Boot Device Not Found, Hard Disk ERROR code 3F0: not any solutions works

[Fontainettes]

Hi to the HP community,

A friend has given me his HP notebook to repair because a malware has damaged his windows 10 installation and don't boot anymore.

I have done all usual test and tried usual repair solutions i found on this forum and elsewhere for this code error 3F0, with not any luck.

So I would be extremely greatful if someone could help us to repair it, as the notebook is no more under garanty and curently haven't enough budget to give it to a professional repair shop.

The model is as follow:

HP-14-ac123nf (ENERGY STAR)
Product number : V8R87EA
S/N: [edit]
storage: EMMC 32Go P/N: MENTOS10-6050A2760301-DB-A01

HP product description:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05055081/

The HP page for bios, driver, software is:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-14-Notebook-PC-series/8499318/model/10979255

The boot error message is the classical:

Boot Device Not Found
Please install an operating system on your hard disk.
Hard Disk error (3F0)

What i have already done:

0) Hard reset with no battery and power button pushed for 20 seconds

1) Test if problem comes from Bios:

    Reset Bios to default parameters (F9)
    Update Bios to last version (F29 REV A) taken from link above, successfully without any problem

     Bios seems ok and healthy, works normally


2) Search for defect in EMMC drive:

Made some tests with WinPE "chkdsk" command and usual test softwares with a repair boot key tool: hdtune, speecy, cristaldiskinfo etc. . All tests indicate that the EMMC card is healthy: no defective sector, write and read speed test normal etc.

I have also used the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics software, first with the version integrated to Bios wih F2, then with the last version dowloaded from HP support link above put on a usb key named "HP-TOOLS".

Both test give a result: "SUCESS" for SMART and DST.

I have open the notebook to check the connection to the motherboard and everything seems ok

Furthermore, the EMMC card seems to work normaly, i have install differents version of Windows 10 x64 from boot key without any problem of copy, files are well written on disk.

Conclusion: it doesn't seem there is a material problem, all components seem healthy.

3) Reinstall of Windows 10 x64 (notebook was sold with):

_ Use Microsoft MediaCreationTool1909.exe taken from Microsoft site to create a boot key to reinstall last version of windows 10 x64 1909 (also try with older versions like 1803 etc.)

_ Tried also with with Rufus to test with another type of boot key

Before installation, i choose Bios parameters as follow:

"Legacy boot" desactivated to used EFI + GPT
"Security boot" activated or desactivated, try both with same result.

I have checked that the EEMC disk is well under GPT with DISKPART (not MBR)

I have tried a dozen of times with this different boot key, with different version of Windows 10 x64. The installation is always doing fine, with not any error message.

But when restart after installation completes normaly, there is always the same error 3F0.

The windows efi boot files and windows system files are well copied on the drive, so install has been done perfeclty normally.

But when going in DISKPART then "DETAIL DISK", the EMMC card is still declared not bootable.

I have tried to do installation with MBR partition table instead of EFI. In Bios activate with "Legacy boot", reset the disk with DISKPART: clean + convert mbr sucessfully.

But installation is blocked at partition saying Windows can't be installed on this disk. I couldn't manage to install win10 with MBR. Anyway Win10 is recommended to be installed with EFI + GPT.

Normally Windows installer should have flaged the disk as bootable during installation, but this is not the case.

4) Test if there is a problem with boot sector and EFI partition:

I have try all the usual solutions proposed to repair the boot sector and its files in case there is a problem there with bootrec and bcdboot. All commands works well with message saying the command has been successfuly applied but with no change in boot problem.

For example try to format EFI partition and restore with bcdboot C:\windows /s X: /f UEFI or other same commands. Then the EFI folder structure is well recreate, the EFI files are there, but still no boot.

So everything seems ok from this side also. Anyway the Windows installation is new, so there is no reason why there could be a problem there.

Conclusion:

Now I run out of solution find here and on other forums and I don't see from where can comes the error 3F0. All components of the notebook seems OK (bios, EMMC), Windows 10 x64 installation seems ok (the 4 partition and files are on disk).

