Unable to format, partition,ins. os and boot my toshiba TE2100..

Salam,
It depends on which machine(s) you want to use your hard drive for! If it should works on PCs (Windows and Linux) you have to format it in exFAT but if will use it only on MAC, it would be better if you use hfs+ (AKA: Mac OS extended journaled - not case sensitive).
And to do dat you need to open Disk Utility (type it in spotlight (use small magnifying glass icon in upper right corner of screen)). In Disk Utility's window, select your External Hard Drive itself (not its partition), go to Partition tab and change its format to anything you want, then click on apply button and wait for progress to be down.
If you want to use hfs+, you may need to chang partition table format to "GUID", and for exFat it needs to be "Master Boot Record"; to change that, use options button down in the same tab that I mentioned above.
PS: No need to say that formatting a drive will erase all data from it, so you need to copy them somewhere else before that.

If you do not have the restore disks or a restore partition, you need to take this PC to a IT Professional to have it loaded for you. This will entail the Operating System, Updates, Drivers, and 3rd party antivirus and anti-spyware.

Hi there please try these mentioned below.



1. Restart the PC and repeatedly hit F8 until you have a menu in front of you.
2. You will find few option there. Just select these mention option " Last know good Configuration ...." use by your up/down arrow on your keyboard.
3. Press enter there.
4. your will see the system asking you for which OS you want to use. If you have only one OS then just press ENTER there or select the OS and Enter.

After these if you face the same problem then format the OS & install it again.Thanks & waiting for your feedback.

Normal 0

To format the hard disk and re-install Windows use the Windows installation CD, and the Windows Product Code on the label at the bottom of your laptop.

Boot up using the Windows installation CD and follow the instructions.

One of the installation early steps, the option to delete the existing partition, then create a new partition and then a full format on this partition (don't do a quick format) and complete the Windows installation.

Next install all of the Toshiba's computer/laptop device drives.

Next install the Windows service packs (SP2 & SP3 for XP, SP1 & SP2 for Vista)

Next Activate Windows via the Internet or by phone.

Next install your programs - Microsoft Office etc.
Next click on Start - Programs - Windows Update (for the latest updates).

Please note before I continue on that XP can not always be placed onto a system that had Vista as some drivers and hardware will refuse to work.

You may be having an issue w/ the boot manager.

I would suggest running the windows xp recovery console this will give you a dos like screen. Once there you can do a lot w/ the system I would suggest trying to rebuild the bootmanager.

If none of this works. You should try a full not a quick format off the install screens or you can run a win98 boot disk and access the partition and format commands.

Please post your findings in as great of detail as possible.

I believe at this time the bootmanager may be confused as to if its dealing w/ visita or if its dealing w/ xp. The boot manager uses a part of the harddrive outside of normal storage to control parts of the OS loading procedures.

Thanks
Frank
Live-Tech
1-888-361-8511
http://www.mylive-tech.com.

You have to format the drive...Vista can go"over" XP,but XP cannot override Vista.Or partition your drive and get a dual boot system, then you can choose either O.S., like I have.

First you need a windows os cd with original key, then turn on computer and boot from cd, then when booted from cd choose enter, then f8, and look on the bottom of the screen, if the hdd have a partion choose delete partition, if not choose install and the disk will start to format, after that it will install windows clean.

You should put the drive back in the external caddy, delete the format, partition the drive for NTFS. format the drive and set as active.

On boot go into your BIOS and set your CD/DVD ROM drive to first in the boot order options, then with the CD/DVD in the drive reboot your computer and wait for a prompt to "Press any key to boot to this CD" and do so (you'll only have a couple of seconds so be ready or reboot again) and you then will be taken through the loading of files until you get to your partition/install screen options, where you'll delete the partition that your OS is on, then create a new one and then format that partition and install XP on it.

make the SATA disk mode from ACHI to Compatibility in the BIOS. once its done without any problem you can make partitions, installa Windows XP. hope this helped you. thanks.

Ammar.