Toshiba Satellite L300 PSLB0A-08L022 booting problem

[foxdie222]

Hello, I have Toshiba Satellite L300 PSLB0A-08L022 (Australian version), problem started few weeks back and i have been trying to resolve it since then but no luck.

ISSUE:
Laptop boots fine, POST fine, but can't boot into windows, it just shuts down and restarts automatically and this thing keeps repeating.

MEASURES:
Changed hard drive = no luck
Changed RAMS = no luck
Tried Windows Setup without hard drive = no luck
Tried reinstalling Windows 7 and Windows 8 = restarts at "windows loading files"
Cleaned the processor grill and fan and reapplied thermal paste = no luck
Turned off all features from bios and set Hard drive to "compatibility mode"=no luck.
Tried disconnecting wifi and modem cards = no luck.

However when i booted it to portable windows xp through Hiren's boot cd it did boot up and that windows was working fine, i took it as advantage and i updated my bios too but still NO LUCK.

Now its like just heavy paper weight, it Post fine, but it get restarted when trying to boot in windows or reinstalling it, but it does get into SAFE MODE correctly. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

[Bubbaleone]

Your L300 is setup with a recovery partition that's accessibile by tapping the F8 key as soon as you power on. Select the repair option to enter the windows recovery environment, and the Toshiba factory restore is one of the options available, in addition to the normal windows recovery options (unless you've inadvertently formatted that partition).


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[foxdie222]

Originally Posted by Bubbaleone

Your L300 is setup with a recovery partition that's accessibile by tapping the F8 key as soon as you power on. Select the repair option to enter the windows recovery environment, and the Toshiba factory restore is one of the options available, in addition to the normal windows recovery options (unless you've inadvertently formatted that partition).


.

I have switched to a new hard drive and its completely (low level) formatted so i don't think recovery partition still exists. Though i tried pressing f8 on startup but nothing happens. The problem is i can't install any os, it gets hangs or some times get restarted on windows setup.

My friend has the exact same model of l300 series and its working perfect, i switched his hard drive into mine but the windows get hangs on initial loading. SAFE MODE works though. Please help.

[Bubbaleone]

Ok... backup a bit and clearly describe the steps you've taken to ensure that the BIOS is configured correctly, whether or not you initialized and formatted the new drive prior to installing the OS, how you installed the OS and what version you're installing, and the exact point where the installation failed including any error messages.

[paul878]

Originally Posted by foxdie222

I have switched to a new hard drive and its completely (low level) formatted so i don't think recovery partition still exists. Though i tried pressing f8 on startup but nothing happens. The problem is i can't install any os, it gets hangs or some times get restarted on windows setup.

My friend has the exact same model of l300 series and its working perfect, i switched his hard drive into mine but the windows get hangs on initial loading. SAFE MODE works though. Please help.

You have hardware problem, run memory test and report back.

[mlc]

Try reloading the chip set and display adapter drivers from safe mode...

[foxdie222]

Originally Posted by Bubbaleone

Ok... backup a bit and clearly describe the steps you've taken to ensure that the BIOS is configured correctly, whether or not you initialized and formatted the new drive prior to installing the OS, how you installed the OS and what version you're installing, and the exact point where the installation failed including any error messages.

1. I have loaded the default settings for my bios, didn't work.
2. Then i disabled all the devices from bios (sound,lan,wifi,usb) and set HDD mode from AHCI to COMPATIBILITY, that didn't work either.
3. Then i boot into "mini xp" from "Hiren's Boot CD" and updated my bios, didn't work.
4. HDD is low-level formatted before installing the os so there is no way for recovery partition.
5. I tried installing Win7, Win8, Win XP both from USB and dvd but everytime it gets hang or get restarted at the point where windows setup initializes the files for installation.

Do you think it is a mobo issue ?

[foxdie222]

Originally Posted by paul878

You have hardware problem, run memory test and report back.

I tried replacing rams from a working laptop but nothing happens

[Bubbaleone]

Originally Posted by foxdie222

1. I have loaded the default settings for my bios, didn't work.
2. Then i disabled all the devices from bios (sound,lan,wifi,usb) and set HDD mode from AHCI to COMPATIBILITY, that didn't work either.
3. Then i boot into "mini xp" from "Hiren's Boot CD" and updated my bios, didn't work.
4. HDD is low-level formatted before installing the os so there is no way for recovery partition.
5. I tried installing Win7, Win8, Win XP both from USB and dvd but everytime it gets hang or get restarted at the point where windows setup initializes the files for installation.

