Toshiba Laptop will only start in safe mode

Hey guys and gals,

I was hoping to get some help from my community, i am currently using a Toshiba Satellite in safe mode to write this thread.

Last week, the top row of keys stopped working, so i purchased a new keyboard which arrived today, installed it (properly) and now in normal mode it will not load past the Toshiba Leading Innovation screen, it just goes to a black (but lit) screen if that makes sense.

In safe mode i have been able to use the networking function to get on here, everything on the screen appears fine.

If i reboot, it just goes to the Toshiba screen acting all normal and then blaaaaaaa.

I'm running Windows 8.1, never had a problem before with this unit.

Things i have tried;

Checking BIOS settings , trying restore point (which i know i made one a month ago, but it states it does not have a restore point to access)

Recovery (gets to 10%, then tries to boot unsuccessfully )

Ran spyware and anti-virus checks with no results.

This thing is usually a beast, i do not wish to delete all and start again like some sites recommend. It appears to work perfectly in Safe Mode but just will not load in normal mode.

Please Help

Scuba

Alas, the quickest most painful thing would to be starting again. If you are dead set against full format, I would purchase a new HD, chuck it in and plug your old one into an external caddy, extra storage + you dont loose anything. Sorry to be a buzz kill

If it boots in safe mode, what screen resolution is it booting into?

It sounds to me that perhaps when installing the new kb, you may have done something to the graphics? As it boots from the toshibo logo to a black yet lit screen, it could be that the resolution is the problem...

Rather than safe mode, try low resolution mode to see if it boots normally..

May just need to reinstall the video drivers if that is the case.

?

a reply to: scubagravy

things to try

run MSconfig , and see if works with Diagnostic Startup or Selective Startup checked....

BIOS may have a setting that halts on keyboard errors - uncheck it...

run device manager- devmgmt.msc - ... look for errors / keyboard

check for software/drivers related too hotkeys - and temporary disable

Im on it.

a reply to: LoneWrecche

Thanks for your reply, can i change the resolution in safe mode? i do not see how i could do that in normal given it does not start that far .

Try disabling driver signing - sounds like windows detects the driver from the old kb and doesn't match up with the ID of the new kb.

boot to safe mode with networking and update the new kb drivers, if possible.
Otherwise try booting with driver signature enforcement disabled.

Goodluck

a reply to: scubagravy

You get minimal resolution options in SAFE MODE.

That's an odd situation you have there.

A keyboard error forcing SAFE MODE I cant hardly fathom. Not even in Windows XP.

Perhaps replace the CMOS battery and fix the settings. You'd be surprised the nutty problems CMOS can cause at the prompt, and beyond. If there's a chance you bumped the battery socket, you might also check for / correct possible "cold solder joints" you might have caused.

You might leave it shut off, smoke a few cigarettes, pace around, and think back as hard as your brain possibly could retracing your certainty that changing the keyboard was the genesis of the problem.

And open it up exactly as far as you did before, and any PCB that you might have bumped you "reseat" the related connector(s).

Windows doing flaky stuff like that I most always blame it on software side, but connectors that require reseating can cause bizarro problems as well.

So for that side, and nothing else herein works, I'd go to a proper PC tech forum. Lotso Google God.

But if you decide that there might have been a cold solder joint created, and you're not practiced in soldering, look up the 'repair video card in conventional oven' technique. (DONT START WITH THIS APPROACH LOL)

Can not seem to do any of these from Safe Mode ????

HELP

a reply to: scubagravy

You (or anything else) cant do much of anything in Windoze from SAFE MODE, is kind of the point of it lol.

You did say your CMOS settings are still intact? That's an important one to scratch off at this stage.

Seriously, the kinds of hardware component issues in desktops I cant even see forcing SAFE MODE. (I grew up since the 90's working on desktop tech, loathe laptop tech in function and repair)

But laptops are a different kinds of tech, so rechecking your work inside the case is where to go. Expecting that you opening the case truly was what triggered this outcome?

if you can boot in safe mode then you have access to all your data which is the only thing that really matters. Back up all your data, bookmarks etc.....reinstall windows and reinstall all your programs. Painful i know, but youre just lucky you didnt lose your data.

Operating Systems experience a syndrome called "OS rot"...not many ppl know about it but some believe its a real problem. It really doesnt matter if you believe in it...operating systems efficiency decays over time and whether or not thats a result of the OS itself, updates, or changes as a result of installed programs...the result is the same....

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Thanks for your reply IGS, a lot of what i just read was gobbledygook LOL. Note that i did not have to access the back of the laptop to access the keyboard, i pulled it from the top.

