My laptop keeps blue-screening.

[Filipp1]

My laptop worked just fine around an year ago but one day it started crashing randomly. After a short amount of time it got even worse. Now, i reinstalled the OS but it still isnt working and keeps on crashing with that annoying blue screen on startup. (worked fine on win 7 32bit, but on win 10 64bit not working at all).I tried a System Diagnostics for my hard drive and this failure id popped up "9ln7g2-00097c-qfpjxf-618qo3" Can I do anything to fix this or is my laptop doomed forever?

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

@Filipp1

The hard drive needs to be replaced. I use and recommend Western Digital drives:
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Performance-Mobile-Hard-Drive/dp/B00QFXOL5G?th=1

 Maintenance & Service Guide shows how to change hard drive:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-probook-4540s-notebook-pc/5229455/model/5229457/manuals?sku=...

[CherylG]

If you took the free upgrade to Windows 10 you have a digital license key stored on Microsoft servers and can reinstall Windows 10 at any time. 

Microsoft provides the free Media Creation Tool to download files and create a Windows 10 usb flash drive.Advantage is you will have latest updated version of Windows 10. At least 8gb flash drive required:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Select Download tool now, and select Run.
If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.
On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.
Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.
The Guide here shows the steps.Pay attention to Step 5 since will be using another pc:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html
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When the flash drive is prepared insert it in a usb port. Power on the laptop and immediately start tapping Esc key. From the menu tap F9 key and use the arrow keys to move to and select usb. Tap Enter key.
When installing  if it asks at any point for a license key just choose "I don't have a key". It will continue and should activate once you are online.