Hard drive test error

[jnaegele]

On startup, I get a hard drive error. The number from the failure ID is 96G7TV-8769A3-XD4F76605AO3.

I have no idea what to do, and I dont feel like payng HP $60 for a phone conversatior!!

I have a HP Slimline Desktop - 260-a020

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The exact meaning of the code is not of much help.  It decodes to 'Failed.'

99.9% of the time you get one of those 24 digit hard drive failure codes, it means the hard drive has to be replaced and the operating system reinstalled.

So, you are going to have to shell out some money unless you have a spare 3.5" desktop hard drive lying around.

Here is a good replacement hard drive with the same specs as the one you have now...

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Cache-Desktop-Drive-WD10EZEX/dp/B0088PUEPK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=154263...

Here's the link to the service manual which will provide the HDD R & R procedures...

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05148963

Here is how to reinstall W10 for free...

To reinstall W10...Use the Media Creation Tool.  Make the 64 bit installation media.

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

You can make a W10 USB flash drive installer using an 8 GB flash drive using another Windows PC, since your PC is not working.

W10 will work with the product key in the BIOS, install and automatically activate once you are connected to the internet.

Here are the steps to create the W10 USB flash drive installer...

1. Select Download tool now, and select Run.
2. If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.
3. On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

4. Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10. You want 64 bit.

5. Select which media you want to use:
6. USB flash drive.  Plug in a blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space. Any content on the flash drive will be deleted.

Then you can install the drivers and available software from the PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-slimline-260-a000-desktop-pc-series/10734580/mod...

So, for considerably less than the $60 phone call to HP, you can be back up and running again in no time.