New laptop or replace HDD?

[CJinIN]

About a week ago, my laptop started having troubles connecting to wifi, even though my phone and other devices in the house were working fine.  Then I noticed it slowing WAY down - it could take 30 min to go from one screen to the next.  Mostly it was having troubles actually on the internet - if I went to Quicken, it would move around ok.

I tried to see if I had a virus, but it wouldn't move fast enough to even check my Norton, so I can't do that.

Then last night, I was able to get it to turn off the screensaver, and turned off the power saving modes (no sleep etc).  Since then, when I've tried to turn it off/on, it will boot to the blank background, but no further (no icons/desktop).

I have started it and hit F8 - I can get to that menu, but trying the safe start takes me to the same wallpaper-only screen.  Repair does the same.

Then I got into the F2 screen and was able to do a test.  I have attached a couple of phone-screenshots.  Since the laptop is from 2014, is it just time to get a new one?  Or am I able to replace the hard drive and should be ok?

Side note - the CD drive doesn't work anymore, and hasn't for 2-3 years.  I have replaced the battery once already.

Please advise.

Cindy Pitts

PS - Now I see my screenshots are mostly useless - the file sizes are too big to attach.  Am doing my best to give the info via text...

During Hard Drive SMART Check: Passed

Hard Drive Short DST Check: Failed

Failure ID: RUQK90-75X96T-MFPV7G-60VT03

Product ID: E9Z18AV

System Quick Test

Processor Check: Passed

Memory Quick Check: Passed (Tested 11.5 GB)

Hard Drive SMART Check: Passed

Hard Drive Short DST Check: Failed

Serial:[personal information removed]

Model: 15t-n200

System Info:

HP Pavilion 15 Notebook PC

2163

E9Z18AV

Born-On Date: 07/10/2014

Intel(R) Core (TM) i5-4200U CPU @ 1.60Ghz

1500 MHz

12288 MB RAM

12/12/2013

F.51

[edited]

29.40

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

It is not a super easy task. HP manual links are a little goofy right now so here is a very weird but still accurate youtube video showing the replacement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR_R7ufDbcI

But in terms of cost benefit you can get a 500 gig SATA SSD (very fast) for like $125 and a straight up replacement hard drive for $50. Your laptop is still competent and useable. 

Windows 10 is a piece of cake to reload...free download from Microsoft and you need no Key Code or other credentials it will just work. 

I like new laptops a lot but $600-800+ for anything decent vs. $50-125 seems like a no-brainer executive decision to me. While you are at it a new DVD drive might cost $40 and is super easy to replace.

Post back with any more questions and please accept as solution if this is the info you needed. 

[CJinIN]

I have a 1TB external hard drive. Is there a way I can use that instead of the HDD on the laptop?

[Huffer]

No...simple answer. You need to put a new hard drive or SSD inside the laptop. 

[CJinIN]

Ok. Can you provide a link to what kind of HDD I should get?

[Huffer]

Of course....whare do you live (country)? If in the USA you can go to a Best Buy but I will link you to a couple of their products. 

[CJinIN]

Indiana USA

[CJinIN]

Best Buy is close to an hour away... Amazon? I have prime.

[Huffer]

Interesting so do I. 

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-blue-750gb-internal-serial-ata-hard-drive-for-laptops-oem-bare-drive...

This is a killer deal on a 480 gig SSD which would make your laptop perform amazingly faster and is a straight replacement for what you have:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/pny-480gb-internal-sata-solid-state-drive-for-laptops/5900262.p?skuId=5...

Post back with any other questions. PM me if you need help with installation. 

[Huffer]

Amazon options:

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-750GB-Mobile-Hard-Drive/dp/B00C9TEC0Y/ref=sr_1_1?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=15336...

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-NAND-500GB-SSD-WDS500G2B0A/dp/B073SBZ8YH/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=15336548...

About the same price as Best Buy