Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Major Toshiba Satellite 5100-503 problem!!!

  • 18-07-2006 7:55pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭


    Hey all,

    I have a major problem with a Toshiba Satellite 5100-503.

    XP will log on and then logg off straight away.

    I found the fix for it here: http://www.mcse.ms/message616432.html

    BUT...(here's where the problem starts)....I need to boot from a cd to fix the problem but I can't boot from the CD because the HD is set to boot first.

    I read on several places on the net that the only way you can get into the BIOS settings on Satellite 5xxx laptops is through the control panel in windows!!!!! You can't get into it in the usual way!!

    All I can do is load the system defaults but by default the HD is top of the boot order list!!

    I can't re-install windows because I can't boot the installation disk!! The machine doesn't even need to be re-built, the original problem only takes a few seconds to fix!!

    Any ideas as to what I can do!! ....I seem to be stuck in a vicious circle!!


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Holding down F12 after power on should bring up a boot selector allowing you to boot from CD.

    Cant verify this but some Tosh laptops use F1 to access the bios you could try pressing that at post.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭jamieh


    Hey,

    F12 didn't work.

    I already tried to use F1 but all that does is reload the bios defaults.

    I read on other forums that the only way to change the boot order on Satellite 5xxx machines is though Toshiba Hardward Centre in the windows control panel.

    :confused::confused::confused::o


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    It would be pretty insane of Toshiba not to have a means of entering the bios they just choose to not share the information thereby restricting it to Windows.

    Toshiba have their own support forum on their site it might be worth a try asking there.

    By the way these are the exact instructions for holding down F12 not sure if it will make any difference though.
    Holding down F12 after power up till the red Toshiba script comes
    up give a chance to boot off cdrom.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,927 ✭✭✭paddyp


    Toshiba provide two different bios updates .. windows and traditional. If you use the traditional update you can access without windows.

    Traditional update is here:

    http://support.toshiba-tro.de/tools/bios/satellite/5100-503_603/trad/bios-130trad.zip

    Instructions are available here:
    http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com/cgi-bin/ToshibaCSG/faq.jsp?z=234&service=EU&from=faq_selection&CFID=BIOS&FID=TRO0000000b07

    Fom above link: (pictures missing)

    BIOS Upgrade Procedure 4

    Satellite 5000-xxx
    Satellite 5100-xxx
    Satellite 5200-xxx


    1. Extract the zip file containing the BIOS upgrade to a temporary folder.
    2. Insert a formatted 1.44MB diskette in the floppy disk drive.
    3. Execute the extracted *.exe file in the temporary folder. Follow the instructions on the screen. A BIOS update diskette will be generated
    4. Ensure the Notebook is connected to the mains.
    5. Turn the Notebook off.
    6. Turn the Notebook on with the key (see picture below) which is located to the left of the spacebar. Keep the key pressed until a short beep can be heard.
    7. The "update BIOS" message will appear on the sub-LCD (the main LCD will be blank).
    8. Place the diskette containing the BIOS upgrade in the floppy disk drive and press any key. FDD access will begin.
    9. When the update is completed remove the diskette and turn the system off and back on to restart the Notebook.




    P.S. this took a few seconds to google


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,656 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    Have a Satellite Toshiba and experienced a similar problem with a GhostSurf programme. Rebooted and keyed F8 into safe mode and removed the programme. Rebooted and everything worked fine.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭jamieh


    Hey,

    I tried the F12 method but it didn't work. I read on the net lastnight that the F12 method doesn't work on 5xxx models.

    As for a bios upgrade......the laptop doesn't have a floppy drive so I can't upgrade the bios the traditional way. Even if the laptop did have a floppy drive it still wouldn't work as the HD is set to boot up first so it would bypasss the floppy anyway!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29,930 ✭✭✭✭TerrorFirmer


    f2 or f12 should bring you into setup, it would seem remarkabely unusual not to be able to access the bios


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,927 ✭✭✭paddyp


    HavoK wrote:
    f2 or f12 should bring you into setup, it would seem remarkabely unusual not to be able to access the bios

    There are two different bioses -one is ONLY accessible using windows
    jamieh wrote:
    As for a bios upgrade......the laptop doesn't have a floppy drive so I can't upgrade the bios the traditional way. Even if the laptop did have a floppy drive it still wouldn't work as the HD is set to boot up first so it would bypasss the floppy anyway!!

    From toshiba faq: "For Notebooks with no internal floppy disk drive, a USB floppy disk drive is necessary."



    Regardless of boot settings most laptops will detect the presence of a usb floppy and boot from it. USB floppy drives can be bought quite cheaply and are great for getting yourself out of scrapes - I use mine all the time.

    If you format a usb key as a floppy it may well boot from that .. check out the fantastically handy hp usb boot utility

    http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/revision/8641.html?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,073 ✭✭✭jamieh


    Hey all,

    Thanks for the replies.

    In the end I decided to take the HD out of the laptop and put it into a different laptop.

    I just re-installed windows on top of its self and now everything is fine!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭timeout


    I believe if you press the letter "c" on startup it boots from the CD. Please try it out and let us know if it works so that others are aware of how to do it.

    [edit] By press I mean as soon as you press the power button start hitting it untill you get a couple of beeps


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    Just so you know somebody responded to your thread on Toshiba's forum saying holding down the C key during power on will force a boot off the CD-ROM, out of curiosity did you try that ?

    Edit: weird coincidence Timeout : )


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,927 ✭✭✭paddyp


    I'd still go with the traditional bios . that windows bios would drive me nuts!
    I also wonder what happens when CMOS battery fails?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 919 ✭✭✭timeout


    8T8 wrote:
    Just so you know somebody responded to your thread on Toshiba's
    8T8 wrote:
    Edit: weird coincidence Timeout : )
    Nope not me, but its what I've used on half a dozen Toshibas.


Advertisement