Almost dead laptop - won't boot into Windows, Safe mode or BIOS

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

Elderly Toshiba Satellite Pro. Been gathering dust but decided to see if I could do anything with it.
This maybe should be in Windows 10 - I don't know what OS it has other than 10 or 11.
Trying to boot into Windows stops with error message - auto fix doesn't work.
So decided to try and boot from a Windows CD, but first need to get into BIOS.
Trying to boot into BIOS requires a password - needless to say that is lost in the dust! So how can I get past this first block?
Now I can't get past to try and boot into Windows (and the error message.

Sorry - not very helpful information. Basically I have a PC that gest as far as asking for a password and that's it.

RFS · Jul 1, 2022

What's the error message?

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
Elderly Toshiba Satellite Pro. Been gathering dust but decided to see if I could do anything with it.
This maybe should be in Windows 10 - I don't know what OS it has other than 10 or 11.
Trying to boot into Windows stops with error message - auto fix doesn't work.
So decided to try and boot from a Windows CD, but first need to get into BIOS.
Trying to boot into BIOS requires a password - needless to say that is lost in the dust! So how can I get past this first block?
Now I can't get past to try and boot into Windows (and the error message.

Sorry - not very helpful information. Basically I have a PC that gest as far as asking for a password and that's it.

Hi there
try this -- should be easy enough - I've done similar on a Sony VAIO laptop.

toshiba satellite pro reset bios - Google Search

Cheers
jimbo

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

That's the problem. Since trying to access BIOS and getting the password request I now can't get anything but that.
Before that the only message I got was that it had encountered an error and gave the option to either try a repair (which failed) or close down. No error message as such.
As I said, not very helpful. My inclination is to go for a BIOS reset but not sure how to do that on a laptop. Easy enough on a PC.

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

As I posted this, Jimbo's crossed with it. Will try that - thanks.

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
As I posted this, Jimbo's crossed with it. Will try that - thanks.

Before you open it up try this too :

How to Reset the BIOS on a Toshiba Satellite

itstillworks.com

If there's a default password required you should be able to find that somewhere on google.

cheers
jimbo

Bree · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
Elderly Toshiba Satellite Pro ... I don't know what OS it has other than 10 or 11.

It won't (or at least, shouldn't) be W11. There's no way that would be a supported device for Windows 11. Should be easy enough to reset its bios password. Google for how to do it on your specific model.

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

Bree said:
It won't (or at least, shouldn't) be W11. There's no way that would be a supported device for Windows 11. Should be easy enough to reset its bios password. Google for how to do it on your specific model.

Hi there

actually you CAN run W11 on that type of device provided you have sufficient memory,> 48GB Disk space, and it's a 64 bit computer if you run it as a VM. Change the Virtual CPU spec to something that W11 supports -- A VM can also run with an "Emulated" TPM, Secure boot and UEFI boot even on an MBR BIOS only machine. Your CPU must have a minimum of 2 cores as well. Actually runs not too bad on the Sony VAIO although there's no USB 3 hardware on that machine. (USB 2 is OK for some things). I did switch the internal laptops 2.5 inch old HDD for an SSD -- on that laptop was a simple change. undo the back and the old HDD was simple to remove and a new SSD just popped straight in. If you can't use an SSD or are stuck with the old IDE interface then don't bother !!!!.

Here on an old Sony VAIO (MBR only machine) as a VM

TPM : ---->

Trying to get it to run on Real hardware though is another matter if you don't have UEFI boot. It might be possible --- no idea !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

Bree · Jul 1, 2022

jimbo45 said:
Trying to get it to run on Real hardware though is another matter if you don't have UEFI boot. It might be possible --- no idea !!!.

Oh, it's perfectly possible. I have got it to run on three Legacy bios MBR machines so far. But the OP's one is very unlikely to have 11, not if it's been collecting dust for months/years.....

