Almost dead hard drive I think

tnt4him

New Member
Messages
5
My wife downloaded a virus onto her Toshiba 850D laptop, I think it was called cinema lights. It automatically downloaded other programs and we tried to uninstall it but it would not go. Eventually the laptop would not boot up anymore. It would show the Toshiba logo but no windows stuff. It would not restore and it even would not install 8.1 from the hard drive. The only option left for me was to wipe the hard drive, so I did. I bought a full version of windows 8.1 and tried to install it but no matter what option under F12 it says media fail and no bootable device. I can hear the CD player working but I think that the HD is damaged somehow from all this. Should I replace the hard drive or is there another way to load the new 8.1?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba 850D
    Antivirus
    Spybot
Is your player a cd drive or dvd drive because windows 8.1 comes on a dvd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + 8.1 pro and 7 Utimate
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i3 2.53GHz
When you press f12 I guessing that it takes it into your boot order and then you pick your dvd drive to boot into, If that's not working I would go into the bios and try changing it there. If that give's you the same error I would guess that somehow the dvd has become corrupted. If that is the case you could search this forum for the location to download the exact same version of Windows and make your own DVD which you will also find on this site , Also the reason you want to make sure you get the exact same version is so you can use the key that came with your DVD it would be a pain in the but to install win 8 only to find you got the wrong one
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + 8.1 pro and 7 Utimate
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i3 2.53GHz
I was wondering about that. Windows 8.1 needs to be the same as what was factory loaded? So the one I bought may not work at all? The laptop is about 3 years old and how do I find what version of windows was on it? It is in the bios?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba 850D
    Antivirus
    Spybot
As long as that copy you have is not an "Upgrade" version, it should load. The bios does not contain any software. It just tells the CPU and other chips what they are supposed to do. As for being the same, no.


A virus will not destroy or harm a hard drive, even though there are a few out there that can infect the MBR. Even though the discs are the Recovery media, you should be able to press F12 or Fn + F12 and get into the boot menu.

At three years, and having to reload the OS. I would just replace the platter drive with an SSD. Crucial has a 240 gb for under $100. The biggest plus side is that the battery will last longer, along with if the laptop is dropped, you do not risk a hard drive crash.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
I was wondering about that. Windows 8.1 needs to be the same as what was factory loaded? So the one I bought may not work at all? The laptop is about 3 years old and how do I find what version of windows was on it? It is in the bios?

No you should be alright with a copy of win 8.1 or 8 and the proper key I meant the version of the new dvd of windows you bought
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + 8.1 pro and 7 Utimate
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i3 2.53GHz
Sorry, I'm not so tech savy, but a platter drive replaces the HD?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba 850D
    Antivirus
    Spybot
Sorry, I'm not so tech savy, but a platter drive replaces the HD?
The hard drive that is in the laptop is called a "Platter" hard drive, because it is mechanical and uses multiple platters to store data on. They wear out over time. Especially on laptops. Also can be easily damaged, because they are so fragile for the size that is in laptops.

SSD drives have no moving parts, so less wear & tear. Also can withstand a drop.

As for the DVD you have. If Windows 8.1 64bit was installed and the version you have is 32bit. It can cause a problem when the disc is trying to look for a previously installed version.

As long as you can choose the DVD from F12, it should boot up to the DVD. You may have to go into the Bios settings and turn off Secure Boot. Press F2 or Fn + F2 to enter the Bios settings.

To change out the hard drive on the toshiba laptops, flip it over with the battery & power removed. There is a panel in the middle that should have two screws that have to be removed with a eyeglass phillips screwdriver. You take off the panel, then remove the one screw holding the tray for the install hard drive, pull it out, then remove the screws holding the drive to the tray and place the SSD in its place, reverse process.

Your wife will love you. Now if you can get her to use either Firefox or Chrome, and you install anti-malware preventative add-ons, like AdBlock Plus, McAfee Website Cert, Bit Defender Traffic Light, WOT (Web Of Trust), along with a good system anti-virus/anti-malware (Kaspersky is the best running so far for paid anti-virus software).

The last is getting her to change her habits by not opening untrusted attachments to emails she does not know the sender, along with staying away from certain malware laden websites, she should be fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
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