I recently got my hands on a Toshiba Satellite A105-S2716 laptop for free. It had enough problems that I figured I'd try reformatting it on my own. Now, I've never done this before (my first mistake), but I've seen other people do it, and I figured, "How hard can it be?". Plus I've always wanted to learn.
I don't have the original disks, so I did some research, and I learned that a total system wipe is not the only option. I tried what was recommended on Toshiba's website (
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/outFrm.jsp?ofId=AskIris&searchString=PC+Restore&x=0&y=0), to hold 0 (zero) on start up to begin the "recovery process". That didn't work, even after more than a dozen tries. After some more searching I found that a special hidden recovery image can be used to create recovery disks. So I followed the directions (
https://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/support/jsp/bulletinDetail.jsp?soid=2753749&pf=true), and made a disk. I say "a disk" because I was only prompted to burn the "System Recovery Media", and one disk was all it took. I was concerned when I noticed that the picture in the directions showed a necessary five disks. Nevertheless, I took comfort in the fact that the directions said that "
Some models include the option to create 'Application Disks'". I figured I just had an older model, no biggie. Burn, pop disk in drive and reboot.
From here, after hours of research, I began to get pretty sloppy.
I found directions for re-installing Windows (
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxphome/sp2installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm) and followed them VERY loosely, the main reason being that what my CD did upon reboot looked almost nothing like the directions I was "following". I selected "English" for my language and was given three options:
1. Overwrite Installation
2. Uninstall Express Media Player
3. Delete All Partitions
So I went with "Overwrite installation". The following prompt said,
"The installation process will overwrite the partition containing 'Express media player' and remove all data on it. Are you sure you want to proceed?". Sure! Whatever. I just wanted to be on with it already. Installation took no more than a minute. The laptop shut down, and the disk drive popped out. I popped it back in and booted back up, expecting to move on with the process... but instead I found myself looping through the same set of prompts. I glanced at the "directions" and saw something about "deleting partitions", whatever those are, and figured, "Oh! I need to delete all partitions!"...
So I did.
Now, I'll admit I'm in way over my head here. I've since come across a Windows XP Home installation disc, but upon start up when it checks for a bootable CD in ATAPI DC-ROM, it says,
"Boot CD-ROM Type: CD-ROM/Non Emulation Booting". I have no idea what that means... I have no idea what to do. Did I ruin this computer? I've read all sorts of different things on different forums and the such, and it sounds like I may need to purchase some pricey software. Other things I've read make it sound as though I may just need an older version of Windows, which I would be okay with. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I t
Thank you.
