Laptop Crashed and Wont Boot Please Help

i was on my laptop a few minutes ago this is my main computer with all my important data on it and i was wondering if there was anything i could do to fix it without having to send it in to get it worked on, btw i know quite a bit about technology and computers but yet i dont have a clue how to fix this becuse as soon as i turn it on it says toshiba in touch wtith tomorrow (this is the very first screen) then has a black screen as if loading like its goning to boot then says (windows could not start because the following file is missing System32\DRIVERS\isapnp.sys you can attempt to repair this file by starting windows setup using the original setup cd-rom select r at the first screen to start repair) i have tried this but the computer only came with a recovery/drivers dvd and it wont boot at all i have tried pressing delete to get to the setup menu and starting in safe mode and other things pretty much all of the commands you could try when attemping to fix a crashed computer. also as soon as it shows the message i mentioned it reboots itself it you press any key also as i said there is data on my laptop i would like to keep so if i do have to send it in would it work if i took the hdd out and put it in a 2.5 hdd inclosure hooked it up to my other computer and coppied the data i needed over........well THANKS ALOT and please reply asap

 

Straight from microsoft:

You receive a "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Isapnp.sys" error message at startup
View products that this article applies to.
Article ID : 315311
Last Review : June 16, 2005
Revision : 5.1
This article was previously published under Q315311
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SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

RESOLUTION

Windows XP

Windows 2000

MORE INFORMATION
SYMPTOMS
When you try to start Microsoft Windows XP or Microsoft Windows 2000 , you may receive one of the following error messages, depending on your operating system.

Windows XP
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\windows\System32\Drivers\Isapnp.sys
Windows 2000
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\Winnt\System32\Drivers\Isapnp.sys
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CAUSE
This issue may occur if the Isapnp.sys file is damaged or is not present in the path that the error message specifies.
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RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use Recovery Console to replace the Isapnp.sys file.
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Windows XP
To replace the Isapnp.sys file in Windows XP, follow these steps:1. Start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
2. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to start Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or a multiple-boot computer, type the number that corresponds to your Windows XP installation when you are prompted to select the Windows installation to log on to, and then press ENTER.
4. When you are prompted for the Administrator password, type the password, and then press ENTER.

Note If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the C:\Windows prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ren c:\windows\system32\drivers\isapnp.sys isapnp.old
Note The steps in this article assume that you installed Windows XP to the C: drive. The actual location of your Windows installation may vary.
6. At the C:\Windows prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
expand cd-romdrive:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers\isapnp.sys
For example, type:
expand d:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers
7. After the file is successfully expanded, type exit, and then press ENTER to exit Recovery Console.
8. Restart the computer.

Back to the top

Windows 2000
To replace the Isapnp.sys file in Windows 2000, follow these steps:1. Start the computer from the Windows 2000 CD-ROM.
2. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to repair, and then press C to start Recovery Console.
3. At the C:\Winnt prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
expand cd-romdriveletter:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\winnt\system32\drivers\isapnp.sys
For example, type:
expand d:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\winnt\system32\drivers
Note The steps in this article assume that you installed Windows 2000 to the C: drive. The actual location of your Windows installation may vary.
4. After the file is successfully expanded, type exit to exit Recovery Console.
5. Restart the computer.

 

thanks alot

 

so the windows xp should boot and from there ill be able to fix it?

 

The above article tells you how to get into the recovery console. From the recovery console ( a VERY limited commmand prompt), you expand the missing/corrupt file from the \i386 folder where it is stored in a compressed format. (hence the .sy_ extension).

If no other files are corrupt/missing, you should be able to boot XP without any other problems. Once you get back into XP, find a HDD diagnostic program (should be able to get one from the drive manufacturer) and run some tests to verify the drive is not failing. If everything checks out OK, run a full scandisk, then a defrag on the drive just to clean it up.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

~Rich

 

thanks

 

Thanks for following up on that DoubleDwn. I have to come and go a lot. Good luck Spenman91. CD.

 

No prob Cody.....I know how it is. I only get to spend limited time on here during work hours. Lets just hope we got his issue fixed.

