A black screen came up and said no hard drive installed - the computer was working fine. I closed it

[Spectre249]

I close it down and it will start up again but after a short time the black screen comes up again

[Max3Aj]

@Spectre249, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
I understand you're seeing a black screen with a message saying "No hard drive installed" even though your desktop was working fine earlier. This can be concerning, but I’ll guide you through some steps to help resolve this issue.

Power Reset the Desktop

Sometimes, a simple power reset can help the system re-detect the hard drive.

• Turn off the computer completely.
• Unplug the power cable from the wall.
• Press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds.
• Reconnect the power cable and turn the PC back on.

Check if the issue persists.
 

Check BIOS for Hard Drive Detection

Let’s verify if the BIOS is detecting your hard drive:

• Turn off the PC.
• Turn it back on and immediately press the F10 key repeatedly (once every second) until the BIOS Setup opens.
• In BIOS, look for Storage or System Information.
• Check if your hard drive is listed.

If the hard drive is not listed, it may indicate a hardware issue or loose connection.

Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

HP provides built-in diagnostics to test your hard drive:

• Turn off the PC.
• Turn it back on and immediately press the F2 key repeatedly to open the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI.
• Select Component Tests > Hard Drive and run the Quick Test.

If the test fails, the hard drive may need to be replaced.

Reseat the Hard Drive (Advanced)

If you're comfortable opening your desktop:

• Power off and unplug the PC.
• Open the side panel.
• Locate the hard drive and carefully disconnect and reconnect the SATA and power cables.
• Close the panel and power on the PC.

If you're unsure, it's best to have a technician do this. HP® Service Center Locator - United States | HP® Support
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support