The resolution i have in Safe Mode is 1366x768 ..... is that too high? seems so.

Also in Devices, there is no keyboard selection

grrrr

a reply to: scubagravy

HRMMMM

I never worked pro on laptops, but I've taken apart just about every kind of device since 1981 before I could even walk lol.

How you swapped a model specific OEM laptop keyboard without taking the case apart.... I cant even picture it.

You probably better take a few photos and go take your time making a chronological sort of post in a proper PC tech forum.

But assuming your model has an easily removable keyboard then pop it back out and look for anything you might have bumped, "reseat" any connectors you might have jostled.

Google all these "keywords" I'm using and you find guide works that explain them. They're basic electronics in general steps.

originally posted by: scubagravy
a reply to: LoneWrecche

Thanks for your reply, can i change the resolution in safe mode? i do not see how i could do that in normal given it does not start that far .

There should be an option on the screen where you select safe mode, to boot into low resolution mode. I've never had to, so I a, assuming that this is a normal boot, but in a lower resolution, which should give you the option to change it, or check to see if the display adapter is using the correct driver. If it's for some reason reverted to a windows default driver it may not be compatible with the display adapters driver resolution, which would mean it's booting up as normal, but the display is trying to use a resolution the default windows driver doesn't support. Booting into low resolution mode, should, hopefully, let you see if that is the case...

Safe mode, usually doesn't allow you to change normal boot settings, especially video driver settings, but again it's been a long time since I've had to do anything in safe mode.

If it is something like that, it would save having to do a restore... worst case scenario, safe mode should let you move all of your files to a different partition or usb stick, note down the software you have installed (I never remember, and only when I go to use something do I face palm lol) and copy things like email archives, browser settings etc, so if you do need to restore/format and reinstall, you don't lose anything..

Hopefully that's not the case though.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

correct possible "cold solder joints" you might have caused

see folks this is why you should only watch doom porn in moderation, otherwise its worst case scenario...

originally posted by: LoneWrecche
Safe mode, usually doesn't allow you to change normal boot settings, especially video driver settings, but again it's been a long time since I've had to do anything in safe mode.

To me, "boot settings" are a BIOS issue. Which come before Win startup processes.

Video drivers, now that is something SAFE MODE doesnt give much play on. It should open as 640x480 / 800x600 in SAFE MODE, as far as I've ever seen.

Would this be any different in laptops? I would say no unless its some special 'laptop version' that was installed, perhaps.

Now I will state that I've only worked with every version of Win from 3.1 thru 7. But I cant imagine the bulk of my attempted tips so far would be anything different regarding PC / OS boot mechanics in Win8.

SAFE MODE is totally basic stuff. Every possible program and driver that could prevent you from booting / repairing shut off.

OP's problems so bizarre I wouldnt rule out spending a good hour contemplating all that he can remember if perhaps a virus was why the keyboard wasnt working right to begin with, and is why its so off right now LOL



OP: Did you have antivirus AND (most importantly) 'all' the Microsoft updates installed?

a reply to: AttitudeProblem

Repair / Rebuild / Restore pinball & arcade machines for a living for over a decade... LOL!

Your annual PC problems compared to any given Restore project is like candy cane avenue versus the last 20 minutes of the film, Inception, I suppose.

But this is sounding like hardware stuff to me.

NOTE: If it is hardware stuff, the overwhelming majority of solder joints in a laptop are "surface mount", meaning the chance of cold solder joints is almost impossible... but the battery holder quite likely wouldnt be surface mounted solder joints, and thus easy to disrupt via jostling. Laptops do often get quite HOT afterall, far more than any typical desktop machine, and hot/cold variations are a core cause of "cold solder joints"... BUT if your CMOS setting are sticking then forget cold solder joints thoughts completely.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

haha, yes buddy, everything was up to date.

a few keys were not working, so I replaced the keyboard because it was an *easy fix* bahahaha, i have gone over everything, i can not see how my problem is related to anything ive done.

For now when i rebooted the Toshiba i held the F8 key and it has gone into some automatic fixing mode, taking its time. Screen is on Toshiba screen with the loading symbol doing donuts at the bottom. Cheers for your help thus far, ill ride it out and update when i see any progress .

a reply to: scubagravy

Also in Devices, there is no keyboard selection

try plugging in an external keyboard....?

Thankyou to all who have given their 2 bob, i will update as soon as anything changes, i highly appreciate all your help.

But i fear, i may be pi55ing in the wind.