But the EMMC drive is still flaged as not bootable in DISKPART -> DETAIL DISK and the boot manager menu of the notebook (F9 at start) doesn't see the EMMC card, although i can test it, read, write without problem, even HP diagnostic tools says the disk is ok.

Does anyone could know if there is some command to force the disk to be bootable or what i can test more ?

Thank's a lot to have taken the time to read all that and for any help you could provide me.

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Fontainettes Welcome to HP Community!

please follow the below steps to identify and resolve this concern:

Step 1: Perform a hard reset

HP Notebook PCs - Performing a Hard Reset or Forced Reset

Step 2: Restore BIOS default setting

Step 3: Test the hard drive using HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI (In your case, Skip to Step 4)

Step 4: Reseat the storage device,

Step 5: Perform an HP System Recovery using the HP recovery media, if you don't have one, get it from HP using these details or download one using the HP Cloud recovery (if available)

If none of the above actions resolved the error condition, back up your personal data and then perform an HP System Recovery on the notebook:

Click here for instructions.

Keep me posted, as I (Or a trusted colleague) shall follow-up on this case to ensure the concern has been addressed, 

And your device is up and running again, only in case you don't get back to us, first! 

That said, If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the solution and kudos buttons, 

That'll help us, and others see that we've got the answers!

Good Luck.

[Fontainettes]

Thank you very much for your kind help.

I think that a part of this answer is probably an automatic answer linked to the this kind of error code mentioned in title, because I have already done most of the tests you propose, as you can read it in my post.

Before to ask for help in this forum, i have carefully read the notetbook manual, all helps i could find about this code error on hp site and all the forum message that speaks about this code errore 3F0. Then try all the different solutions proposed without success.

In particular I have already done Step 1, 2, 3 ,5 that didn't solve the problem.

I didn't done yet Step 4 that was on the end of my todo list, as the EMMC connector to motherboard is really thin and i was afraid to damage them when trying to reseat the drive. It is easy to do with a ssd, but a little bit more tricky with EMMC card.

If you think it can resolved the problem i will do it and tell you the result.

Thank's again

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Fontainettes It's not an automatic answer, its just that these steps have helped other users and I usually post in the same sequence to ensure it helps others too, that said, I agree that the EMMC is not the same as SSD and it's not a good idea to reseat it if you aren't comfortable or unsure of the same, instead I suggest you talk to HP support and discuss your options, follow the below steps to get started:

1) Click on this link - http://www.hp.com/contacthp/

2) Click on Sign-in or select the product using the below step:

3) Enter the serial of your device.

4) Select the country from the drop-down.

5) Click on "Show Options".

Fill the web-form, to populate a case number and phone number for yourself!

Also, if you are having trouble navigating through the above options, it's most likely because the device is out of warranty, if yes? please send me a private message with the region you are contacting us from, 

here's how private messages work: Click here for details.

If you wish to thank me for my efforts, you could click on "Accept as solution" on my post as the solution should help others too.

[Fontainettes]

Hi Riddle_Decipher,

I apologize to you if my previous post could have offend you. I really appreciate you're trying to help me.

What i mean is that i have already done most of the usual tests recommended on hp site and this forum for this specific error code "3F0" and this is the reason of the title of my post ("not any solutions works").

It's why my initial post is so long (sorry about that), describing all what i have already done that could also help other users with the same problem.

Because I just wished to avoid people who could kindly help me to loose some time by recalling me the usual steps that i have already done, especially those recommended on the hp site.

Also I perfectly understand that maybe you didn't had the time to read all that.

As i said in my first post, the notebook is no more under warranty, so I'm trying to fix it by my own.

I can reseat the EMMC drive myself, i was just not sure it could really resolve the problem, so I would have done it in last recourse if nothing else works.

Just to summarize the situation:

_ I have updated Bios to last F29 REV. A and BIOS seems to work well.

_ HP diagnostic test (downloaded from hp site) says the EMMC drive has no problem, but it is not recognized in the boot menu, although i can write, read, test it without any problems.

