want that.

No, I don't care for it. And as far as I know her games wont play on it.

BTW I'm forwarding this info to myself so I have it.

At this point I'm mentally exhausted trying to figure out what's wrong with
the Toshiba. I just can't absorb any more. I wish I knew someone who enjoyed
spending hours online reading the most boring dry computer information and
working on computers. I'm not that person. I would happily give them the
Toshiba to work on and keep. I had no idea what was involved in solving the
black-screen-of-death.

BTW, the new Notebook with W-10, 8 GBs RAM and a 1 TB HD was under $400 tax
included at our local WalMart store.
If you can't tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting. Jeff
Bezos
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/interestingIf you can't
tolerate critics, don't do anything new or interesting. Jeff Bezos
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/interesting

On 21/03/2018 12:08, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
I don't think you'll find them locally, though I don't know US computer
stores - they might be much better than ours; but if you just put "disc
dock" into the search box in ebay or amazon or whatever you normally
use. https://www.ebay.com/itm/151504204416 Seems to be a US seller (I'm
assuming you're in the US).

Or just put "USB SATA" into ebay.com;
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...+SATA&_sacat=0

First item being an adapter cable for SATA to USB, cost $4.04.;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-3-0-to-...kAAOSwEzxYTko5

The problem is that it might take some time for delivery, one could
search through the items looking for a quick delivery.
There is near top of ebay page, a button/switch that says; "Guaranteed 3
day delivery", I was unable check said because it asks for a ZIP code
(I'm in UK also).

On 21/03/2018 12:08, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
Here's the "cable", which is cheaper:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/172256326228 - the search phrase is "USB to
SATA", and you should find even cheaper, though make sure it's one with
a power supply. You will see the connectors you want, on the ends of the
power supply (four wires) and SATA (red) cables.

Whoops, I jumped the gun there

By the way, (in case anyone dosn't know; 2.5 HDD dosnt need a 12v
supply, it will run from the USB's 5v.

HB wrote:
I can't see what use Linux is since the Toshiba runs it just fine from the
DVD. What useful info do we get from that?

My earlier suggestion about using the linux fatdog was:

- acknowledge that fatdog sees your hdd icons in the lower left of the
desktop called sda1 and sda2
- R click such as sda1 and from the context menu select 'Check integrity'

Then, finding that there is an operational/sound hdd there, use the Tosh
instructions to access the Tosh recovery wizard to replace the Windows
installation with the factory install from the Tosh recovery partition
by connecting to power source, and turning the computer on while holding
down the keyboard 0 (zero) key.

This message shows the link to the Tosh instructions
http://al.howardknight.net/msgid.cgi?ID=152165126200
From: Mike Easter
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2018 12:11:06 -0700
Message-ID:



--
Mike Easter

On 21/03/2018 05:18, Char Jackson wrote:
On Wed, 21 Mar 2018 00:27:16 +0000, Patrick
wrote:

On 20/03/2018 23:54, Char Jackson wrote:
If you trust the source, i.e., Microsoft or Digital River when they were
still around,
I'm not sure I know what I'm talking about but, is not this 'Digital River';
http://mirror.digitalriver.info/

No, Digital River is a content distribution entity where you used to be
able to download ISO files for various Windows versions, among other
things.

What you have above is a series of torrent links, which is quite another
thing entirely. Those torrents may or may not lead to valid Windows
ISOs. I don't plan to try them since I already have multiple copies of
everything.

OK, thanks for that info, I did however use it to succesfully check the
MD5 of a download.

HB wrote:
This is what I get when I typed that code info in the "terminal."
https://postimg.org/gallery/38afbakly/
You made a mistake/s when you tried to use Paul's command for smartctl
in fatdog.

The first time you used:

Smartctl -a /dev/sda

linux commands are case-sensitive; there isn't such a thing as a
Smartctl (upper S) command and the console told you so.

The second time you used:

smartctrl -a /dev/sda return

That was not an acceptable command for smartctl either (return string
bafflement) and smartctl told you so.




--
Mike Easter