HP Pavilion p6404y Desktop PC

[tedsesr]

I've scoured the Internet only to find no real fix for my problem.  My computer only boots to the HP Splash screen. Upon running the Diagnostics F9 an error message appeared: error code BIOHD-2.  This code means something different depending on who you ask or where you get your information. I've replaced the HD, results end the same way - Splash Screen Only. I tried to buy a recovery CD since I didnt think to make one ,and was informed by HP  that the Disk was no longer available because my PC is over 6 years old.  I would really appreciate some advice on how to move forward with my computer or if anyone can kindly tell me where I could buy a recovery CD.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I think you would be throwing good money after bad by puchasing recovery disks.

Yes, normally the BIOHD-2 error means the hard drive has failed, but in your model which has the Violet6-GL8E motherboard, it means the drive controller on the motherboard has failed.

Must be a very common issue, as there are dozens of posts from forum members who have HP PC's with that model motherboard.

You can do a search in the forum keywords:   M2N78-LA (Violet6), and find all of the tales of woe.

Here's a few to get you started...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Boot-and-Lockup/mobo-SATA-controller-failure-HP-P6313w-M2N78-LA...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/high-rate-of-motherboard-failure...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/M2N78-LA-Violet6-doesn-t-recogni...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/m8530f-desktop-PC-with-a-m2n78-l...

In order to fix the problem you would have to replace the motherboard.

Some folks tried buying a PCI e x1 sata hard drive controller, but I don't think anyone got those to work.

If you decide to replace the motherboard (which I don't recommend), and want to buy recovery disks, you can still get them from this non-HP vendor.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-22628-windows-7-64-bit-recovery-kit-b7c92av-for-hp-pavilion-deskto...

[TeachTMD]

In other words, I might have to buy a new pc?

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Hi:

I think you would be throwing good money after bad by puchasing recovery disks.

Yes, normally the BIOHD-2 error means the hard drive has failed, but in your model which has the Violet6-GL8E motherboard, it means the drive controller on the motherboard has failed.

Must be a very common issue, as there are dozens of posts from forum members who have HP PC's with that model motherboard.

You can do a search in the forum keywords:   M2N78-LA (Violet6), and find all of the tales of woe.

Here's a few to get you started...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Boot-and-Lockup/mobo-SATA-controller-failure-HP-P6313w-M2N78-LA...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/high-rate-of-motherboard-failure...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/M2N78-LA-Violet6-doesn-t-recogni...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/m8530f-desktop-PC-with-a-m2n78-l...

In order to fix the problem you would have to replace the motherboard.

Some folks tried buying a PCI e x1 sata hard drive controller, but I don't think anyone got those to work.

If you decide to replace the motherboard (which I don't recommend), and want to buy recovery disks, you can still get them from this non-HP vendor.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-22628-windows-7-64-bit-recovery-kit-b7c92av-for-hp-pavilion-deskto...

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[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, either that or replace the motherboard.

I wouldn't bother with replacing the motherboard.