Hi,
Hope someone can help.......I bought a laptop on ebay, it's got windows pro installed, when I first switched it on it was ok next time I switched on I got a message saying 'error loading operating system' what's happened? I didn't pay a lot for it I only got it as a spare so I'm not unduly worried but would like to get it working........any suggestions!!
Thanks.......

Try booting in to safe mode, use F8. Let us know if that works.

No, doesn't work, still getting black screen and 'error loading operating system.

had this once and had to re install windows as some of the start up files where corrupt

Okay thanks for replys, no disc came with it, could I buy one somewhere? It's windows xp professional.

I got a Vista disk from Bigabyte on Old Chester road. Just installed it and used the product key from the sticker on the lap top. Try them they should be able to help.

I have some Linux discs tried to run them on it and it got so far then stopped and wouldn't boot those either.

Problem with these machines is that the operating system is pre-installed and even when you manage to reinstall windows you will be absent the drivers.
Suggest that you contact the ebay seller and ask if he took a back up.
You will get there in the end but it is a nightmare.
If you google the machine you will find a forum with helpful hints.
Mine crashed and I reinstalled windows re registered it with microsoft but still could not get on line. I ended up having to get a professional in and even he said it had taken him ages to sort out and he had had to research the problems.Fortunately he kept to the agreed price of £20.

Just call in and you can have a disc, the key that you have on the machine is what makes it genuine.

toshiba satillite they normally have a create your back up disks as a program to run within windows. Toshiba pile there programs on.

You need to run a scan disk on your hard drive before you go buying any discs. Check your hard drive hasn't failed first. You may have a bad sector if its been dropped previously.

You will get there in the end, but you should be able to down load all the drivers from toshiba's website and get it going again it just takes time.