Problem with sons toshiba laptop

[winslow]

My son recently returned home from colledge and told me his computer won't work. It is a toshiba P105-S9339 running windows vista ultimate. Initially when I tried to boot it after the splash screen it went to a repair windows screen. When I tried it the system went thru some checks then simply said it was unable to repair the problem. I was able to get it to boot into safe mode but was unable to resolve the issue. I then talked to a toshiba tech rep on the phone and he told me if I was able to boot it in safe mode it was a software problem and running recovery disks (to factory release state) would fix the problem.

When using the recovery disks all was going well and the system was reloading. After the system was reloaded it went through about 2 or 3 reboots where the screen said final installation procedure was running. Then the sytem reboots and nothing happens, the power lights, hard drive light comes on but the system never completes. when I try to reboot it I get the same initial repair windows screen.

I signed onto a toshiba forum to see if someone there could help but unfortunately they are far inferior to the knowledge base available here. I figured this might be a problem that wasn't restricted to toshiba so I came to the experts here. Anyone here that could offer some help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance

[Harryc]

Find out what hard drive is in the machine, then go to the manufacturers website and download and run their hard drive diagnostic. Run a memory checker like memtest86.

[winslow]

can I do this if the machine will not boot? It will no longer boot in safe mode. I understand I can get the download with another computer but how can I run it on the toshiba.

I do have one resource I failed to mention, my older son has the exact same computer, perhaps I can somehow utilize it to help diagnose the problem.

I was able to run a memory test on the machine when it was able to boot ibto safe mode through the available system tools.

[Harryc]

Well, the hard drive diagnostic will either be a bootable CD or diskette. Choose either one based on what drives are available in the Toshiba. If the machine is otherwise functional (aside from the sick Vista install) it will boot from CD or diskette.