SMART Hard Disk Error after tring to re-install windows 7

[ThomasDezaire]

Yesterday I replaced my hard drive (HDD SATA 6.0 GB/s, 500 GB, 7200RPM) with a new one (Samsung V-NAND SSD 850 EVO, 500 GB) because the former crashed had crashed a few days ago. Because I could not access my HDD anymore, and I had no back-up, I had to install windows 7 from scratch (from .iso file on usb-stick). Something went wrong with the installation, however. The disk was split into a disk 1 (30 GB with windows 7 installed), and a disk 0 with the other 470 GB free space. (I am quite sure there is only physical disk)

Because I needed more space on this disk 1 to update to windows 7 and I didn't know how to do this, I decided to re-install Windows, hoping that this way I could merge disk 0 and 1 in the process.

Then the problems started. When I restarted the pc after re-installing Windows, first a Windows 7 loading screen appears, but then the following error appeared:

SMART Hard Disk Error
The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure. To ensure no data loss, please backup the content immidiately and run the Hard Disk Test in System Diagnostics.

F2 System Diagnostics
ENTER - Continue Startup
For more information, please visit www.hp.com/go/techcenter/startup

F2 System Diagnostics - Hard Drive Check does not find any problems. When I boot the pc from the windows installation USB-stick, a Black screen appears with white letters: Windows error recovery, with options to start windows as usual (which doesn't work) or to start the boot recovery (recommended). This boot recovery starts a program in Windows "boot recovery" that should automatically recover the computer, but it says it can't do this.

What I find remarkable is that the same happens when I insert the old, broken hard drive.

Does anybody know what's best to do?

Thanks!

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @ThomasDezaire

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

The new SSD is new one and should be OK. Therefore the SMART error must have been a co-incidence.

As per this article >> https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01443502

The SMART Hard Disk test produces a prediction about the potential for hard drive failure, not an actual failure

And if Hard Disk Test passed, then you should not worry and use the computer as usual.

---

@ThomasDezaire wrote:
 When I boot the pc from the windows installation USB-stick, a Black screen appears with white letters: Windows error recovery, with options to start windows as usual (which doesn't work) or to start the boot recovery (recommended).

---

This means your PC actually did not boot from the USB stick but from the SSD and Windows 7 got corrupted there on the SSD. Actually, it didn't install completely the second time. This is the error message. Since the disk test passed, this confirms a software issue.

Test the USB stick - try to boot another PC from it

Attempt to boot from it again (F9)

Attempt to recreate it and boot again (F9) - perform clean Windows 7 installation by deleting all existing partitions

Hope this helps.

[ThomasDezaire]

Thanks for the reply. I tried booting another pc from in, and it worked fine. Then I tried booting again on my pc and the same happens. I booted from the hard drive again. You say I should recreate the USB-file, does this mean I should format the USB and put the installation file on it again?

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the reply. That's pretty strange behaviour from your computer.

If you booted the other PC from it and it was fine [to a state with Windows installation screen similar to this one >here] , then the problem is not with the USB drive and there is no need for you to recreate it.

How do you boot from it - is it by pressing Esc/F9 ?

- Try to insert/plugin the USB pendrive

- Shutdown the computer using the power button (pressed and hold for a few seconds until PC powers off)

- Power the computer back on.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu

- Choose F9 to open Boot Device options

- What you see there ? Do you see bootable devices , including the USB drive ?

Can you take a picture with your camera/phone and then attach it back here

Can you repeat the above procedure with Esc but this time press F10 to open BIOS

Can you see if you have options like Secure Boot options / Legacy Mode

Legacy mode must be *ENABLED to install Windows 7

Here are details >> https://support.hp.com/nz-en/document/c04784866

Let me know how it goes. Looking forward to your reply.

[ThomasDezaire]

Hi, thanks for your quick reply!

I booted the other pc, and indeed the windows installation screen appeared.

When I booted my pc by pressing ESC/F9, first this error appears:

And then this screen:

Then i press F9 and this window appears, with the bootable usb mentioned. This is the way I always booted from the usb:

When I boot from the usb, the same happens as I mentioned before.

There is the option of Legacy Mode, but the same happens as in the other modes. 

[ThomasDezaire]

Hold on, I proceeded through the error recovery screens now and the desktop is now working!

[ThomasDezaire]

It restarted as well, even without the usb inserted

[IT_WinSec]

OK, there is Windows 7 installation that can boot ?

If you go to the BIOS (F10), in the Advanced tab, you can see Legacy Mode enabled there , correct ?

Is it booting properly now ? If yes, please read this article in the MS forums >> https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-update/how-to-obtain-and-install-windows...

and download/install Win 7 "SP2" known as Convenience roll-up updates to speed up the update process on your PC and to get it updated.

Looking forward to your reply 🙂

[ThomasDezaire]

Yes, it booted properly. Legacy Mode is enabled. Thanks for the SP2 updates tip, I will use it gladly.