hard disk quick and full self test fault but smart passed

[bitobonnie]

I just pulled out my old laptop to see if I could do anything to salvage it. The hard drive was replaced after 3 years and I got 2 years out of the replacement, but it has failed and I want to see if I can get any data from it. Also, if I decide to replace the hard drive myself rather than pay someone, how do I replace the OS and other programs? (Or is that what I am really paying the person who replaces it for?) Someone mentioned a usb cable. If I am taking info from one computer to another, can I just copy it to a disk without putting the data on my other computer? (So many questions.) I can learn. (I had just replaced the screen myself when the hard drive failed a month later, darn it.)

[IT_WinSec]

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@bitobonnie wrote:

but it has failed and I want to see if I can get any data from it. Also, if I decide to replace the hard drive myself rather than pay someone, how do I replace the OS and other programs? (Or is that what I am really paying the person who replaces it for?) Someone mentioned a usb cable. If I am taking info from one computer to another, can I just copy it to a disk without putting the data on my other computer? (So many questions.) I can learn. (I had just replaced the screen myself when the hard drive failed a month later, darn it.)

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Hello @bitobonnie

Welcome back to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

There are 2-3 ways you may attempt to extract data from the Hard Disk Drive (HDD):

-1-  Get the HDD out and insert it into another PC as a secondary drive - like another laptop

or

-2-  Get the HDD out and use a USB to SATA cable like >this one< and attempt to read the data from another PC

or

-3-  Keep the HDD in but try to boot the system using live bootable media (such as Linux based DVD or Linux based USB drive) and attempt to read the data. Eventually, use online storage service or your own USB pen drive to copy the data

If you need details (especially for option 3), please let me know.

Since the HDD has failed, there is no guarantee at all that you will be able to access any data from it.

Once you replace the faulty HDD component - you will need to reinstall back your operating system - Windows or another. So,

* IF your computer originally came with Windows preinstalled by HP (a.k.a. OEM Windows), then you need to use HP recovery media - DVDs or USB pen drive you have previously created   or   recovery media purchased from HP.  Some general info >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00006110

* IF there is no recovery media at HP, you can try to contact these 3rd parties

http://www.best2serve.com/page/rcd_landing   <<EU/EMEA<<    OR 

>>USA/CA>>>   http://www.computersurgeons.com/

 to see if they can offer you such recovery media

If you will need your full product model and product number (PN) > https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00033108

*  IF your computer did not originally come with Windows preinstalled but you later installed operating system on your own, you need to use the OS / Windows installation media and install Windows on your own.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need further assistance or if something is not clear.

[bitobonnie]

Thank you so much I really appreciate the comprehensive advice. I have a bit of work to do. 🙂 I'll let you know when I get it worked out.

Bonnie

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome!

Just forgot to mention that your replacement HDD should be the very same size/capacity as the current one (or bigger). Smaller may not work. For example, if your currecnt HDD is 2.5 inch with 320 GB capacity, your new one should be 320 or 500 GB or 1 TB.

Cheers

[bitobonnie]

Thanks, it had been replaced with 1 TB, so good to know.