System extensive test

[Lpdmck]

I have a system extensive test running on an hp pavilion.  It has been running for 2 days and everything has passed.  The hard drive, long dst test is taking the longest and I’m not sure whether to leave it and it will complete or not.  It has completed 77 iterations so far. 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Lpdmck 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I can see how worrying it must be to watch that test running for days without finishing. The System Extensive Test in HP PC Hardware Diagnostics is not designed to run indefinitely — it should complete in a matter of hours, not days.

Here’s what’s going on and what you can do:

Why It’s Taking So Long

The Long DST (Disk Self-Test) is a hard drive self-check. Normally, it should finish within 2–3 hours, even on large drives.

If you’ve seen it cycle through dozens of iterations (77 in your case), that suggests the test has either hung in a loop or the drive is struggling to complete read/write checks, which can be a sign of failing sectors.

What You Should Do

Stop the Current Test – You can safely end the diagnostics by holding the power button until the laptop shuts down.

Check the Drive Again – Restart the laptop, press Esc → F2, and this time run only the Hard Drive → Long DST test. That will show whether it completes or stalls.

Reference guide: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI

Check in Windows Too – If the system boots, run:

chkdsk /f /r from Command Prompt (run as administrator)

Or check drive health in HP Support Assistant (Storage Tests).

Back Up Your Data Immediately – A drive that cannot complete DST is often close to failure, even if it sometimes passes shorter tests.

If It Still Doesn’t Finish

If the Long DST never completes properly or reports errors, the safest path is to replace the hard drive/SSD. If your laptop is still under warranty, the drive can usually be replaced under coverage.

Would you like me to walk you through how to quickly check your drive’s SMART status from BIOS or Windows? That will give us a clearer picture before you decide whether the disk needs replacing.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Lpdmck]

Hi Hawkseye, 

thanks for the reply.  I have tried switching my laptop off and rebooting but I still can’t use it. It has sometimes given a Stop Code. Driver PNP watchdog.   I can see others have had this.  Is there anything else I should try?

[Hawks_Eye]

We sincerely thank you for your patience and co-operation during this troubleshooting process.

If after following these steps you still face issues, consider reaching out to our customer support over the phone for further assistance. 

I'm sending you a private message to guide you on the next steps.

To access it, click the private message icon in the upper-right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your name.

If this resolves your issue, kindly mark this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" if it was helpful.

Take care and have a great day!

Regards,

Hawks_Eye