Imminent Failure Error for SSD on Startup

[Amirali_Sadeghi]

Hi. Today I got an error on startup saying that "an imminent failure on disk was detected" and that I should backup and run the diagnosis as soon as possible. I ran the HP Hardware Test, but DST check failed with a 24-digit error code which I wrote down. My laptop has a 128GB SSD and a 1TB hard disk. Windows was pre-installed on SSD. I also have Ubuntu installed there too for a year or so. When running the SMART test on Ubuntu, I found out that the error was about "end-to-end error" that had the value 3 which was apparently the threshold for warning. Now my questions are:

1- Are there any methods to try before planning to replace the SSD?

2- There's a partition in my hard drive called Recovery which I believe is used for factory-resetting the system. What does that exactly do? Will my hard disk (1TB) be erased too if I use that recovery option, or will it only wipe out the SSD and restore the OS to where it was when I bought it? All my personal files are on the hard disk and I can't really backup those because it's huge! But I don't mind my SSD being erased; nothing important there.

3- I was thinking maybe installing Windows on the hard disk and then formatting the SSD might solve the issue. If I do this, would I lose my original Windows product key?

[erico]

1- Are there any methods to try before planning to replace the SSD? 

That is hard to say without your providing the error code.  Usually when an SSD gives an imminent failure message it is on the way out.  That is part of the SSD SMART reporting system

2- There's a partition in my hard drive called Recovery which I believe is used for factory-resetting the system. What does that exactly do? Will my hard disk (1TB) be erased too if I use that recovery option, or will it only wipe out the SSD and restore the OS to where it was when I bought it? All my personal files are on the hard disk and I can't really backup those because it's huge! But I don't mind my SSD being erased; nothing important there.

HP Cloud recovery. Your notebook supports its use.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205

Do not use the recovery program that is on the SSD. It is  a bit too risky when a disk has  already reported that it has issues.

What is the error code that you wrote down?

It would help to keep the playing field level, if you provided that code. We can translate it to usable language.

Not providing that makes anyone who replies work in a bit of a handicapped state.

When you reinstall Windows 10 to a new SSD by use of the HP Cloud Recovery USB flash drive it won't erase the 1 TB hard disk files. YOU will need a 32 GB USB flash drive

It is recommended that you disconnect the 1TB disk before reinstalling Windows. Reconnect it after the reinstallation is complete.

3- I was thinking maybe installing Windows on the hard disk and then formatting the SSD might solve the issue. If I do this, would I lose my original Windows product key?

The Windows 10 activation key is written to the BIOS, unless you erased it.