[Solved] Help please. HD failed no recovery media..

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by cornz, Dec 6, 2014.

  1. cornz

    cornz MDL Novice

    Feb 2, 2010
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    Here's the story, I have been asked to look at a Toshiba satellite laptop that refuses to boot.
    The reason is the hd is toast. It will not boot, just sits there clicking. Tried it in another laptop, result is the same. Recovery software can see some data so it looks like badly damaged data corruption.. There are about 5 partitions on the disk. The ONLY thing I have managed to do is copy some music files and extract the activation key using magic key finder from the hive file in sys32/config.
    So, its bolloxed..

    So, moving on. New HD fitted but the guy who has asked me to repair it never created recovery disks.
    So after much reading (done nothing with windows 8 as I detest it) I have learned I can download an iso from MS, BUT when I input the product key, it tells me its invalid. Which I assume is because its OEM.

    So, question is this, what can I do. Seems a bit unfair to have to buy another copy of windows 8.
    Can i turn a retail into oem? can I obtain a toshiba oem set up disk?

    Any input folks?????
     
  2. cornz

    cornz MDL Novice

    Feb 2, 2010
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    Just to add that the inbuilt recovery utility failed several times and checkdsk highlighted numerous errors. in fact I had to stop it as it had been at it for eons...
    I decided as I had some access to his files the priority was to save them, not attempt to repair the drive. When I saw that many errors I realised it was terminal.
     
  3. EFA11

    EFA11 Avatar Guru

    Oct 7, 2010
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    #5 EFA11, Dec 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
  4. Mr.X

    Mr.X MDL Guru

    Jul 14, 2013
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    EFA11, OP already stated that buddy...:D
     
  5. Mr.X

    Mr.X MDL Guru

    Jul 14, 2013
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    #8 Mr.X, Dec 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
  6. EFA11

    EFA11 Avatar Guru

    Oct 7, 2010
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    thats what Im thinking, just not stating it properly lmao
     
  7. cornz

    cornz MDL Novice

    Feb 2, 2010
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    Edit!!!!

    After installing a network driver and then entering the key Jellybean extracted, it has activated itself...

    What a ball ache but at least its done.
    Thanks again to this wonderful forum....
     
  8. EFA11

    EFA11 Avatar Guru

    Oct 7, 2010
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    oh yeah. internet connection required LOL!
     
  9. cornz

    cornz MDL Novice

    Feb 2, 2010
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    Yes, that's the generic key I used...
    I just needed a break as I have been at this for ruddy hours.
    Thanks for your help....