toshiba laptop won't start in either "safe" or "normal" mode.

Restore Point:

Try tapping F8 at startup, and from the list of startup selections, select Safe Mode by using UP Arrow Key to go there > then hit Enter.

Try a System Restore once there, to pick a Restore Point before your problem..

Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore > pick a different time > Next > etc

****

**If Restore does not work and you do not have a Microsoft Vista DVD, make a Bootable Repair Disk to do a Startup Repair:**

 Download the ISO file at the supplied link, and make a Bootable Repair Disk from it.

Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the
 Drive.

At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu.

When you have changed that, insert that Bootable Disk you have made in the Drive, and reboot.

[http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html](http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html)

Above link shows what the process looks like, and a how-to, as it loads to the Repair Options.

Neosmart contains the contents of the Windows Vista DVD's "recovery center," as we've come to refer to it. It cannot be used to install or reinstall Windows Vista,
 and just serves as a Windows PE interface to recovering your PC. Technically, one could re-create this installation media with freely-downloadable media from Microsoft (namely the Microsoft WAIK kit, a multi-gigabyte download); but it's damn-decent of Microsoft
 to make this available to Windows' users who might not be capable of creating such a thing on their own.

Read all info at the website about creating and using it.  

[http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/](http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/)

ISO Burner:
[http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html](http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html)

It makes a very good Vista Startup Repair Disk.

You can do a Startup Repair, System Restore, etc from it.

It is **NOT** a reinstall disk.

And the 32bit is what comes normally on a computer, unless 64bits requested.  

How to obtain Vista recovery Media and/or use the Vista Recovery Partition on your computer.

There is no legal free Vista download available.

Contact your Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Vista Recovery disk/s.

They normally do that for a small $ cost.

Also, ask them if you have a Recovery Partition on your Computer/Laptop to restore it to Factory settings.

See if a Manual came with the computer, or go to the Manufacturer's website, email or phone them for info on how to do a Recovery.

Normally, you would press F10 or F11 at Startup to commence the Recovery Process.. 

Another way I have seen on some models is to tap F8, and go to a list of Startup options, and start a Factory Standards Recovery from in there, by selecting the Repair computer option.

Toshiba Recovery:

To access the Toshiba recovery partition, power off the laptop. Hold down the 0 (zero) key and turn the laptop on. Keep holding down the zero key until the TOSHIBA logo appears, where you should start tapping the zero key repeatedly. Stop if the unit beeps or when the TOSHIBA logo disappears. The screen should flash ** HDD RECOVERY MODE ** for a split second, then load the Toshiba recovery program right from the hard drive.

Note that this erases all data, and reloads all factory default software. Be sure to back up all your important personal data beforehand!

You can also make Recovery Disk/s from the Recovery Partition in case of Hard Driver failure or System Crash, when you are up and running again.

They will tell you how to do that.

Each Computer Manufacturer has their way of making Recovery Disk/s.

Or borrow a proper Microsoft Vista DVD(not Dell, HP, etc).

A proper Vista DVD contains all Vista versions.

The Product Key determines which Vista version gets installed.

There are 2 Vista disks: one for 32bit Operating System, and one for 64bit Operating System.

If a clean install is required with a proper Vista DVD (not HP, Dell Recovery Disks):

Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the Drive.

At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918884

MS advice on doing clean install.

http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm

A Tutorial on doing a clean install

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp

Windows Vista Installation Super Guide

**Data Recovery:**

1. Slave your Hard Drive in another computer, and read/save your Data from there.

2. Put your Hard drive in a USB Hard Drive Enclosure, plug into another computer, and read/save from there.

3. Or, use Knoppix Live CD to recover your Data:

[http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html](http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html)

Download/Save the above Knoppix Live CD ISO file.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm](http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm)

Download the Vista Burning software from the above link.

After installing above ISO burning software, right-click on Knoppix ISO file > Copy Image to CD.

Knoppix does not install on your PC; just uses your PC's resources, RAM, Graphics, etc.

Change the Boot Order in YOUR computer/laptop to make the CD/DVD Drive 1 in the Boot Order.

Plug in a Flash Drive/Memory Stick, BOOT with the Live CD, and you should be able to read your Hard Drive.

When the desktop loads, you will see at least two hard drive icons on the desktop (one for your hard drive and one for the USB drive).

Click on the hard drive icons to open them up and figure out which drive is which.

Right-click the USB drive icon and choose "Actions > Change read/write mode" so you can write to the drive (it's read-only by default for security reasons).

Now find the files you want to back up and drag and drop them to the USB drive. When you are finished, shut down the system and remove the USB drive.

Cheers.

* * *

Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner