[bicycle bill]

Hi folks. I am in a pickle here. I had my Toshiba Tecra M5 laptop all set up to
use when the time comes to go in a home. I was downloading Microsoft
updates last night a rather lenghty download so I stepped away for a moment to watch a
little TV. Well during the download the battery ran out. I plugged in the
power thinking that the PC would continue with the download but no.
It set there like a jug of urine and the only way to shut it down was to
pull the plug. I then plugged in the power and the download did start but froze when
about half finished. Only option was to pull the plug again.

I have the XP CD but it is not even recognized when I insert it so I can't
get to the recovery console. Can't enter safe mode. What a bummer. Looks like there is no way
to resusatate the dead.

[tarekch]

mmm what do you mean XP is not recognized? are you sure that BIOS is set to read CD/DVD ROM prior to booting from HDD?

[bicycle bill]

Originally Posted by tarekch

mmm what do you mean XP is not recognized? are you sure that BIOS is set to read CD/DVD ROM prior to booting from HDD?

The XP CD is not recognized read. From what I have read changing the boot order in the BIOS is not necessary. Is that
correct?

[tarekch]

no it is not, you have two options:
you either press a key during boot which is usually (but not always) F12, or you change the boot order.
if HDD is before CD then the problem is not XP CD is not recognized rather it is CD boot is not acknowledged.
try changing the boot order and see if your cd is working

[bicycle bill]

Well I just got the first response from the computer. I removed the bat,held down power button for thirty seconds,inserted the battery and then
tried a reboot. Now I get a PCI express error. That error is preventing me from entering the BIOS. It pops up before I can select a boot device. Do you have any idea what this means. Am I hosed completely hosed?

[tarekch]

i assume you are using a desktop computer, make sure your keyboard is securely attached to the case.

[bicycle bill]

Please. The title of my post is "Toshiba laptop no boot". Know anything about the PCI Express error?

[tarekch]

chill man, i have millions of posts in hand, i didn't notice its a laptop.
PCI express errors are very broad topic, usually related to Graphic Card and mother board issues.
many users who had that error ended up sending it for repairs
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...ess-error.html

what happened to booting from XP CD btw? is this wat gave you the PCI error?

[bicycle bill]

Originally Posted by tarekch

chill man, i have millions of posts in hand, i didn't notice its a laptop.
PCI express errors are very broad topic, usually related to Graphic Card and mother board issues.
many users who had that error ended up sending it for repairs
http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...ess-error.html

what happened to booting from XP CD btw? is this wat gave you the PCI error?

Well appears I am completely hosed. Take a look Here if you are so inclined. The error was there before trying to use CD. My hands are tied. Probably one of the Microsoft updates that crippled my computer.
Glad this is not my main computer. Thanks for trying to help.

[tarekch]

yeah i have read this before, sorry but looks like your gonna have to send it for repairs, try taking other opinions though, i might be mistaken