System will not boot to windows 10

[modelthess]

Just ran the start up test as advised .

Processer check: passed
Memory test: passed
Hard disk SMART check: passed
Hard disk short DST: failed

Failure ID: 0GFPUC-00097A-PXPB0K-60Q503
Product ID: H3Z78AA#ABA

Hard disk 1

Start-up test: failed

Please advice what this means and what I should do next?
Basically, my desktop won’t allow Windows 10 to boot up.
Thanks in advance for your time!

[mdklassen]

> Hard disk short DST: failed

> Hard disk 1
> Start-up test: failed
> Please advise what this means and what I should do next?

The "short" -- only a few minutes -- test of the physical recording surfaces of the disk-drive has "failed".

The disk-drive must be replaced.

If the disk-drive has some residual "life", e.g., you might be able to read files from it, even though Windows will not boot from it, there is a quicker option:

1. Purchase a new SEAGATE disk-drive, of the same physical dimensions as your current disk-drive. You could select a disk-drive with the same, or larger, storage capacity -- avoid a "smaller" capacity device.
2. On a working computer, download the free SEATOOLS software from www.SEAGATE.COM
3. Connect the "failing" disk-drive as a "secondary" disk-drive on the working computer.
4. Connect the brand-new disk-drive as a "tertiary" disk-drive on the working computer.  Hint: temporarily disconnect the power and data cables from the CD/DVD device, and connect the cables to this new disk-drive.
5. Install the SEATOOLS software.
6. Run the SEATOOLS software, to use "disk-cloning" to make a "block-by-block" copy of the failing disk-drive, onto the brand-new disk-drive.  Of course, do not select the "primary" disk-drive on the working computer, either as "source" or as "target".  Note: if a few blocks cannot be "cloned", then 99.9999 % of the blocks have been copied. Hopefully, those "missing" blocks are not "critical", e.g., keyboard-definition for Hungarian keyboard.
7. Disconnect the "secondary" and "tertiary" disk-drives. Reconnect the CD/DVD cables.]
8. Connect the new disk-drive into your computer.
9. Boot into Windows.

Note: instead of 'SEAGATE', you could substitute 'WESTERN DIGITAL', if you also substitute 'Acronis WD Edition' for 'SEATOOLS'.

However, if the "failing" disk-drive has totally failed, then you have "lost" your personal files, unless you have a backup.

You need to purchase a brand-new disk-drive, connect it, reinstall Windows, and reinstall all your application programs, and run Windows Update.

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[iomare · Accepted solution]

Hi,

It means the hard drive has failed and needs to be replaced.

On pages 9-13 of the document below, you can see the steps to replace the drive:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03397833

You can also look at these HP videos for that model (click on hard drive in list on left)

http://h20574.www2.hp.com/results.htm?SID=5295897&MEID=F15CD789-B617-4CFF-B9B8-E30EA0FA5FA3

So, what you need is a new 3.5" Hard drive from your preferred brand and capacity (Seagate, WD ....)

Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-Cache-Desktop-ST2000DM006/dp/B01IEKG402/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&...

You could also opt for an SSD which would increase performance, you will need a 2.5 to 3.5" bracket.

You will need to reinstall the OS on the drive, either by using recovery disks, migrating a backup image or by downloading media creation tool from Microsoft on different PC, running and creating a bootable pendrive with the OS on it. (there is explanation on the Microsoft web page on how to create the pendrive) Windows will automatically activate once installed and connected to Internet.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If you choose this option you will need to use the pendrive to perform a clean install of Windows 10. You might need to disable fastboot and secure boot in BIOS. So, insert the pendrive in the PC and it should boot directly from the drive. If not, turn off PC by holding power button. Press power button and immediately keep pressing ESC  until startup menu appears and then press F9 and choose the pendrive in boot menu. Once it boots from pendrive follow the procedure to install Windows. You do not need a product key as it is in the firmware. Windows will automatically activate once installed and connected to internet.

When finished installing allow Windows to completely update and find all or most drivers. You can follow this process by going into settings > Security and update > click on Verify for updates. You might need to reboot a couple of times. Once completely updated you  can go into device manager and see if there are any missing drivers (there will be yellow exclamation mark next to the device). You can find these drivers and software on HP support page for your product.

Once you have installed the OS you can try recovering files from the old drive with a SATA to USB adapter and connect the drive to the PC like an external drive:

Example:

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=15...

Let me know if you need any further help,

David

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[modelthess]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Do you have any recommendations on who we can take our computer into to have them try and salvage our photos? We don’t care so much about the desktop, but we would like our photos since they were not backed up elsewhere.

Thanks!

[iomare]

Your welcome.

Usually when it fails the fast test it is difficult to easily recover data or files from the drive. You could try a local computer repair shop where they can remove the drive and then connect it by using a SATA to USB adapter to see if the drive is recognized and then transfer the files. You could also do this yourself as the adapter costs about 15$ or less. 

Now if this does not work, perform an online search for a trusted data recovery service in your country. It is going to be quite expensive as they dismantle the drives in special dustfree rooms and use the platters to try to recover files. Usually the prize is per GB of data. I would try to search for one which offers the service where you only pay if the data is recovered.

Examples: 

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/maintenance-606-commercial.html

https://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk/our-process.html

Hope it helps,

David