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

What OS it has is a bit academic since I can't get past the BIOS password prompt. My guess is it would be Windows 10.
I tried the methods suggested in the links Jimbo gave me with no luck. Still arrive at a screen with simply a Password prompt. I'm a bit puzzled at that as I wouldn't have set one for the BIOS - never have. I've tried a few possibilities without success.

hsehestedt · Jul 1, 2022

Unfortunately, on Toshiba laptops there is no easy way to reset the BIOS password. The official procedure is to open the system, remove the CMOS battery, wait one hour before replacing it.

Note: It may take less than one hour, but they suggest an hour to be on the safe side.

EDIT: There may also be a CMOS reset jumper on the motherboard, but location varies. Pulling the battery for an hour accomplishes the same thing and is easier to describe when you don't know the jumper location

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

hsehestedt said:
Unfortunately, on Toshiba laptops there is no easy way to reset the BIOS password. The official procedure is to open the system, remove the CMOS battery, wait one hour before replacing it.

I'm discovering that! Unfortunately none of the access panels on the back give access to the battery (or BIOS pins). I think I would have to remove the whole back of the laptop. I've messed about with the innards of PCs often enough, as well as built them from scratch, so I am comfortable doing that, but I have never opened up a laptop. So not sure about that.

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
I'm discovering that! Unfortunately none of the access panels on the back give access to the battery (or BIOS pins). I think I would have to remove the whole back of the laptop. I've messed about with the innards of PCs often enough, as well as built them from scratch, so I am comfortable doing that, but I have never opened up a laptop. So not sure about that.

Just run the battery down to ZERO !!! and leave computer on for a few hours after it's run out of juice or totally dead. And of course don't have it connected to the mains even on standby

Note also before doing any altering of pins / connections etc take some pics or make "old fashioned notes" !!!

Cheers
jimbo

SIW2 · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
What OS it has is a bit academic since I can't get past the BIOS password prompt. My guess is it would be Windows 10.
I tried the methods suggested in the links Jimbo gave me with no luck. Still arrive at a screen with simply a Password prompt. I'm a bit puzzled at that as I wouldn't have set one for the BIOS - never have. I've tried a few possibilities without success.

I expect there is a way to reset that. Sometimes by moving jumper on the mobo , or by trying the likely passwords. It is quite tricky to do because you have to reach round to make the connection while trying to turn it on at the front. Unless you can get another person to help.

BIOS Master Password Generator for Laptops

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

SIW2 said:
I expect there is a way to reset that. Sometimes by moving jumper on the mobo , or by trying the likely passwords. It is quite tricky to do because you have to reach round to make the connection while trying to turn it on at the front. Unless you can get another person to help.

BIOS Master Password Generator for Laptops

Hi folks.

The age of that laptop suggests to me that it would probably be running VISTA or W7 (BTW still working for free upgrades to W10 and hence to W11 from W7 !!!) -- how many years after the official announcement !!!!

Another solution is to take it to an "Old School" Computer repairer's who could reset the BIOS -- these people have all the tools to do the job.

At least where I live we still have loads of people who can do these things and aren't involved in all sorts of businesses that don't seem to do much to do anything other than benefit CEO's and their shareholders.

I regularly see youngsters who have never heard of a "Soldering Iron" and have no idea what a heatsink does or why they are used and yet they think they are experts at every thing connected with computers.

Some though do like "Lessons from Old Grandpa" !!"! so all hope is not lost. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

Sigurd · Jul 1, 2022

I couldn't agree with you more re " youngsters who have never heard of a "Soldering Iron" and have no idea what a heatsink does or why they are used and yet they think they are experts at every thing connected with computers".
As I am now in my 80s I thought it time to start passing on a lot of the electronic gear I have accumulated over the years. OK, some of it is elderly but there were a lot of transistors, ICs and other items, including radio stuff (G4DSI) which still have a use today. In my teens and twenties if offered such a box of electronic treasure I would have taken it like a shot. That's how I started.
So I offered it free to any electronic hobbyists out there.
Guess how many takers?
Anyway, back to laptop. I had seen the video Jimbo attached. I do have a local computer repair shop which is very good. I just don't like admitting defeat. And I am Scots!!
Thanks for your help.

