Hard disk (3FO) - blank screen - laptop not booting up - help!

[AL200]

Hello, I have an HP Envy 15 j144na. It is nearly 4 years old. It uses MS Windows 10. On powering on, the fans come on, I get static through the speaker and a back lit screen (blank/black). On doing the diagnostic test, I get two blinking white lights on the capslock indicating the BIOS is corrupted. I have followed the HP advice for 'updating the BIOS' (https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c00042629). Unfortunately, my HP PC Hardware diagnostics UEFI is version 1.6.0.0 - so no option there to upload the new BIOS via USB (it is version 5.0 on the how to page). I tried to run the hard drive diagnostic test (from the F2 System Diagnostic) - but whilst the memory test was installed (and done, ok) it said the hard drive test was not installed. I then got "Boot Device Not Found. Please install an operating system on your hard disk. Hard Disk (3FO)." Everytime I now power on, press ESC and try to get the start up menu it goes straight to this screen. I did have the option to see if I could switch, via F10, on BIOS options, to enable legacy support which is currently disabled in the hope this would operate an old BIOS version (suggested here: https://www.blogtechtips.com/2017/10/22/fix-boot-device-not-found-hard-disk-3fo-hp-laptop/). Would this make a difference? Would I still lose any existing data on the hard drive? Does anyone have any ideas about what to do next? Of course, I have some non-backed up data (photos and videos) which I would love to be able to access from the laptop - but I can't get any further and I fear all might be lost. I feel like I've reached the end of the road on this without some outside help. Please help! Many thanks. 

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @AL200 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

Based on your description, the system does NOT detect a HDD - this means 2 things:

- HDD exists, it is inserted but is very corrupted

or

- HDD is not physically present on the machine

If HDD is present, try reseating it as shown in this video >>   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EdSDosnLnk

If reseating did not work, this will most likely mean the HDD is corrupted . 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, but no guarantee they will work.

Here are your options on fixing the problem:

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 HDD with the very same size as the current one or bigger (small will not work) - e.g. if your current HDD is with 1TB capacity, your new HDD/SDD must also be 1TB or with bigger capacity.  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

*** How to replace the faulty HDD with new HDD:  please, find info and instruction in your computer's manual or watch YouTube videos examples for your HP model. 

Here is the service manual for your model

>> http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04691689

page 55/63

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

Last part - once you replace the faulty component - you will need to reinstall back your operating system - Windows or another. Let me know if you need assistance on reinstalling the OS back.

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