My hard disk has failed and I want to do a reset while keeping my personal files

[halifa]

My HP Notebook 17-ca0003na (with upgraded 2TB Seagate hard disk as recommended here) is showing a serious hard disk error F03, no boot disk found and all that. I'm about to perform an operating system reset as all previous steps have got me nowhere, keeping all my personal files. Is my appdata folder also preserved, as it has all my Thunderbird emails on it?

[Lil_Boy_Blue · Accepted solution]

Hi

IF you do a reset then you risk losing everything. So one step at a time...

Hi
PLEASE POST ANY RESULTS.
First:- Turn off the computer, press and hold the PWR button for 4 seconds.

Then - Leave only keyboard and mouse connected, disconnect all externally connected
devices such as Docking Station, USB storage devices, displays, and printers.
Unplug the AC adapter from the computer.

Next - Press and Hold the Power button for 15 seconds to Hard Reset.
Rinse and Repeat; Re-Connect the AC adapter.

NOW begin checking/testing/proving the Hardware is fit for purpose.
Power on your PC, press ESC (repeatedly), then F2 at the prompt.
Choose System Tests (Fast Test does a 4 minute hardware check).

If the Hard Disk is failing or has failed then a replacement is required.

Then you try and install everything from your backups and perhaps mount the old HDD in a caddy in the hope of recovering something.

From 2016 onwards there is a possible recovery option via the cloud...
HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 7 & 10)
https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c06162205
OR
This First part only works when a valid Recovery Partition is enabled.
If it displays an error message then move onto the Second part,
OR if you have data you wish to try and save using the XCOPY command.
Then create your own Repair/Recovery/Rebuild/Re-install media or buy a set from HP.

Turn off the computer.
Disconnect all connected devices and cables, Media Drives, USB drives, printers, & faxes.
Remove media from internal drives, and remove any recently added internal hardware.
Do not disconnect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, or power cord.

WARNING - ONE WAY ONLY, WIPES ALL DATA - NON-RECOVERABLE
Turn on the computer and repeatedly press the F11 key, about once every second,
until the Choose an option screen is displayed, and then continue.

On the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshoot, and work your way through the screens.

Second Part:-
This may require another PC. Find and Download your .iso from…
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Expand/Extract/Burn the iso Image onto a DVD/USB as needed.
Microsoft’s Creator Tool will make the required DVD or USB.

Even though it has NO actual HP software/drivers included, you may be able to
XCOPY the C:\Users\* area onto a ‘large’ USB stick, via the Command Prompt.

You’ll need to try various drive letters; D:..-..Z: until it’s matched - could be G; mine’s S:

C:\>XCOPY C:\Users\* S:\ /e /i /h (then files like those 3 listed below get copied over)

C:\Users\desktop.ini
C:\Users\All Users\agent.1509128044.bdinstall.bin
C:\Users\All Users\HP Deskjet 2540 series\Help\flash\zoom.swf

Then you can try System Recovery Options / Advanced Options shown in the screenshots.


NB: - W10 Begin with the Automatic Repair, then Startup Settings etc.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/install-windows-10-from-usb

If in doubt please ask before you act.

[halifa]

Many thanks. I'd already used the hardware check option and the drive failed both the quick and the more thorough test. I've only continued as online help suggested there were other steps I could take. Backups? Ho ho. Although I had been making them up till January, and I recommend everyone else to do the same. Let's hope data recovery helps!

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Prego.

I use LinuxMint, running in RAM to mount, view and manipulate Windows Volumes.