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
I couldn't agree with you more re " youngsters who have never heard of a "Soldering Iron" and have no idea what a heatsink does or why they are used and yet they think they are experts at every thing connected with computers".
As I am now in my 80s I thought it time to start passing on a lot of the electronic gear I have accumulated over the years. OK, some of it is elderly but there were a lot of transistors, ICs and other items, including radio stuff (G4DSI) which still have a use today. In my teens and twenties if offered such a box of electronic treasure I would have taken it like a shot. That's how I started.
So I offered it free to any electronic hobbyists out there.
Guess how many takers?
Anyway, back to laptop. I had seen the video Jimbo attached. I do have a local computer repair shop which is very good. I just don't like admitting defeat. And I am Scots!!
Thanks for your help.

Hi again !!

@Sigurd

Actually I'm not that "Young" myself -- probably not yet entitled to a Free Bus pass yet for a few years -- a few to go still ("What's a Bus ???") but have really enjoyed most of my career as an Engineer. OK not every day is a panacea but when you get something working or can work on with a decent team that gets a big project up and running there's some sort of satisfaction that I don't think a lot of modern careers can replicate.

However I'd love to be involved in projects designing say Mars space Rovers, A.I , Driverless cars / trains etc, decent "Multiverse " apps / "Hologram things"rather than 90% of what passes for jobs out there these days. I wouldn't be any good (especially post B----T in UK can't say the rest of the word as it's too political) say in the UK working in Lincolnshire picking potatoes out of the ground when a decent machine (as we have here in Iceland) would do the whole job quickly and easily.

Anyway good luck to you -- and you have a decent "Scandi" name" as well.

Cheers

jimbo

hsehestedt · Jul 1, 2022

jimbo45 said:
Just run the battery down to ZERO !!! and leave computer on for a few hours after it's run out of juice or totally dead. And of course don't have it connected to the mains even on standby

Note also before doing any altering of pins / connections etc take some pics or make "old fashioned notes" !!!

Cheers
jimbo

Nope, the CMOS has a separate coin cell battery. Could you imagine losing all your CMOS setting or the time from the clock every time you ran the battery down, or swapped a battery?

Besides, in a LiIon battery, you NEVER actually run it down to nothing. What is reported as 0% is in actuality nowhere near a "true" 0%. Discharging a LiIon completely will irreversibly damage the battery.

hsehestedt · Jul 1, 2022

Sigurd said:
I couldn't agree with you more re " youngsters who have never heard of a "Soldering Iron" and have no idea what a heatsink does or why they are used and yet they think they are experts at every thing connected with computers".
As I am now in my 80s I thought it time to start passing on a lot of the electronic gear I have accumulated over the years. OK, some of it is elderly but there were a lot of transistors, ICs and other items, including radio stuff (G4DSI) which still have a use today. In my teens and twenties if offered such a box of electronic treasure I would have taken it like a shot. That's how I started.
So I offered it free to any electronic hobbyists out there.
Guess how many takers?
Anyway, back to laptop. I had seen the video Jimbo attached. I do have a local computer repair shop which is very good. I just don't like admitting defeat. And I am Scots!!
Thanks for your help.

LOL. That's how I got my start. I started my career with a deep background in electronics as an electonics "super geek". I still have my soldering irons, bins full of resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc. I just don't get too much opportunity to that stuff lately :-(

jimbo45 · Jul 1, 2022

hsehestedt said:
Nope, the CMOS has a separate coin cell battery. Could you imagine losing all your CMOS setting or the time from the clock every time you ran the battery down, or swapped a battery?

Besides, in a LiIon battery, you NEVER actually run it down to nothing. What is reported as 0% is in actuality nowhere near a "true" 0%. Discharging a LiIon completely will irreversibly damage the battery.

OK then you have to remove it -- however it shouldn't be a diabolical task to do. These things do fail. Just as an aside I wonder how many youngsters have ever heard of "Ohms Law" or another simple issue -- Maximum power transfer theory when they seem to have problems when trying to connect speakers to modern computer systems.

Cheers
jimbo

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