Hey - I had the EXACT same problem on my Toshiba Sat - its NOT the BIOS update - someone I know had an even older bios than me - did a Microsoft WINDOWS UPDATE - and it froze before the bios, before you could get through to any GUI or completley thought any diagnostic/repair pre-windows (mem repair thing, etc) - and you when you try to load windows 7 through the boot screen it freezes just as the animation starts (the 4 or 5 dots start to swirl together and freeze right there. Thats how it always happened - has happened twice - once I wasted a month calling everyone toshiba is no help - they try to blame you before they help in anyway possible so they dont have to spend money fixing it and own up to the warranty - if you have a staples warranty "it doesnt kick in until the 1 year toshiba warranty is up" which they dont tell you when you buy it. Had to hassle them just to get them to own up to it and send it off the the repair depot - ANYWAY - took forever (just to get a box, send it there, fix it for a day, send it back etc etc)
BUT - when I called the repair depot with my complaint that the same thing happened only this time it was because of windows update - not the bios (which I found it - I did hte same windows update AND the bios flash to 2.80 - which is supposed to fix this error I guess havent flashed it again - so its DEFINETLY the MICROSOFT UPDATE). He said don't bother - try this
Unlike every other PC int he world - toshiba make you hold the function buttons BEFORE you start the computer (do this fix/repair with the unit plugged in!)
Hold the Zero (0) key and power on - this will get you to a new window that you could before - It will say boot Windows 7 (EMS Enabled) - EMS is the Emergency Management System - a lil memory - pre bios with the repair/restore to factory setting wizard pre-windows for this kind of situation. It will load your windows past the animation freeze and come up with a wizard you should have 3 options (I only remember 2 - but you'll only want the use the first 2 anyways)
Your options:
1 - Restore to factory settings (Completley wipes all your date - fresh windows 7 install - the works - like you bought it from the store)
2 - Restore to factory settings and save C:/user - saves your data - but if you DO have other problems on the drive - then you'll be able to boot - but still have problems (I was having a blue screen of death... while the comp was running on the net and itunes? makes no sense - using a dif drive til I can transfer data and wipe it clean like I did this extra one I have)
3 - dont remember, may just be exit and reboot.
This fixed everything completely - I chose option 1 because I had another harddrive I popped in so no data-loss issues. Computer not only runs like new - like a charm! haha.
One thing they did do a the depot was clean all the dust out of my fan (Why did they put the fan on THE BOTTOM OF A LAP-TOP?! seriously.) It was getting soooo hot - burning me almost. Aparently cause of all the dust built up (I use it on a bed - so im sure it sucks up plenty of dust and crap)
HOPE that helps! And saves you some time - took a few hours and windows has to reinstall and all the drivers/toshiba stuff.
OH BY THE WAY - I THOUGHT that it didnt work at first - then I remembered - the repair depot RESET MY BIOS
So - after all this when it restarts - SHUT IT DOWN - Hold F2 and start - you'll enter the bios - reset to factory settings and save and exit - then reboot. Problem solved.