Do you think it is a mobo issue ?

In your OP you stated:

Now its like just heavy paper weight, it Post fine, but it get restarted when trying to boot in windows or reinstalling it, but it does get into SAFE MODE correctly. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

So tell me if I've got this right:

1. The original problem that started a few weeks ago was when you tried to boot into Windows 7 it would get to the "Starting Windows" screen and hang, and then reboot itself?

2. But, if you tapped the F8 key Windows 7 would boot into safe mode?

3. You decided the original HDD was bad so you got a replacement, then performed a low-level format on it, and now you can't install Windows because the installation restarts when it begins loading files?

If the answer to these 3 questions is "yes", then I suggest the following steps:

A. Download the free EaseUS Partition Master 9.1.1 Home Edition and burn it to CD. Then boot from the Easeus CD and initialize, partition, and NTFS format the new HDD. (If all you've done to your new HDD is a low-level format, trying to install Windows will fail with a restart every time the installer begins loading files.)

B. After you've initrialized, partitioned, and NTFS formatted your new HDD, go back into the BIOS and enable AHCI, check your boot order priorities, and return any other settings to optimum values, save and exit BIOS.

C. Load up your Windows installation disk and run the installation.

[foxdie222]

Originally Posted by Bubbaleone

In your OP you stated:

So tell me if I've got this right:

1. The original problem that started a few weeks ago was when you tried to boot into Windows 7 it would get to the "Starting Windows" screen and hang, and then reboot itself?

2. But, if you tapped the F8 key Windows 7 would boot into safe mode?

3. You decided the original HDD was bad so you got a replacement, then performed a low-level format on it, and now you can't install Windows because the installation restarts when it begins loading files?

If the answer to these 3 questions is "yes", then I suggest the following steps:

A. Download the free EaseUS Partition Master 9.1.1 Home Edition and burn it to CD. Then boot from the Easeus CD and initialize, partition, and NTFS format the new HDD. (If all you've done to your new HDD is a low-level format, trying to install Windows will fail with a restart every time the installer begins loading files.)

B. After you've initrialized, partitioned, and NTFS formatted your new HDD, go back into the BIOS and enable AHCI, check your boot order priorities, and return any other settings to optimum values, save and exit BIOS.

C. Load up your Windows installation disk and run the installation.

Done, no results , windows installation still gets restarted everytime.

[mlc]

Let's rewind ....if you tried swapping a HDD from a friends PC, and still have the same issue...then it would have to be hardware or bios related....most likely weak power supply, bad motherboard, or ram issue...

try swapping in your friends battery as well, to see if that helps....if not, then it could be a bad board or bios cutting, as previously suggested

[ixelion]

I suspect you have mainboard failure, I suppose it's possible it may be the LCD but unlikely.

Try disconnecting the LCD from the unit (you will have to do some surgery here), and then use external monitor. I have had a variety of Satellites where the LCD cable was shorting the board and causing all kinds of paranormal activity.

If it fails again you have to replace the mainboard, under ideal conditions you would perform component isolation.

I have to say the L300 is extremely old and a new mainboard and headaches involved in diag/testing is not economical at all, I strongly suggest you invest in a new laptop.

[AnonymouseUser]

Boot from a Linux LiveUSB (not LiveCD) or try installing Windows from USB. I suspect a SATA issue.

[foxdie222]

thank you all for quick response. Tried swapping the battery as well as the adapter, even tried installing windows without the battery connected but it didn't help. Lastly i tried disconnecting the LCD cable from the mainboard but that too failed to help. Now i believe that the problem is in the main board, most likely in the hard drive (SATA) controlling circuitry.

[ixelion]

If you feel confident in doing this, you can completely remove the mainboard from the case and have only ram, HSF, external VGA and hard drive connected, and then try triggering the failure symptom again. This will tell you for sure if the mainboard is toast, provided of course you use known good ram/hard drive. If you can trigger the failure without the hard drive even better.