"Pxe-e61: media test failure" error help

Have a "pxe-e61: media test failure, check cable" error on a toshiba satelitte L455-S5975, Windows 7

Had to replace hard drive because orginal failed. Changed BIOS to boot CD/DVD drive first, then hard drive second, to load Windows. When I started laptop I received "pxe-e61: media test failure, check cable" error. I changed BIOS to load the hard drive 1st, CD/DVD 2nd. same issue.
- BIOS does identify both HDD & CD/DVD drives.
- CD/DVD drive was working correctly right before the old HDD failed.

What else can I do?

Thanks.
 
Go into your Bios and see if Network is in the boot order and disable it. Then try to boot again and post back what happens.
 
Your HD is not bootable else it would have. Consequently, BIOS looks elsewhere,
finds none and attempts the last resource - - the network which takes very special
setup to make work.
 
Jobeard is quite correct (why didn't I think of that).

With that in mind your boot sector may have a virus or it is corrupt, or, the hard drive is faulty (I know you have recently replaced it but even new hardware can go wrong).

Follow this guide to fix the boot sector.

Repair startup issues
1.Put the Windows 7 installation disc in the disc drive, and then start your computer.
2.Press a key when you are prompted.
3.Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4.Click Repair your computer.
5.Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6.In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7.Type (these commands are safe - more information)

Bootrec.exe /FixMbr

Bootrec.exe /FixBoot

Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

Press ENTER after each command.

8.Restart your computer.

That should do the trick! However if you still can't start Windows, then follow step 1 to 6 again and type this command.

Bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force

Press ENTER and restart your computer. /

If this does not fix the problem then run the hard drive diagnostics, as follows:

Identify the make of your hard drive and then use one of the links below to get the manufacturers diagnostic for ISO CD. Burn the image file to a CD, boot the PC with the disc in the drive and run the diagnostics. You first need to set the CD drive to 1st in the boot order in the Bios setup.

If you do not have an image burner use this free software to make the CD.

http://www.isoimageburner.com/


ExcelStor: http://www.excelstor.com/eng/support.php?sub_id=3

Hitachi/IBM: http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/utilities/Support_HUTIL.html

Toshiba: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=ServicesSupport/FujitsuDrivesUSandCanada/SoftwareUtilities

Seagate, Maxtor & Quantum:http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Western Digital:http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en

See how this goes and post back the results.
 
HDD diagnostic

Ran hard drive diagnostic, it didn't finish. Gave me a:

"Loading DFT . . .
DPMI Error (001): Insufficient memory for initialization".

Is this indicating I have a RAM issue too?
 
That could be the problem.

Run this test to check the memory.

Just to confirm, you never got as far as reinstalling windows on the new drive? Have you tried any other boot disc in the CD drive?

What were the symptons that convinced you the old hard drive had failed?

Power off the PC and remove the mains connection, always touch the metal of the case with your hands to avoid any static electricity from causing component damage. (On laptops ALWAYS remove the battery before removing or replacing memory modules). Remove all your memory modules. Clean the contacts with a soft rubber (up and down not from end to end) then insert just one module and reboot to test for any change in performance. Repeat this for every module one at a time. Obviously if you only have one module this cannot be done, but you should still remove and clean the module and reseat it and test.

If you only have one stick download this to test it. http://www.memtest.org/

You need to scroll down the page until you see the three blue screenshots. Just below is the list of downloads for Memtest86+ V4.10. Click on Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)and save to your desktop, When the download is complete right click the file and select Extract Here and burn the image to a CD. In windows 7 right click the extracted file, select Open With, then select Windows Disc Image Burning Tool then follow the prompts. For all other versions of windows (if you do not have an ISO burner) download this free software. http://www.isoimageburner.com/

Boot the PC into the Bios setup and set the CD/DVD drive to 1st in the boot sequence. Insert the disk in the drive then reboot and the disc will load into dos. Leave the test to run through at least 5 cycles.

The memtest will not be 100% accurate but should easily detect any major faults.
 
RAM

Check RAM stick in another Toshiba Laptop. Works fine.
The original Hard drive gave a S.M.A.R.T. imminent failure warning. After hitting F1 the laptop starts to load windows then locks up with a Pointer on blank screen.

I used the Windows 7 repair disk (I created when I first bought the laptop) that's when the "pxe-e61: media test failure, check cable" error first showed up.

I hooked the old hard drive to my other laptop with a 'USB to SATA/IDE adapter cable' it read up after about 30 minutes but the drive indiated it needed to be reformated. The disk space screen indicated there was 0GB used and 0GB free.

** Here's an update: when you mentioned another boot disk above, I inserted my Windows XP CD which started to load! (go figure, RAM checks good!) So I reinserted the Windows 7 repair disk, it loads too! ??

Now I have a diffrent issue:
The Windows 7 Recovery disk gives me 2 options: Enter 'TOHIBA Recovery Wizard' or "System Recovery Options'.
- The Recovery Wizards asks me to insert the Media disk, this apperantly is not the System image disks I have. I tried them, they don't work.
- The System recovery Option does ask for the Image disks, this is not as easy as inserting the disks and hitting ENTER. It's asking me to install a driver?

I can find help in the forum to 'make' the image disks, but not how to 'use' them. Any help in that area?

Thanks for your help so far. :)
 
In order to get the image you saved back onto the hard drive you have to use System Restore. Follow the directions in the appropriate part of this guide.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

For a clean install:
If you are going to use a Windows 7 disc that should run without a problem but if you use Windows XP and your hard drive is SATA you will have to get the SATA drivers and integrate them into the XP disc or you will have to use an external floppy disc drive to load the drivers. This will show how to integrate the drivers with the disc. You should be able to get the drivers for this at the Toshiba site, they will probably be listed as RAID.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml
 
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