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It’s a long time since I have asked for help from this forum so forgive me if I have forgotten any rules.
I am trying to repair an old tecra 510cdt computer armed with only the information I have got from the net. The problem that I have is this; on power up it checks memory ok, then request a password on entering the password it states “valid password entered, system is now starting up”. It then comes up with another error message that reads “Invalid system disk, and then press any key”.
What I have tried so far; I have attached an external drive so I can insert boot disk, computer will not read the drive don’t even know its there, the same goes for the cd rom , (I have a cd boot disk as well). I then tried to enter the bios by pressing Esc then F1 on start up. The screen goes black then returns to the boot mode and the same error message comes up each time.I want to check the Bios battery and have tried to remove the bottom of the computer; turning the computer upside down, I can only see three screws. I have unscrewed these but failed to remove the bottom as it seems to be secured in unseen places? Can anyone help?
As I see it the bios is checking everything like the memory ram but cannot find the hard disc, I need to get to the bios so I can boot from “A” or the “CD” but don’t know where or how to get to the Bios battery, I know its on the motherboard but how do I get at this board.
Would appreciate any help thanking you in advance
Dave
This site may help, I myself never have luck resetting bios password on the laptop, they are really secure because it is real easy to steal the laptop. I doubt that removing the bios battery will help, by the way, I believe the battery is uder the keyboard.
http://www.tech-companies.info/tosh...
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Sounds to me like the drive is dead. Replacements aren't very expensive.
Life is more painless for those who are brainless.
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Thank You response (1) but before I can find out the bios password I have to get the "A" or "D" drives to be recognised.
Response (2) I also think the hard drive is faulty but to make sure I need to carry out same test.
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if you cannot get access to the bios because of the password, which is the first step that you need to do to see if all the drive/s(A, C, and D) are properly detected first by the bios then you will not get far. you can alays remove the drive and connect it to the desk top pc using an adapter to verify if the drive is OK.
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Below is a link to a site that details how to work around your problem.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/CmosPwdYou can also access the BIOS/CMOS setup screen without having to use TSETUP by holding down the [Esc] key when you first power-on the system
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Thanks response 4 that is my next step, I am having difficulty in getting an adaptor for the laptop hard drive as the connector is only one and half inches long much shorter than the normal ide connectors.
Thank you also response 5 at the moment no software can help me as no drive except for the hard drive are being detected
Thanks anyway.
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It doesn't sound like he's got a password problem guys. It sounds like his HD is either dead or it has no op system on it.
His floppy drive module should work with a bootable disk regardless, assumimg he's got the right module and it's working.tecra 510cdt
I looked on the Toshiba US site.
No user manual except for the "online" one below.partial specs:
P133
Modular FDD included, swappable with CD-Rom
Modular CDrom included, swappable with FDD
Simultaneous FDD and CDRom support - external FDD adapter included.Are you missing pieces?
If you are, they are parts on the web, such as here:
http://www.impactcomputers.com/tosh...Toshiba CMOS Setup program for portable computers.
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/..."This DOS program displays and allows you to set the CMOS/BIOS settings of your Toshiba portable computer. This program does not run in a DOS session under Windows. From Windows, you'll need to restart in MS-DOS mode in order to use this utility.
You can also access the BIOS/CMOS setup screen without having to use TSETUP by holding down the [Esc] key when you first power-on the system."
.....Toshiba Online User's Guide for Tecra 510 Series
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...Download it.
When you execute it, it extracts to c:\docs -
click on toshelib.exe there.Note: sometimes the scroll bar for a topic does not appear - press your down cursor key to make it appear.
Apparently you have a RTC battery that is rechargable and is charged by the main battery - it is supposed to keep its settings for a month with the main battery.
removed. I have so far found nothing in the manual about where it is. On some laptops it is under the keyboard in the case top, on others is is on the mboard. I don't think removing it will cure your problems, assuming doing that clears the cmos - it might on this old beast.
The manual says to contact Toshiba if you forget your password.
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Tubes
If the password wasn't an issue the poster should be able to enter the BIOS to change boot order. As you know, HD not necessary to post. That is why I posted the excerpt from the same site you found that stated the proper key to enter the BIOS.
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"...then request a password on entering the password it states “valid password entered, system is now starting up”"
No problem there. No mention of a message after that about another password. He should be able to get into the bios.
He may be pressing the Esc key at the wrong time. He also could try repeatedly pressing it rather than holding it down like many try.
The bios could be corrupted, but that's not likely.
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I agree that the poster may not have tried the proper keying procedure. According to the excerpt I posted above, the proper procedure is to HOLD the escape key, not tap it. Possibly waiting too long before attempting.
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"..the proper procedure is to HOLD the escape key.."
Oops. Usually to repeatedly press works better, but you're right in this case.
Other things could be wrong, such as the Esc key is not working properly.
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Thank you all for your input but I have the computer up and running.
I connected the laptop hard drive to my desk top computer and read the drive I noted that all of the boot drivers were missing and replaced them from floppy and rebooted the laptop and away it went.
I had to buy the converter cables and power supply to read the drive but I can always use those again.
Thanks again
Dave
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