Boot Device Not Found; Hard Drive Not Installed

[NolaLady56]

I bought my first HP laptop, ENVY x 360 in August 2016; it's only 17 mos. old.  So is HP making products that don't even last 2 years???

I was opening a document, & it was taking a while.  Suddenly I get a black screen with BOOT DEVICE NOT FOUND.  I knew something was seriously wrong.  I ran the hard drive diagnostics, & then it said HARD DRIVE NOT INSTALLED.

I'm afraid to do anything; I don't want to risk losing my data.

Has anyone recovered their data after these errors?  Unfortunately I did not get the extended warranty.

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @NolaLady56

Welcome ! Thank you for posting in the HP Support forum.

I am sorry to hear about your issues.

If the hardware diagnostics resulted in "HARD DRIVE NOT INSTALLED", this means HDD is not present or it cannot detect any. If HDD is indeed present in the PC, this means the HDD is inaccessible.

Below you can find instructions how to attempt to access your data - no guarantee it will work - chances are low :

You will need :

- either 1 empty/blank USB thumb drive   OR  1 empty/blank DVD disk

- Linux based operating system - free to download - e.g. Ubuntu or Linux Mint

You can directly download Ubuntu Desktop from Ubuntu's web site:

Download the x64 ISO LTS version> https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Once ready, you need to write the ISO to make a bootable media (e.g. bootable DVD or USB drive). Here is how:

How to create bootable ISO on USB device >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

or

How to write ISO to DVD >> http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/burn-a-dvd-on-windows

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

* Boot to BIOS menu (F10)

* Ensure Secure Boot is disabled  (if applicable for your model)

* Ensure Legacy mode is enabled (if applicable for your model)

* Save the UEFI/BIOS changes.

(if applicable for your model) Details>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03653226

Eventually, please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Ubuntu USB thumdrive or the Ubuntu DVD prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately start hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the thumb drive or the DVD as boot option.

Follow the on-screen instructions to run Ubuntu (not install it but try it).

Ubuntu should load. You can try to see if it will be able to mount your existing HDD using the File Explorer.

If possible, you may be able to browse your files and copy what is necessary to a online Cloud storage service or to another device.

Hope this helps.

Let me know if you need assistance on how to replace the HDD and how to reinstall Windows (or another OS) on this PC.

[NolaLady56]

Thank you very much IT_WinSec for your response.  I apologize for my late response.  Since I posted that message I was depressed & afraid to do anything.  

I did follow your instructions & downloaded the ubuntu desktop to a DVD.  The program came up, but my keyboard did not work at all.  

I tried to touching the screen since that was the only think I coud do when I got the errors, Boot Device Not Found & Hard Drive Not Installed.  It did not work.

Also, do you know how I might get F10?  There are no function keys on my keyboard, but there's a FN key.  I'm puzzled as to how to get F10.

Any other suggestions?

[IT_WinSec]

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@NolaLady56wrote:

Thank you very much IT_WinSec for your response. 

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You are welcome

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@NolaLady56wrote:

I did follow your instructions & downloaded the ubuntu desktop to a DVD.

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Did you do it using the instructions posted above ?

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@NolaLady56wrote:  The program came up, but my keyboard did not work at all.  

I tried to touching the screen since that was the only think I coud do when I got the errors, Boot Device Not Found & Hard Drive Not Installed.  It did not work.

---

Could you elaborate on what you mean by "the program came up" ?  Did you see Ubuntu's screen upon boot up ? similar to these....

[IT_WinSec]

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@NolaLady56wrote:

Also, do you know how I might get F10?  There are no function keys on my keyboard, but there's a FN key.  I'm puzzled as to how to get F10.

Any other suggestions?

---

F10 is part of the keyboard, here is where it is located >>

In order to disable Secure boot you need to first load BIOS (F10) and check/adjust settings. Basically, Ubuntu should support Secure Boot but sometimes it may not work.

Here is an HP article with details about not being able to boot up from a CD/DVD/USB -> https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03736054

Reasons are :

- your DVD is not correctly written -> please, check the articles again (initial post above)

- secure boot/legacy boot options -> https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03736054

Let me know how it goes and please, provide the clarifications

[NolaLady56]

I did see the Unbutu screen, & initially I was not able to select it, because my keyboard was not functioning.  I thought to plug in an older keyboard from my desktop, & I was able to select install Unbutu.

I see you sent a message with a picture of a keyboard, showing me where F10 was.  My HP ENVY x360 has a keyboard that does not include regular function keys as in your (older) PC picture.  My keyboard, however, does have a "fn" key, but I could not find documentation as to how to use it.  Do you?

But, a screen came on that said it required 8 G of space, but I had 0 G.

I guess that means my hard drive is fried.  Wow!  I'd only had it 17 mos before it crashed.  Of course the one year warranty had expired.  Sadly, I am retired; I have to save up money to buy another laptop.

This was my FIRST HP laptop.  My husband's work used HP laptops exclusively; I thought it was a reliable brand.  How wrong I was. 

I will not invest in another HP laptop. HP has been around for years; I wish they could stand by their product.

Thank you for trying, though.

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @NolaLady56

Thank you for your update and clarification. You are very welcome !

Yes, this, along with the HP hardware diagnostics, confirms to be a hardware problem with the hard disk drive.

I am sorry about this. I know how it may soundto you, probably you are disappointed and frustrated but this can happen with any PC brand and any vendor. I have seen such issues with many many vendors. Also, I have HP computers which are very old and their HDDs are still working perfectly fine.

Anyway, you don't need to buy a new PC - you can just replace the HDD with a new one. HDD prices start from 45 $ >> https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hard-drives/internal-hard-drives/pcmcat270900050001.c?id=pcmcat27090005...

Here is what is needed to fix the problem:

If your computer is with warranty period expired, you will need to replace the faulty HDD - buy new one on your own. There are variety of options - vendors you can choose from. You can get it online or from PC retail store like BestBuy (for example), or from HP parts store http://partsurfer.hp.com/

You need HDD with the very same size as the current one or bigger (small will not work) - e.g. if your current HDD is with 500 GB capacity, your new HDD/SDD must also be 500 GB or with bigger capacity.  I recommend you consider HDDs with RPM 7200 as they as slightly faster, 5400 RPM is slower >> https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/rpm.htm

*** How to replace the faulty HDD with new HDD:  please, find info and instruction in your computer's manual or watch YouTube videos examples for your HP model. 

Here is the service manual for your model

>> http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04642245

page 34/42

If you do not want to do this on your own, please bring the computer (or ship it) to HP Authorized Service Center where the technicians will do this for you. If you are not sure where such a center is located, check these or contact HP for assistance in finding the nearest one for you:

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00372730

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/store-finder/find.do?bs=SR4&type=authorized

Last part - once you replace the faulty component - you will need to reinstall back your operating system - Windows or another.

Here are instructions to reinstall Windows 10 >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Impossible-to-update-operating-...

Let me know if this works for you and if something is not clear.