HP laptop going to a blank screen

[Dadune]

The laptop I have is sitting at a black screen. After trying to restart multiple times it will show like it is attempting to load into the automatic repair process where the circle goes by and then goes to a blank black screen again. I have ran a system Quick Test and it shows that it failed

Hard Drive Short DST Check :Failed

From my understanding this means that it is a bad hard drive. It shows my product is out of warranty...which kinda sucks it's barley over a year old and having to buy a new Hard Drive already is kind of ridiculous.

Either way even if I wanted to buy a new hard drive replace it and install windows I cannot as I don't have the Key for windows. There is no sticker anywhere on the laptop and nothing on any of my documentation for it either. How do I get a new key from HP?

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @Dadune

Welcome back to the HP Support Forum. Thank you for posting.

The error code you provided tells me that the hard disk drive (HDD) has failed.  Since this is faulty HDD/hardware component, you will probably not be able to recovery your files. If you want to attempt data recovery, please let me know and I may post additional instructions.

Here are your options on fixing the problem:

1) If your computer is with warranty period expired, you will need to replace the faulty HDD - buy new one on your own. There are variety of options - vendors you can choose from. You can get it online or from PC retail store, or from HP parts store http://partsurfer.hp.com/

You need 2.5 inch SATA disk / HDD or SSD.  I recommend you consider HDDs with RPM 7200 as they as slightly faster, 5400 RPM is slower >> https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/r/rpm.htm

You may even also consider Solid State Drives (SSDs):

>> https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/ssd.htm

>> https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001396.htm

*** How to replace the faulty HDD with new HDD or SSD:  please, find info and instruction in your computer's manual or watch YouTube videos examples for your HP model.  If you provide me with details about your HP PC model, I may be able to be more specific and point you to the manual and instructions.

If you do not want to do this on your own, please bring the computer (or ship it) to HP Authorized Service Center where the technicians will do this for you. If you are not sure where such a center is located, check these or contact HP for assistance in finding the nearest one for you:

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-phone-assist.html

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00372730

>> http://www8.hp.com/us/en/store-finder/find.do?bs=SR4&type=authorized

2) Last part - once you replace the faulty component - you will need to reinstall back your operating system - Windows or another. So, as your computer originally came with Windows preinstalled by HP (a.k.a. OEM Windows), then you need to use HP recovery media

Instructions on reinstalling Windows 10 >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/Impossible-to-update-operating-...

Please, let me know how it goes and do post back if you need assistance. Looking forward to your feeback/reply.

[Dadune]

I get all of that. I know how to replace the HDD and reinstall windows but when I reinstall windows to the laptop isn't it going to ask me for a product key? Where do I get that from? As stated above there is no product key on the laptop nor do I have any kind of HP recovery media.

[Dadune]

Ok so I read a bit more into that post you put up but I don't know if the account is linked with the activation key. So am I supposed to spend $40-60 dollars on a hard dirve to put into the laptop and then hope it activates? What if it doesn't activate now I have to buy windows?

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

I believe you won't need the product key and you may not have issues

Microsoft forced a change since Windows 8. Windows 8 and 10 do not come with a COA sticker with the Windows key. Instead, the key is bundled with the BIOS. Here is more info >> https://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

Generally speaking you do not need this code as OEM Windows is automatically activated. Also, Windows 10 offers other means of activation, as well.

There are several ways to activate Windows 10 - in your case specifically - and it depends on the way it was activated initially. Here they are:

1) No code - no key - just Digital entitlement  - if you previously performed upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10 on this very same computer, if Windows 8 was activated fine and if you used Win 10 for a while, and if Windows 10 was activated eventually (it's licence was activated), then your computer has a Digital entitlement option stored on Microsoft servers. Because of this, you will no longer need a code/lic key to activate Windows if you need to reinstall it.  It will activate itself without you entering any key - it will connect online and detect your PC hardware.  More info:

>> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

>> http://www.winbeta.org/news/digital-entitlement-a-new-method-of-activation-in-windows-10

2)  Use of key - if Windows 10 was activated initially with a Microsoft licensing key, you will need to enter this key again and re-activate this Windows using the key again. Only retail type of keys are accepted, aka retail licenses - not OEM/DSP types.

3) Activation using Microsoft account - Digital license - starting with Anniversary update built, if you used MS account to login to the PC and if you enabled a special option, you no longer need a license key to activate your Windows - just login and use your Microsoft account - here is more info >> http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

*** *** ***  If you still want to check your code, please use this free utility >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey.zip

Source >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Microsoft might cause you issues activating due to the hardware change but if this happens, you should contact them for assistance.

[Dadune]

Ok I will attempt to reinstall on a new hard drive and see what happens. I'll get back to you with the results.

[Dadune]

After getting the New Hard Drive and installing it a long with Windows everything appears to be working. Thank you for the assistance.

[IT_WinSec]

You are very welcome !