Member Avatar for gelu_forta

Hi all,

I have a TOSHIBA Satellite 2805 - S401 and I can't go to BIOS screen (Esc + F1) to change the Boot priority. The hard disk was wipped out by somebody else and I try to reinstall an OS on that, but can't boot from a CD. I tried everything what I found on internet forums but nothing worked.

CD drive good - tested/checked
HDD good - tested/checked
Have BIOS passowrd - know it

Please give me some hints! Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by maddog!

Dani AI

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Short summary and next steps that expand on what others have suggested: reported no setup screen and no CD boot. Thanks to and for the hardware/removable-media leads — below are firm, model‑agnostic troubleshooting paths that focus on restoring firmware defaults and on practical ways to install an OS without using the on‑machine CD boot.

Reset the firmware (safe-first step)

  1. Power down, unplug AC, remove the main battery.
  2. Open the service access (bottom cover) and remove the small RTC/coin cell for 10–20 minutes. If the board has a CLEAR/CMOS jumper, follow the service manual procedure to short it briefly instead.
  3. After removing the coin cell, press and hold the power button for ~20–30 seconds to drain residual charge, reinstall the coin cell and main battery, then power up.
    Note: some laptops store a supervisor password in nonvolatile EEPROM that a coin‑cell removal will not clear; if setup remains unavailable after a proper CMOS clear, factory service may be required.

Bypass CD boot and install another way

  • Remove the laptop HDD and attach it to a desktop (IDE/USB adapter or in a spare bay). Run the OS installer on the desktop or copy a ready image onto the drive, then return the drive to the laptop. Windows may need SysPrep/generalize to avoid driver/activation problems; Linux installs are usually straightforward this way.
  • If network boot is possible on your LAN, a PXE/TFTP server can netboot an installer and perform an OS install without optical media.

Quick hardware checks and cautions

  • If internal work was done, reseat internal connectors and try a known‑good optical drive or drive cable. Use basic ESD precautions and keep track of screws/connectors.
  • If none of the above works, the pattern points to a firmware lock or service‑level fault; consult the Toshiba service manual or an authorized service center rather than forcing further disassembly.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for ballies

Try an external USB floppy drive to boot up the machine
Download the XP boot up floppy discs from Microsoft from here (you will need 6 blank floppys)

Also it is a single button to enter the BIOS usually
(F1 or F2 maybe DEL)
One of them three will enter bios sorry I cannot remember which as I no longer have a Toshiba Satellite

If you cannot get hold of a USB floppy you may be able to boot from network but This I have never done..so do not have detailed knowledge of

Member Avatar for maddog!

You need to disclose what comes on the screen when you turn your computer on.

Member Avatar for maddog!

make sure the cd rom is plugged in good I pulled the little strip off above the keyboard and took the keyboard out which made it easier to plug the cdrom in all of the way. It wouldn't read windows with a non toshiba cd-rom. It will give an IDE #2 error if the cd-rom is not in all of the way.

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