This is why i first believe there could be a problem with the windows 10 installation. But i resintall it many times with different means and all the time the installation complete without any problem: windows files and efi partition are normally copied on drive.

But this doesn't change the boot problem and DISKPART command "DETAIL DISK" still says that the drive is not bootable, even with a complete new Windows 10 installation with EFI and GPT partition table.

I will first reseat the EMMC drive as you proposed me and tell you if this solve the problem.

Thank you very much from France

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Fontainettes I'm not offended, don't worry, and thanks for being considerate, also I agree the posts are considerably long and i may have missed a few words here and there, that said, please go ahead with the reseat and let me know how that pans out, so we can work on it together until it is sorted for good.

Good luck and good day, ahead.

[Fontainettes]

Hi Riddle_Decipher,

I have done the reseat of the EMMC drive without any problems. I have disconnected the thin cable from both side, then restart notebook, stop it and reconnect the drive. But the boot problem is still there.

I take the opportunity the notebook was open to replace the bios battery in case of, without change.

I have retest the drive with the HP diagnostic tools (F2 at boot), that still says the drive is oK ("PASSED" for SMART and DST).

Then i have again reset all partitions on drive with DISKPART command "clean", with sucess. I checked the disk partition table is GPT (in diskpart there is a star in GPT column when doing list disk).

Then reinstall again Windows 10 x64 with boot key created by Microsoft MediaCreationTool1909.exe downloaded from Microsoft site.

The 4 partitions are well recreate and installation is doing fine (not any error message). But after installation, at restart the boot problem 3F0 is still there.

In DISKPART - command "Detail disk", I have:

Location Path : UNAVAILABLE
Boot Disk: No
(Read-only : No)

The Location path is still unavailable and disk is not bootable.

Here are some pictures of what i have done :

(i have done the pictures today, but the date showed in WinPE command window is not correct as i have reset the bios clock when changing its battery)

Before EMMC reseat:

Before reseat

During reseat:   EMMC disconnected from motherboard

EMMC cable disconnected from motherboard, then reconnect.

After reconnect EMMC to motherboard, redo HP drive test :

After reseat, HP drive test result (F2)

Erase partition from drive with DISKPART - CLEAN, then reinstall Windows x64 with boot key

Windows 10 x64 install before partiion

Windows installer recreates the 4 usual partitions (Recovery, UFI, Windows etc.)

Windows 10 x64 install after partiion

After installation complete and restart no boot, but

DIR on C:\ :   All Windows's files and folders have well been written to drive

After installation, make dir on partition C: Windows files and folders are there

DIR on EFI partition:    D:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot:

files on partition on EFI partition in folder: EFI\Microsoft\Boot

But DISKPART - DETAIL DISK:   Location path not available and disk not bootable

Diskpart detail: path unavailable and disk not bootable

[Fontainettes]

In the last picture of DISKPART "DETAIL DISK" i was wondering what means the disk controller name "microsoft storage space device". I search about this windows 10 feature i didn't knew and find this post:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/ssd-showing-up-as-a-microsoft-storage-space-de... 

Maybe it has nothing to do with my problem, but my EMMC drive is also set to "microsoft storage space device" and declared not bootable.

At bottom of the post the author says:

"It turns out that the newest update of windows 10 had added a feature, that converted all formatted drives to ”microsoft storage space devices” by default. I only had to format the drive again with different settings to get it working."

but unfortunately didn't says how to,

As i'm new to Windows 10, could you please tell me if it is normal that my EMMC drive is recognized as "microsoft storage space device" ? And if not, how i can change it to normal sata drive ?

Thank you

[Riddle_Decipher]

@Fontainettes If you don't have an HP Recovery media and have attempted reset using the windows troubleshooter or a retail copy of windows, you'll need to order a recovery media: Click here for steps.

Or you may also attempt to download the same using the steps on this link: click here

For details on how to perform a successful reset: click here

And if you wish to replace hardware components, please let me know if the device is covered by the warranty.

If you wish to thank me for my efforts, you could click on "Accept as solution" on my post as the solution should help others too.