HP laptop wont run

[mjd2k]

Hi, I have an hp that wont run. I have tried the primary hard drive self test and it freezes at 68%. My logic isthat if it can test to 68, why won't it at least try to start? I'm hoping there may be some other problem that is causing it to freeze rather than the harddrive itself.

I have online backup of any important files but is there anyway to get my data off that hard drive?

Thank you.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

You could try re-seating the HDD, but by far the most likely cause of the DST failing to complete is a bad drive - the area effected may involve the boot sector which would explain why it won't start.

Regards,

DP-K

[mjd2k]

Thank You.

I think you are probably right. It did whirr loudly when I turned it on this am. I attributed that to it having been outside overnight in very cold weather.

[DavidPK · Accepted solution]

Hi,

You're welcome, it would certainly be the first thing I would try changing given the symtoms.

As a further test, you could try the following.

Using another PC, follow the procedure on the link below to create a bootable Ubuntu CD and follow the steps in Part 3 to 'Try it' to see if this OS will run on your notebook.  The 'Try it' option runs the OS from the CD without the need to install on your HDD.  If this runs Ok ( it will be slow running from a CD ), this would tend to confirm that the problem is with the HDD.

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

Regards,

DP-K