HP 2000 Notebook PC doesn't allow factory reset

[joshuajenns]

Hi everyone,

I have been keeping this HP 2000 Notebook PC for a few years now, but I have finally decided to make it my mission to get it to work again. What happens is that it doesn't start up de laptop normally after logging in; the screen stays grey with the toolbar flickering on and off as if it's trying to load, but something is holding it back. I've moved all of the important files to an external hard drive, so I could try to perform a system recovery. However, the laptop doesn't let me. This is what it says:

"Your PC couldn't start properly

A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed

error code: 0xc0000185"

I've been trying to find people on this forum with similar issues, which I have, and so I decided to follow the instructions in the answers. I tried performing a hard drive self-test from the BIOS, but when I enter the BIOS Set-up menu through F10, I can't find the primary hard drive self-test option. The Diagnostics or Tools tab is completely missing.

Afterwards, I've tried to run a quick memory test, and this is what came out of it:

"Hard Disk Short DST: FAILED

Failure ID: 9GDPW4-6J4A0J-XD6X1F-60V003"

All of the other options were on "PASSED".

Now, I don't know what any of this means, and I hope someone could help me with this issue. 

Thanks a lot for any replies in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The failure code means that you have to replace the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the hard drive removal and replacement procedure.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03550054

After you replace the hard drive, you can reinstall W8.1 for free using the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS as follows...

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want W8.1 64 bit.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

If you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.

This is the generic key for W8.1 'Standard.'

334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

When you get to the screen that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows,' delete every partition on the hard drive, leaving just one partition of unallocated space. Click Next, and W8.1 should begin to install.

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.

After you get W8.1 installed, and you had to manually enter the W8.1 generic product key, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached below, that will show you show the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.

I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so it is bootable.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-2000-bf00-notebook-pc-series/5296213/model/53050...