I Think I Bricked My Laptop, It Won't Boot Windows

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  1. jimbo45
    Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       New #11

    Hi there

    Try any Live Linux distribution -- Linux Mint is probably the most "Windows Like". Convert ISO to bootable USB via RUFUS if the download is in ISO format. Now just see if it boots. If it does then your Laptop is basically OK -- could be a dubious HDD or whatever.

    If you feel uncomfortable with Linux try downloading the bootable version of GPARTED and boot it up. If it boots it will show you if the HDD is inoperative / has errors etc. (Again use RUFUS to convert ISO to bootable USB).

    If your PC has a TOTALLY DEAD battery or a defective one --REMOVE IT and work from the Mains. Sometimes a defective battery will render the PC inoperative as the BIOS will go through all sorts of hardware checks and a defective battery can cause a Hard Wait state in the BIOS (i.e either Blank screen or simply a Freeze). Even if the BIOS will let you boot Windows itself may fail on similar hardware checks as it's initialising so IMO good idea to totally remove the battery.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  3. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,824
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #12

    @CarefulNow ... That suggestion by @jimbo45 sounds like an excellent first step. A dead battery may be causing it to go into an endless initialization loop. Seems to be an easy try without having to download anything else. If you don't have the manual for your lappy, here is the link. Chapter 4, page 29 shows how to remove battery.

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...,d.cWw&cad=rjt
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  4. CarefulNow
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #13

    Hey everyone. Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm gonna try and answer everyone's questions.

    I'm using my old Lenovo laptop and my iPhone to post here (using the old laptop to download). When I boot the Toshiba laptop it always end with a black screen. I went into the BIOS and changed the Boot Type from UEFI to CSM. CSM gives me what appears to look like a full screen command prompt box except it's not. I can't type anything into it, it only shows a blinking underscore "_" on the top-left corner of the screen. UEFI Boot displays the Toshiba logo, displays 'Preparing Automatic Repair' and then goes black again. Except this time it gave me a BSOD with the error saying "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME". Hopefully this will help to fix this problem.

    @NavyLCDR I downloaded Kyhi's recovery disc but unfortunately that didn't load up anything, so I used 'Rufus' as suggested by @eLPuSHeR but nothing showed up either. There is no 'setup.exe' file in the .ISO, is there supposed to be one? If there is I'll redownload it.

    I did all of this with the laptop's battery removed as suggested by @jimbo45. I'm going to download Linux now and try it out. I'll update this thread again after using it.

    And, here's a tip: use "My understanding was..." instead of "I assumed..."
    Last edited by Brink; 02 Oct 2016 at 16:38.
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  6. eLPuSHeR
    Posts : 2,935
    Windows 10 Home x64
       New #14

    Are you sure you aren't doing something wrong? This is very strange.

    You need an usb stick to make it bootable from an iso with Rufus. Have you tried booting from it (usb)?
    Also, you probably MUST FORCE CSM MODE IN BIOS to be able to boot from some external device. I think Secure Boot might give you trouble for freely booting, but it depends on what BIOS you have. There should be also some boot sequence in BIOS, probably changeable when you enable CSM mode and reboot. You can probably use some Function key to invoke a boot menu from invoking booting device before loading the OS. On my Gigabyte mainboard is F12; Asrock uses F11 and ASUS F8, I think. Check your manual.
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  7. CarefulNow
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #15

    jimbo45 said:
    Try any Live Linux distribution -- Linux Mint is probably the most "Windows Like". Convert ISO to bootable USB via RUFUS if the download is in ISO format. Now just see if it boots. If it does then your Laptop is basically OK -- could be a dubious HDD or whatever.
    I downloaded Linux Mint and I put it onto the USB stick and it loaded up! I didn't realise I could use Linux on it while it's in this state. I'm downloading Wine to try and run 'setup.exe' from the Windows 10 .ISO on it. I'll post again soon. Thanks!

    Edit: obviously can't run Windows on USB forever. I'm gonna try and install Windows 10 on USB again and see what happens.
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  8. CarefulNow
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #16

    The laptop still won't boot up Windows although it'll boot Linux just fine. What can I do? Should I re-download Windows 10 in case the current ISO file I have is corrupted?
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  9. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,430
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #17

    CarefulNow said:
    The laptop still won't boot up Windows although it'll boot Linux just fine. What can I do? Should I re-download Windows 10 in case the current ISO file I have is corrupted?
    Yes.
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  10. CarefulNow
    Posts : 8
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #18

    NavyLCDR said:
    Yes.
    I re-downloaded Windows 10, put it onto the USB using Rufus and whenever it boots I get an error saying "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" but whenever I press Ctrl+Alt+Del it doesn't respond. All I can do is turn it off through the power button. I'm really confused by this because it is able to boot and run Linux Mint just fine.

    Edit: I changed the cluster size to 4GB on NTFS (default) and the laptop read the USB. Unfortunately, just like the disc, the Windows logo came up then I got redirected to a black screen. What could be causing this? If I downloaded a Windows 7 ISO could that work? I'm going to download one now to try it out.
    Last edited by CarefulNow; 04 Oct 2016 at 11:33.
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  12. eLPuSHeR
    Posts : 2,935
    Windows 10 Home x64
       New #19

    I think you may need a BIOS update. It seems your current setup isn't w10 friendly.
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  13. jimbo45
    Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       New #20

    CarefulNow said:
    I re-downloaded Windows 10, put it onto the USB using Rufus and whenever it boots I get an error saying "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" but whenever I press Ctrl+Alt+Del it doesn't respond. All I can do is turn it off through the power button. I'm really confused by this because it is able to boot and run Linux Mint just fine.

    Edit: I changed the cluster size to 4GB on NTFS (default) and the laptop read the USB. Unfortunately, just like the disc, the Windows logo came up then I got redirected to a black screen. What could be causing this? If I downloaded a Windows 7 ISO could that work? I'm going to download one now to try it out.
    Hi there

    @CarefulNow

    Actually I suspect you've got an HDD error since Linux boots on the HDD just fine while Windows fails.
    Note for installing Windows you can't have more than 4 partitions - even GPT Disc otherwise you'll also get HDD error.

    After Windows is installed -- no problem with as many as you want depending on the siize of the device, If you are using UEFI boot then the HDD MUST be GPT formatted -- you can create that by booting the Windows install ISO and use REPAIR system and get into cmd mode - then use DISKPART..


    I suggest you format the HDD completely and try install Windows again.

    To format the HDD download GPARTED to USB and use Rufus to make the USB bootable.
    GUI is simple - re-format HDD.

    Switch off SECURE BOOT as well --it's generally more trouble than its worth.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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