Thank you for your reply. There are no updates on Toshiba's website. I can't get to the desktop, but I can access cmd through the recovery disks, but I'm not sure how to get an admin cmd prompt. Can you please tell me how to do that?Hi,
check your machines support page for updates. I'd check everything, Bios, firmware updates and drivers:
http://support.toshiba.com/support/modelHome?freeText=3478714
Running the system file checker may also help. Right click in the left hand corner of the desktop and click admin cmd prompt, type:
sfc /scannow
Press enter and await results.
This sort of sounds like some type of virus might be involved. A couple of years ago I had one that changed the name of one of the boot files and stopped the system from booting. That was before Windows 8 but if you gave something permission, it might have been able to change something.
I'm not saying that it's not possible that I have a virus, but I am a bit OCD about it, so it's unlikely since I run regular daily scans, deep weekly scans, and am very careful about what I do on the internet.
Did you check and make sure a Windows Boot Manger entry was the primary boot device in the bios? If it is trying to boot directly to the hard drive, it will not fine an OS.
I am not sure how to do this...can you please tell me how?
Not really a good assumption since the Drive number is basically set by the connection to the Motherboard. The Drive priority is set in the bios, and the OS could be on either one, but probably not the empty one, if it is empty. If as drive shows as uninitialized, something has been removed from the drive's configuration data and Windows cannot read it. It may not be empty, so be careful. As an example, a drive cleaned with diskpart will show as uninitialized and the following is what Diskpart will do to a GPT configured drive.
This makes me feel a bit better and I'll tell you that I am trying to be very cautious because I do not want to do more damage and risk losing anything more. I believe that I haven't done any troubleshooting that would change anything (only looking for information to help so far).
I will have to do some research to see if there might be a way to recovery data from an uninitialized drive. There may be some third party utilities which would recreate the drives configuration, but I am not aware of one right now.
As far as the original thread and the locked drive message, I have not seen that and do not know of specifics circumstances involved in such an event.
Thank you for your reply. There are no updates on Toshiba's website. I can't get to the desktop, but I can access cmd through the recovery disks, but I'm not sure how to get an admin cmd prompt. Can you please tell me how to do that?
Thanks for the link, but since I can't get to the desktop (can't even get into safe mode), I don't think this will work for me. The only way I can get past the "no bootable device" screen is to use my restore disks, and I can only find the regular cmd there (no admin). Is there a way for me to get to safe mode?
Thank you for your reply, but again, I can't get to the desktop (charm that you mentioned is not on the recovery disc). The only access I have is by using the recovery disc. I do not see an option on the recovery disc to allow me to enter safe mode. Am I missing something?Hi,
to get to safe mode in windows 8 is slightly different to other windows os. If you click on the settings charm, then change pc settings, Update and Recovery,Recovery, Advanced Start up, Troubleshoot, Advanced options and then finally Start up settings.
Ha! No worries. Yes, those are the methods that I have been using, but you mentioned safe mode (or safe boot), which I cannot find as an option. I apologize for being vague and not giving you the exact options that are listed, but I don't have access to the computer right now. I will get back to you asap. Thank you for continuing to try to help...this has not been a good time for me. I know the old sayings about backing up, so I thank everyone here for not saying them again and telling me what an idiot I am (believe me, I've already told myself that many times...I really do know better).Oh bugger I should have realised, apologies.. This web page explains how it might be possible the 'old' way (method 1) but see what you think:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/open-advanced-startup-options-windows-8.htm
I do believe that it is UEFI, but how can I verify? Keep in mind that I don't currently have the drive, so please be patient with me...I just received a FedEx email saying I would receive it by 8pm Monday (Central time)I was finally able to recover an install after having cleaned the drive with Diskpart. The process takes multiple steps and boots and can be a little intimidating.
If your problem is the OS being on the Uninitialized drive and the boot cannot see the install, the chances of a new install are high.
Right now, I am assuming your system is configured as UEFI, but that needs to be verified.
Any process used to try to recover the drive could lead to a loss of all data... something to think about in case there may be another way.
I am looking at the specifications for that model, or at least I think so, and it shows 2, 1 TB hard drives, one of which is a hybrid. I have seen some comments as to locked drives being associated with RAID type operations. As far as I know the hybrid drive does not use any RAID configuration, but there may be some utility associated with its operation.
I do see a Toshiba HDD Protection item listed with the Software and Utilities. You might see if it could be involved.
It also shows the system has a Impact Sensor. Do you remember dropping or causing the system to believe it was dropped?
It shows also as having a 30 day trial of Norton's Anti-theft... any chance it is involved?
Have you addressed the question to the Toshiba forum?
I used this link on my other computer, answered the questions, and it said that repairs were required. I cannot run it on the laptop with the problem because I cannot get past the no bootable disc screen unless I am using the recovery disc, which also does not allow me to access that link. Thanks for trying, though. Keep the ideas coming, everyone! I'm willing to try just about anything.I did find the following link... seems like fun to check your system. It may not help, but you never know. You will of course need the primary drive installed. I might think about removing the other one until this is cleared up.
http://support.toshiba.com/support/troubleshootSelfService?PRDTYPE=COMPUTERS
Take your time...I will not have the drive back until sometime Monday anyway. And thank you!Just so you will know, I am currently trying to recover a drive marked as Uninitialized. If I am successful, I will post the process in a couple of hours, it is taking a while to scan the entire drive. Just don't do anything drastic until I get it finished.