Error code 601 - fail start up

[Polly18678]

Hello, I hope you can help in regards of this issue I am having with my 6 years old laptop. as I am not entirely sure is linked with the primary Battery. Tried all the troubleshooting online and laptop does not stay on if I switch power from the plug. I received error message"primary battery - 601 " Computer is failing to start so I cannot access any of the my  files I need. run a diagnostics" and got" primary battery very weak "Failure id-RXN27D-78AB9J-MFPV6K-CO9S03"

Also says Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software changemight be the cause:

Insert your Windows installation disc(which I don't have) and restart your computer.

I will really appreciate if I can get any feedback  as I was told the issue could be the Motherboard. I need to absolutely be able to retrieve my files and picture so in the worst case scenario how do I choose a laptop that will have match with the current  hardware from my old laptop in order to save all my personal stuff? Thanks a milion

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here is what has likely happened. The battery is dying and it has crashed a few times causing hard drive problems. Probably the hard drive is mechanically OK but some of the boot files are corrupted. My advice would be to get a new laptop as you seem headed in that direction anyway. The hard drive can be removed from the old laptop fairly easily, and then placed in an inexpensive usb adapter which you can still connect to any new laptop and harvest your old data files from it. Working through the issues and keeping the old laptop could be done but likely more trouble than it is worth as it has reached the point of near or actual obsolescence. Post back with any more questions.

[Polly18678]

Thank you so much for your prompt response. If you say that the hard drive might be mechanical OK, will I be able to retrieve my files by removing it and put it to a new laptop?

How do I find out a different HP model that has a compatible hard drive with my old one that I will remove? . I love HP laptops and this one it have never give me problem in all this time 

[Huffer]

Newer laptops tend not to have mechanical hard drives like your old laptop. They have solid state drives which is by itself reason to upgrade. You would not put the old drive in the new laptop. It would not boot up anyway as the hardware woud be much different. You put it in an adapter box and connect that to the new laptop and cut and paste the data you need over to the new. 

[Polly18678]

Thabk you so much. I am sorry for silly question. I was advised by a friend to do so which is clearly wrong. Can I please ask how do find the suitable USB adapter for my old laptop hard drive? Which criteria I need to look to find a suitable one?

Thank you so much for being so helpful

[Huffer]

This is exactly the one you need:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SATA-3-0-USB-Cable-Playstation-Black/dp/B07Y5CFHHG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2CGOH9AD...

Even if you wanted to replace the hard drive in your laptop and then use this to harvest files off the old drive its a good thing to own. If you want to try to do that rather than buy a new laptop, we are here to help.