Windows Vista Home Premium Won’t Start

Upon shutting down my laptop (Toshiba Satellite L305D-S5895) via the Start Menu --àShutdown method, and when starting laptop back up about 5 hours later, laptop automatically went into “Windows Error Recovery” mode, as shown below:




So, I highlighted and started Windows in Normal mode, and then laptop went to “Windows Boot Manager”, which I got the following error:




So, I manually pressed the power button to shutdown and restart my computer, only to get the same two modes a couple of times each, so I shutdown my laptop using the power button, which was the only way I had to shut it down during these mode windows, as far as I could tell.

A couple of hrs later, I powered up my laptop and got the following error:

Intel UNDI, PXE-2.1 (build 082)
Copyright © 1997-2000 Intel Corporation

For Realtek RTL8101E/8102E PCI-E Ethernet Controller v1.05 (071227)
PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM.
No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key

When restarting laptop and hitting F2 (InsydeH20 Setup Utility), the “MAIN” reads:

CPU Type: AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60
CPU Speed: 2.00 GHz
Hard Disk Drive: None
Optical Disk Drive: TSSTcorp CDDVDW TS-L632P(PM)
Total Memory: 3072 MB
System BIOS Version: 1.50

All other Categories (Advanced, Display, Security, Boot) are loaded into “Setup Defaults” mode.

Then, not knowing what else to do, I bought a Windows Vista 64-bit Repair CD through Ebay, to see what and if that would help, since I did not get a Windows Vista CD and did not make any startup/recovery discs of my own. After “Windows is loading files….” (White bar shows files loading) and after files load, I am able to see the Windows Vista Install window, and when I enter Language, Time & Currency and Keyboard data and click NEXT, I am then able to enter into “Repair your computer”. When I click on “Repair your computer”, the “System Recovery Options” does not show an “Operating System” listed, and when I click on “Load Drivers”, then it reads “Insert the installation media for the device and click OK to select the driver”, which I am not familiar on how to “Add Drivers” if needed or how to see Drivers on my computer, but if I click on “OK” then it goes to “sources” file and lists various Folders and “Setup information” icons. If I click “CANCEL” on the “Add Drivers” window, I am able to go into “System Recovery Options”, but I am not sure what to do to be able to get my laptop to functioning correctly. I am almost 100% sure that I have Windows Vista Home Premium on my laptop. Can someone please help me get my laptop back to running correctly??

Thanks, Cherie M.

Your registry is corrupt. You have to use the recovery disk to restore the backup. Manually Restore the Registry From its Backup in Windows (Windows 7 / Vista) - Sysnative Forums

Thanks, townsbg, I will do that now and report my findings/experience.

After clicking on the “Manually Restore the Registry From it’s Backup in Windows (Windows 7/Vista) link that you gave me, I then did the steps according to it’s directions: [h=2]1. Accessing the System Recovery Options (Done).[/h][h=2]2. Opening a Command Prompt, I discovered the Command Prompt showed:
[/h][h=2]3. Check each drive's layout to find the Windows directory, I then typed the command of c: after the X:\SOURCES> or X:\SOURCES>c: & it read:
[/h][h=2]So, I typed in d: after the X:\SOURCES> or X:\SOURCES>d: & it read:
[/h][h=2]However, it is not showing a <DIR> for Windows but it does show:[/h][h=2]Volume in drive D is WINVISTA64BIT, & drive C is showing “The device is not ready”. How do I find the Windows <DIR>, since step 4 (Change directories to the <drive letter>:\Windows\System32\ directory) cannot be completed ??[/h]







[h=2][/h]

[h=2][/h][h=2][/h]

I am not sure why but these disks have different drive letter than what you see from in windows. Your d-drive appears to be the restore partition; do not mess with that. Using a regular command line I was able to list the filesystems first by typing in diskpart and then list volume in the second box. Try that. You can also try typing in cd %SYSTEMDRIVE% but that value is stored in the registry so it might not work. If neither works you'll just have to try different drive letters.

Note be very careful what you type in the diskpart window.

Using a regular command line, I typed in diskpart and then list volume in the second box and got the following:



I also tried typing in cd %SYSTEMDRIVE% and got the following screen (2 screenshots = top and lower of the same screen):





I also tried different drive letters (except D drive = restore partition, and you said “do not mess with that.” On different drive letters (a through z), I got the following....



....with all drive letters after h = the same results of “The system cannot find the drive specified”, EXCEPT for x drive = X:\Sources>, c drive = The device is not ready, & d drive (as pictured at the beginning of this response). Did I do it correctly?

BIOS can't find the hard drive.

Could be any number of reasons. Not uncommon after a laptop is dropped. Might just need the cables checking.

Thanks SIW2, I have checked all the cables and they are good to go. However, I think I will open the back of the laptop/go into it to see if there are any loose connections/dust/cat hair, etc., etc keeping it from working properly.