Problem with my IBM Thinkpad..........it wont boot!!!!!?

[rezziajanelle]

Everything works fine, until i accidentally dropped it from my table, about 2ft. so..

When i switch on my ibm thinkpad it comes up with a black screen and white writing saying.... initalising and establishing link........ then it goes to another black screen with white writing saying.... Current boot order and 7 devices with a status by each of them either saying Device Not Found or No Valid Operating System


Below are two things excluded from boot order
1)ATA HDD2
2)ATAPI CD1

Also at the bottom of the screen it says <To modify boot order>
Press F1 at Power-on. Select Start up

please. i need help. i need some files from my laptop

[RealBlackStuff]

Take out the hard disk and put it back in properly, maybe it came loose a bit.
If that doesn't work, something else is broken.
Take the hard disk out, put it in a USB case and attach to another PC or laptop to get files off it.
And NEVER drop a laptop, they are not geared for that!

[ZaZ]

You could try a Linux disc just to see if it boots.

[rezziajanelle]

thank you. ill try the hard disk, will update if it works.

[ZaZ]

I would add a Linux disc is free and doesn't need the hard drive to boot. If you can get it boot, you can see if you can access the drive, which may indicate whether that's the issue. If it doesn't boot, then perhaps something other than the drive is amiss.

[rezziajanelle]

hi guys! thank you so much for the replies.

I tried removing the had disk and put it back again, however it's still the same.

Can you teach me how to use the Linux thingy?? not quite familiar. thank you so much!!

[ZaZ]

Just download any Linux disc - Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint. Burn it onto a disc and put it into the T61. Press F12 when it comes on and select the drive as the boot device. It will give you an option to install it or try it. Try it. Once it boots, you should be able to access the drive if it's working.

Lenovo also makes a PC-Doctor diagnostic disc that runs in DOS. You can download it from Lenovo's website and I believe it has a hard drive diagnostic in there somewhere.