Boot Configuration Data - BCD missing or damaged

[Mike_Mac99]

First time on one of these community boards - to get a verified email I had to use a back up email as my main email goes via gmail to get rid of spam - takes 20 plus minutes for the HP email to get though - just maybe the 15 minutes is OK in the States, but not here is Aussie!!

No changes to Laptop - turn on one day and get error message -  BCD missing or damaged, tried the web - made a USB to boot from - no go. tried to repair - also no go - ran diagnostic - got a failure id 

RK2PXA-93MA78-XD7W21-60RB03    checked at HP support - says needs to be repaired - go to find a repairer, Australia not listed. 

anybody have an answer? or steps that I can do? 

Cheers Mike 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Mike:

The error code reported, Hard Disk 1 Quick Test Failure, means that you will need to install a new hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the hard drive removal and replacement procedure.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05485525

After you replace the drive, you can make a bootable USB recovery drive using the HP cloud recovery tool on another Windows PC with W7 64 bit or newer on it.   The recovery drive will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use the cloud recovery tool...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

You can confirm that your notebook is supported by the cloud recovery tool at the link below...

http://support.hp.cloud-recovery.s3-website-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/

[Mike_Mac99]

Hi Paul, what about data and programs on the laptop? have not got copies of everything on there.

thanks for reply 

cheers Mike

[Mike_Mac99]

sorry - also - is this a 64 bit Laptop?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome, Mike.

Yes, it came with W10 64 bit from HP.

Most likely you will not be able to recover files from a failed hard drive easily.

However, before paying a professional to do it, if you absolutely must have the files, you can buy a SATA to USB cable, plug one end into the hard drive, and the other end into a working PC's USB port, and see if you can read and copy any files from the disk to the PC.

Something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Drive-Adapter-Cable-Support-Black/dp/B07S9CKV7X/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=...

[Mike_Mac99]

Hi Paul, It took 18 days for the parcel* to come from Sunshine to Cranbourne via Aussie Post (about 50 K) 

Also your links are great but being in Melbourne under lockdown, I tried local - Centre Com - not bad prices $205A all up

Parcel had - Western Dig 1 T drive, Memory card - 8GB, plus a Volans 2.5" HDD Enclosure.

Youtube got me through the install, and I have the unit up and running. the old drive once mounted in the enclosure is readable and I have taken lots of photos and downloads from it - will use this as an external hard drive as a backup.

again - thanks for the information, 

Cheers Mike 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Mike.

Glad to have been of assistance, and am happy to know that you were able to get your PC back up and running again as well as recover your files off the hard drive.