~Rich

 

ok i did everything it said to do and i finally got windows to boot up (thank god) then i connected my external hdd so i could copy my important files over and from there put in the restoration disc and reformat in hopes that this wouldnt happen again, when all of a sudden i got the dreaded blue screen and my computer crashed again, i can get it to boot up normally and in safe mode but even in safe mode the computer will only stay up for maybe 30 sec before crashing again, hope you can help and thank for all your help so far

 

It almost sounds like you have a bum hard drive, or you are overheating badly. When was the last time you dusted out the PC? Get in there with a can of duster and clean the heatsink and fan....get all the dust out of it that you can. Then boot, and go into BIOS. You should have a harware monitor in your BIOS somewhere. See what the temps are reading at. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and report back what the temps are.

Edit: Just remembered that this is a laptop. If you are comfortable doing it, the heatsink and CPU with the fan is fairly easy to remove. These things pick up all kinds of crap. THe last one I took apart, I was able to drop the idle temp by almost 22* just by getting the dust out of the heatsink/exhaust ducting.

 

"safe mode the computer will only stay up for maybe 30 sec before crashing again,"

Good thing you got the important things. Just a quick guess, the hard drive is going out, or might be worse. Have you dropped it or had any glitches up to now? EDIT> Beat me by a minute. Doesn't sound good does it?

 

He definately has some bigger issue here. I'd put money on overheating though. I bet its a Dell laptop too. One of those things could keep half of Russia warm through the worst winters. They are notorious for running hot.

 

codydog no not good i was fixin to backup everything when it crashed lol o well.....i think you all are both right the hdd could be messed up becuse it is pretty much full i know your not supposed to leave them full and i was going to put some of the stuff on my external hdd but apparently ran out of time also my laptop overheats quite a bit sepecially when under a heavy load so i will try what you said about cleaning the pc and get back with you....btw im gonna try but how do you get inside a laptop ive done it before with a desktop but not laptop

 

It all depends on the model. Some you have to go through the keayboard, others you can get to from the bottom. Who makes the laptop???

~Rich

 

its a toshiba satellite A65.....i looked and all of the screws are on the bottom but i cant find a scew driver to fit them is there any kind of screw driver for doin things like this.....for instance i know that when you mod an xbox you need torex screw drivers especially so im just wondering

 

and i forgot to say in my last post that i think it is heat because it stayed up the longest when i got up this morning and it had been off all night.....when i started using it today and attempting to get it working it would stay up for shorter and shorter periods of time, i could be wrong though it very well could be the hdd too beucase from what ive herd if its full it is alot more likelly to crash.

 

Check this out.

http://irisvista.com/tech/laptops/ToshibaA65/satA65_1.htm

Read through the entire process here. This tells you how to completely disassemble the unit, which you do not need to do. You only need to get to the heatsink which is shown on page 2. You can leave the CPU installed, just remove the heatsink from it. IMPORTANT--- Make sure you completely clean the heatsink and CPU, removing ALL of the old heat compound.

Using a can of duster blow the hell out of the fan and the exhaust ducts for the CPU. You 'll know what I mean when you get it out. You will be surprised at how much dust can come out of these things. IMPORTANT--Make sure you put new heat compound on the processor. A nice thin layer that completely covers the CPU to heatsink surface. You dont need to overdue it.

Make sure you read these directions first, and at least twice before you start taking stuff apart. Its always best to read, then re-read if this is the first time you are doing this.

Good luck.

oh...you shouldn't need any special screwdrivers. Its probably just a small philips.

~Rich

Edit: You should be able to stop at step 13, clean the heatsink, then reverse the procedure. Oh yeah,...a full hard drive would not cause the symptoms you are describing. Its most likely heat.

 

thanks alot ill try

 

Just be VERY careful when disconnecting ribbon cables and such. Also, you have to make sure that everything is plugged back in properly and completely seated the way it should be. Dont get too excited about turning it back on. Take your time and be careful and double check all your work as you go. If you have any doubts, backtrack and verify that everything is fine.

Good luck. Hope all works out for you. I'll be looking forward to hearing good news. I may not be on the forum for a few days (holiday weekend and all), but I'll definately check back as soon as I can to see the results.


~Rich

 

and somthin else i forgot.....i had some ram put in my laptop a while back and i talked to the guy that did it and he said any time you are working with a laptop you should use (and it was some kind of arm bad to keep you from getting shocked) will i need one of those or is that for somthin else