Toshiba laptop will not start XP

[akatut]

Hi

i have a Toshiba Satellite A50 and all of a sudden it does not start XP.

the Toshiba screen appears (In Touch with Tomorrow TOSHIBA)

and from there it goes all black and all i get is a white flashing underscore thing..

i tried reinstalling windows but when i change boot settings to CD-ROM to run

first all i get is

Intel (R) Boot Agent FE v4.1.10
Copyright (C) 1997-2003, Intel Corporation

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting Intel Boot Agent

i have researched these errors on TechSpot and other forums, all i have found

is to remove Hard Drive and make sure it secure.

But this does not work for me and i'm very confused

please help

thankz...


p.s: ive posted this in mobile computing as well but i thought it will be better here

 

[AlbertLionheart]

I think you have a failed hard drive. Depending on how technical you are, you can get an adapter to connect the 2.5" drive to your desktop (I assume you are using a desktop to access the forum) and check this. Otherwise, get yourself a new hard drive. It should be a 60 Gb IDE so not expensive.
If you are in the UK - this one would work - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/102291

 

[akatut]

Thankz albert

but how can my hard drive just fail?? and i am using a desktop atm,, and do u mean a adapter that connects my Laptop Hard Drive to my desktop with a Usb??,, or a internal cable??

thankz for your help

 

[AlbertLionheart]

Hard drives, especially in laptops, are vulnerable to shocks. They are also bits of machinery with moving parts so give up all the time.
The adapter is an internal ribbon cable with a special adapter on one end to fit the drive connector on the laptop hard drive.

 

[akatut]

lol well ive been smashin my laptop lately so umm must be that =]

so wen i got a new 1 do i jus put it straight in or do i hav 2 do somethin 2 it??

thankz

 

[AlbertLionheart]

I am not taking the mick!
A new hard drive will be empty so you will have to reinstall your copy of windows, then the drivers and then the applications you use. If you have a system restore CD that came with the laptop when new this will save loads of time.
I think you would find it easier to take it to a repair shop - they might charge you a little more for the new drive but for this extra you would be certain that it is the drive that has failed and they might be able to help with restoring your system.