I have a Toshiba Satellite A70 laptop. It came with XP pre-installed. I have followed the instructions in the tutorial to re-install windows xp but have hit a brick wall. The computer comes with a recovery dvd, however, if I try to boot from the dvd, I don't get the typical setup screen. Instead I get a choice of wiping my hard drive and re-installing the original software or doing nothing. Is there no other way to re-install the operating system? Thanks for any help.

The recovery disc is designed to restore the computer back to factory condition.
It will remove all of your data.
Please tell us what issue you are having so we can see if you need to use the recovery disc.
There may be other options that will not cause the loss of your data.

Here is a link that you can download the recovery console to your desktop.
Save the file to your desktop.
And here is a link that tells you how to make the disc.
This is used to repair your computer, using the proper utilitys.

I had issues with XP service pack 3. The toshiba console went wonky and I had issues with my mouse, moniter, power save features. I have since tried to uninstall SP3 and reinstall all the drivers. However, my power save controls still do not work and my screen is set on dim, which I cannot change. I don't think it is a hardware issue. I'm trying to reinstall XP but do not want to delete all my files. Thanks,

Sorry, more specific question. Will the recovery console let me reinstall just XP without any changes to my other files, or will it completely wipe my hard drive? Thanks so much,

The recovery console does not install windows. It is used to repair windows.
Do you have a valid XP CD?

If so, place it in your CD ROM drive and follow the instructions below:

• Click on START-->RUN and type sfc /scannow (note the space) (Let this run undisturbed until the window with the blue progress bar goes away)

SFC - Which stands for System File Checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

If you want to see what was replaced, right-click My Computer and click on Manage. In the new window that appears, expand the Event Viewer (by clicking on the + symbol next to it) and then click on System.

I ran the system file checker then looked to see what was replaced. It doesn't look like anything was done. The most recent events were just "Information". I don't have an actual Windows XP installation CD. The computer came with a Toshiba "Product Recovery DVD" which I assume does have XP on it along with all the toshiba stuff too. Nothing seems to be helping. Should I back up all my files then try the complete wipe?

You should back up your files.
While I loath to have you do a system recovery, it would fix the issue.

DO THIS
Here is a link that you can download the recovery console to your desktop.
And here is a link that tells you how to make the disc.
This is used to repair your computer, using the proper utilitys.
And then do the system file checker again with the newly made disc.

No changes. Same thing. Anything I should know before I use the original product recovery cd and wipe the hard drive + re-install XP?

Boot from the Windows XP recovery console CD. that you made..after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will then be asked to log in. Choose the installation to be repaired by number (usually 1) and press "Enter". When you are asked for the Administrator password, leave it blank and press "Enter".

When you get to the recovery console prompt:

• Type cd \ and press "Enter".
• Type cd system~1\_resto~1 and press "Enter".
• Type dir and press "Enter".

After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the "Enter" key until you reach the end of the list

• Type cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list} and press "Enter". (Example: Type cd rp9 if rp10 is the last restore point.)
• Type cd snapshot and press "Enter".
• Type copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system and press "Enter".
• Type copy _registry_machine_software c:\windows\system32\config\software and press "Enter".
• Type exit and press "Enter".

Your PC will reboot.

If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:

• Type cd \ and press "Enter".
• Type cd windows\system32\config and press "Enter".
• Type ren system system.bak and press "Enter".
• Type exit and press "Enter".

Your PC will reboot, go back into the Recovery Console and start from the beginning.

If this does not work, I am out of Ideas.

This post has been edited by hfcg: Nov 12 2008, 10:12 PM

For some reason I had issues after that. Windows would not start. I used the recovery disc and now my screen is as bright as can be. The odd thing is, I'm still having trouble with something related to the toshiba console. It is reading my battery at 0% and it does not change. The "battery recharging" light slowly flashes. Odd, because everything works great otherwise.