Hp 550 will not install Windows 7/10 via USB stick or DVD

[laptopologist]

Hello,

Hp 550

I m trying to install Windows 10 from a USB stick onto this laptop.

It booted well from the stick and I could see the W10 logo but it was hanging on the logo.

I tried the following:

-rebooted several times but nothing changed

-removed the battery

-removed the harddisk

-changed memory

Since this didn't worjk I tried to install W7 via the DVD player and it booted "windows is loading files" but it is hanging almost at the end over the white status bar (on the black background) so it was still loading.

I have another 550 and it has the same problem.

[WAWood]

@laptopologist 

From what I could find, this model PC came out in 2009 -- meaning that it is very unlikely that it will run Win10.

But that said, what is more likely to be the issue, if this PC is still using the original hard drive, is that drive is failing.

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

Please report back the test results.