Error message says hard drive failed and install new operating system

[tmiller782]

I received the error message that the hard drive failed and to reinstall the operating system.  I have 3 installation disks that I used to reinstall the system but after reinstallation I still get the message that the hard drive has failed. 

[WAWood]

@tmiller782

I'm surprised you were able to restore the OS, if the drive really failed.

If your PC is new enough to support UEFI, you can use these steps to test the hard drive: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00439024

If not, you have to follow these steps:
1) Press Esc key repeatedly, several times a second, while rebooting the laptop. Do NOT hold the key down, just press it over and over.
2) Eventually, you will see an HP Startup Menu -- that will look similar to the image below ...

3) press the Function key for testing the hard drive (usually F2) and let it run.

Please report back the test results.

[tmiller782]

I went through the procedure you outlined and the result of the test was a hard disk failure.  After using my 3 installation disks to recover the operating system and hard drive I got the very same original message to again reinstall the operating system and that the hard disk had failed.  The hard drive was a Toshiba  Model MQ01ABD100.  It was 1TB.  I had used less than 1/4 of the disk space.  My question:  Can I buy a used hard drive of any model and put it in the computer and have confidence that my three recovery disks will work.  In other words will the recovery disks that I bought work with any hard drive.  Thanks for any guidance you can offer.