Hard Drive Failure

[Barry_S20]

The computer is (4) days out of warranty. Yes, 4 days!

Upon rebooting, the computer is giving me a hard drive error code and won't boot without bypassing it. 

"Smart Hard disk check detected an imminent failure. Hard Disk 1 (301) 

Failure ID: 9AHW60-B7FBPH-MFPX1F-608703

Product ID 68Y11UA

SSD 1 Model: WD PC SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006

https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact/diag?failureId=9AHW60-B7FBPH-MFPX1F-608703&productNo=68Y11UA%23...

Please advise if this issue can be resolved or if the hard drive requires replacement. If the latter, where do I obtain the software downloads?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You will have to install a new SSD, and reinstall the operating system.

That's some bad luck having a NVMe SSD die in a year's time.

I recommend you replace the drive with a 1 TB Samsung 990 Pro.

Amazon.com: Samsung 990 PRO Series - 1TB PCIe Gen4. X4 NVMe 2.0c - M.2 Internal SSD (MZ-V9P1T0B/AM) ...

It's a rather new drive and comes with a 5-year warranty.

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

Maintenance and Service Guide (hp.com)

There is also this service teardown video:

Removing & Replacing Parts | Victus by HP 15-fa0000 Gaming Laptop | HP Computer Service | HP Support...

After you replace the drive, you can use the HP cloud recovery tool and a 32 GB USB flash drive to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10, the drivers and the software that originally came with your notebook.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Microsoft Store Apps

You will have to use the utility on another PC, so you will need to enter your notebook's product number in the tool's search window in order to proceed to make the recovery media.

Your PC's product number is: 68Y11UA#ABA

[Barry_S20]

I was afraid of that confirmation. 

I know these units came with a max 1TB SSD, but I'm wondering if it will handle more. If I have to go through all of this trouble, I might as well upgrade it at the same time. The current SSD is 512GB.

Also - would the SSD with heatsink be better?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I don't know if there is enough clearance to purchase a SSD with a heatsink.

The service video shows a drive without any heatsink.

If there is, that would be a good idea.

I don't see why the notebook couldn't support a 2 TB PCIe 4 x 4 NVMe SSD.

The Crucial memory report indicates they sell NVMe SSD's up to 4 TB in the model series.

HP - Compaq HP Victus 15-fa0000 | Memory RAM & SSD Upgrades | Crucial.com

[Barry_S20]

Thank you for your help Paul. I appreciate it. 

If this laptop will handle it, I was thinking I might as well upgrade to the 4TB SSD. I was looking at the one on the Crucial page you sent me and thought it might have been a mistake. Thus the question I asked earlier, if this model could handle that much storage memory. I don't see why it wouldn't either. 

I think I will stick to w/o heatsink, since that is what is in there. I don't need any additional problems. 

Based on your earlier recommendation for the Samsung 990 Pro, if I were to upgrade to a 4TB drive, what would you recommend and why? I see these Samsung's are only offered up to 2TB. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Maybe you would want to go for the Crucial P3 SSD since that is the only one that I know of that comes in a 4 GB storage capacity.

It's not the fastest Gen 4 SSD out there but the price is decent.

Amazon.com: Crucial P3 Plus 4TB PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 5000MB/s - CT4000P3PSSD8 : Ele...

There's also the WD Black, but since the SN810 died on you so early...great performance but pretty expensive.

Amazon.com: WD_BLACK 4TB SN850X NVMe Internal Gaming SSD Solid State Drive - Gen4 PCIe, M.2 2280, Up...

I've only used WD Blue 2.5" SATA SSD's, and they have never let me down.

[Barry_S20]

Hello,

I have an additional question. I have replaced the SSD drive. Prior to doing so, I used Windows backup to create an image of my system. I also created a Windows recovery drive on a USB. 

I am able to successfully boot from the USB. I select: Troubleshoot/ System Image Recovery/Windows 11. Then a screen shows up for me to select the image back up on my external hard drive. I click next, and then another screen shows up stating "Choose additional restore points"  "To restore this computer, Windows needs to format the drive that the Windows Recovery environment is currently running on. To continue with the restore, shut down this computer and boot from a Windows installation disk or a system repair disk and then try the restore again."

I can't get past this screen. Is the Windows recovery drive I saved to the USB not the same thing? 

I don't have an external disc drive. 

I`m not sure how to proceed.

Thanks in advance,

Barry

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Barry:

Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to help you with that.

I always clean install operating systems on new drives and then install my programs from the installation media I have, and I copy all of the file folders from my user profile to a portable hard drive.

After Windows has installed, I just paste the user profile folders to my new user profile, and they overwrite the empty folders.

Takes me about 2 hours to completely set up a PC the way I want it.

If you can't figure it out, I would use the HP cloud recovery tool to reinstall the original HP factory image on the new drive.

I have never been successful restoring by using the built-in Windows image creation software.

It always fails on me for one reason or another, so rather than wasting hours trying to get it to work, I just do it my way.

[Barry_S20]

Hi Paul,

Thanks again for the support. 

I wasn`to able to use the HP Recover tool. I guess my 32GB USB isn`t exactly 32GB, so it doesn`t see it. 

Nonetheless, I have all my folders saved and will copy them over with a fresh re installation of  Windows and all of my programs. PITA!

BTW - I ended up going with the WD Black SN850x, 2TB SSD. The price was right at $118. Not the 4TB I wanted, but pretty tough to justify the extra $200 for 2TB. 

Thanks again,

Barry

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime, Barry.

That's WD's flagship NVMe SSD so it should work great in your notebook.

Have you ever clean installed Windows on a PC with an 12th gen core processor?

If not, when you get to the part of the installation that asks, 'Where do you want to install Windows,' you will probably get a message that states in substance that 'Windows cannot find any drives to install on.'

If you run into that problem, try installing the Intel storage controller drivers for the 11th-13th gen core processors that I zipped up and attached below.

Unzip the driver file to its folder.

Copy the folder to a USB flash drive.

When you get to the screen where Windows can't find any drives to install on, click on the Load Driver option.

Browse to the USB flash drive with the storage controller drivers on it.

If you check the box, it will only include the compatible driver.

Click Next, and Windows should install.