Please install operating system on your hard disk. (3FO)

[tonyriffs]

I opened my laptop to see if I thought I could upgrade my GPU personally. I am not under warrantee and I don't want to pay to have it done. More importantly after I put my notebook back together I got the following error message. Please install operating system of on the hard disk (3FO). I'm not unfamiliar with this error as I've had to buy recovery discs from hp before. But That's when I was making changes to my computer. During this tear down nothing was changed internally. Now I've gone back in 2 or 3 times to check all my connections and everything looks good. Any suggestions before I purchase a recovery disc would be appreciated?

[Huffer]

You don't give us a model number so we can try to figure out what happened. You did not have to open it to see if the GPU could be upgraded (almost certainly not). There are Manuals and videos we could have provided that would show what it looks like inside. 

But to try to help, can you get into diagnostics (esc + f2) as you power on and run a test on the hard drive to see if it is OK. 

The message you are seeing can happen if there was a static discharge or something to corrupt the boot sector. Likely means the system is still seeing the presence of a hard drive but we need to see if it is OK before you take the effort to try a recovery on it. 

[tonyriffs]

I have a dv7 6185us. I ran all the tests. I ran the extensive hard drive test and it passed yet I'm still getting the 3F0 error message. The memory test did not pass even when I ran the extensive test. The failure ID is 90FKTT-5LQ501-MFH15G-403L03. Did fry my memory?

[Huffer]

OK but if you have 2 modules try each separately. You need to replace the bad chip(s) or it will cause you no end of grief but I doubt it gives you the "install OS" error. However, whatever messed up the RAM may have just zapped the data in the boot sector without damaging the hard drive. You might be able to do a "fixboot" to restore boot function and keep your existing install. You can use a Windows 10 install disk downloaded from the Microsoft Media Creation Tool site to do some repair functions on the OS. You got nothing to lose by trying. 

[tonyriffs]

Thanks I will give that a try.

[tonyriffs]

Alright I did what you said and tested the RAM separately and this is what I came up with. The memory in slot 1 (top) failed. Here are the specs.

Manufacturer: Elpida

Part Number: EBJ41UF8BCS0-DJ-F
Memory Size: 4096 MB
Memory Speed: 1333Mhz
Memory Type: DDR3
Type Detail: synchronous

I checked out new egg and this was the closest that I could find. Which would actually upgrade my memory which isn't a bad idea. I was really just looking to get the one module though. Here's the link for new egg.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6HY4062357

Not sure if if that is the right thing. As I have never purchased memory before. Any assistance would be helpful.
I also checked spare parts warehouse.com, the model was listed but out of stock.
Furthermore, I checked for an Eplida website to see if I could purchase direct. Apparently this company changed into a company called Micron. There are two company's Micron Akita and Micron Japan. Neither had the part I was looking for.
My next bet is eBay or amazon. Any suggestions?

To get the windows 10 recovery disk I will have to use a family members computer. Which will probably take a few days at least. As I am on my iPad. I looked for the Microsoft creation tool and found where you can make an ISO on a DVD or memory stick. Not positive that she what's you were talking about. Said can install or reinstall windows 10. Is that the same thing as a repair disk?

Regards,

Anthony

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

This is the memory you need:

https://www.amazon.com/PC10600-1333MHz-PC3-10600-SODIMM-Laptop/dp/B00KFN5OW6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=...

Yes if you make the Windows 10 disk from that site (either DVD or thumb drive) it is an install disk but the repair function is also there. Instead of installing you choose repair. 

https://www.boyans.net/RepairWindows/repair-windows-boot.html

1. Boot from installation/recovery media.

2. Select recovery - Startup(automatic) repair.

3. You have to repeat steps 1. and 2. up to three times with rebooting after each run to successfully repair booting. The repeated runs are necessary as not all boot problems can be fixed on a single run.

[tonyriffs]

Thanks I think that's all the help I need. 

We'll see how it goes.

thanks again.