Need help fixing my laptop

[marc6996]

I am an expat I live in the US about 4 months a year and the rest in Europe.  I just recently arrived in Spain and the SSD hard drive fail.  I took it to an HP dealer in Spain and they told me they could not fix it because I didn't buy it in Spain.  It seems HP has very little regard for it customers.  What does it matter where I purchase it?  How can I get it fix now without having to wait until I return to the US late next year?  I know it is no longer under warranty but it is still a good machine and I can't just through it out.

[pbroussard]

Unless you do it yourself, the only other option is to find a independant repair shop in your area. And unless you can get it into windows and copy the product key, you'll need to buy a copy of Windows to install in the new ssd. All your data on the ssd will be lost too.

You may be able to run the drive makers diagnostic program from a usb stick to find out what's wrong with the ssd,

[itsmyname]

@pbroussard -- unless you can get it into windows and copy the product key, you'll need to buy a copy of Windows to install in the new ssd.

That is not correct. When you "activated" your computer, your product-key was sent to Microsoft.

When you reinstall Windows, it will "call home", and will automatically retrieve that product-key, to allow you to reuse the product-key.

Also, many "designed for Windows 10" have the product-key embedded inside the motherboard.

The Windows Installer will try to retrieve the product-key.

> All your data on the ssd will be lost

Not necessarily. Even if Windows will not boot from the current SSD, it still may be possible to access the file-system on the disk-drive, and then to copy your personal files, after connecting the SSD to a different computer. 

[marc6996]

Thank you for your reply.  I was already aware that all the data on the SSD drive would be lost and it doesn't concern me.  I never save personal data to my hard drive.  These day they go to the cloud and a backup drive.   Regarding windows I have a digital license linked to my Microsoft account.

My question was is it true that HP leaves it's customers with out recourse outside the US?

[marc6996]

Thanks for your reply.  It seems HP doesn't want you inside the machine.  The screws are non-standard screws and I don't have access to the tool.  Also, I have already taken the laptop to two independent repair shops and both refused to do the work even though I brought the replacement part (SSD drive) with me. 

I am not concern with the data on the SSD drive since all my personal data and copies of all programs are stored on the cloud and on a backup drive.  When it comes to windows, I have a digital license linked to my Microsoft account.  I see no problem there.   All that I am concerned with is getting the machine fixed.  So far it seems HP has no interest in supporting its customers.  They just want you to buy a new PC.  

[itsmyname]

@marc6996 --  I have already taken the laptop to two independent repair shops and both refused to do the work 

Sigh. Why are they bothering to run a business, when they turn away customers?

If you can purchase a screw-driver that is compatible with those screws, you could try doing it yourself.

Hint: search on YouTube for "disassembly" or "replace disk drive" videos for your model of computer, to see how it is done, and, maybe, comments on the exact screwdriver(s) that you will need.

Depending on the model of your computer, there may be a way to remove the disk-drive (like removing a VCR cassette from a VCR machine), or there may be a "hatch" (like a door on top of a submarine) that needs to be removed to expose the disk-drive, or it may be necessary to remove the entire bottom "tray", to expose everything. 

Watch some YouTube videos.