harddisk has indicated question ma4k

[Mahesh7361]

I am facing an issue with my HP device where the hard drive is indicated as a question mark and is not opening. I would appreciate your assistance in troubleshooting and resolving this problem at the earliest.

Please let me know the possible solutions or if any further details are required.

[Max3Aj]

Hi @Mahesh7361, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 

The question mark indicating the hard drive suggests that your HP Laptop PC 15-dw3000 is not detecting the hard drive properly, which could be due to hardware failure, corrupted boot files, or BIOS misconfiguration. Here are the steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Step 1: Check BIOS for Hard Drive Detection

1. Turn off your laptop.
2. Power it on and immediately press F10 repeatedly to enter BIOS.
3. Look for Storage Configuration or Boot Options to check if the hard drive is detected.
   • If the hard drive is not detected, it may be disconnected, faulty, or require reseating.
   • If detected, proceed with the next steps.

Step 2: Perform a Hard Drive Test (HP Diagnostics)

1. Turn off your laptop.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press F2 to enter HP Hardware Diagnostics.
3. Select Component Tests > Hard Drive > Quick Test.
4. If it fails, run the Extensive Test.
   • If the test fails, the hard drive may need replacement.
   • If it passes, continue with software troubleshooting.

Step 3: Check Boot Order in BIOS

1. Enter BIOS (press F10 at startup).
2. Go to the Boot Order section.
3. Ensure the primary hard drive (HDD/SSD) is set as the first boot option.
4. Save changes and restart.

[Max3Aj]

Step 4: Boot into Windows Recovery Mode

1. Turn off your laptop and press F11 repeatedly while powering it on to enter Windows Recovery Mode.
2. Select Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
3. If startup repair fails, go back to Advanced Options and try Command Prompt.
4. Run the following commands: 
   bootrec /fixmbr
   bootrec /fixboot
   bootrec /scanos
   bootrec /rebuildbcd
5. Restart and check if the issue is resolved.

Step 5: Check Hard Drive Connection

If the hard drive is still not detected:

• If possible, open the laptop and reseat the hard drive (ensure it is properly connected).
• If you have another laptop or an external hard drive enclosure, try connecting the hard drive externally to test if it is functional.

Step 6: Reinstall Windows

If your hard drive is detected in BIOS but not booting, you may need to reinstall Windows:

1. Use another PC to create a bootable USB with Windows 11.
2. Boot from the USB by pressing F9 at startup and selecting the USB drive.
3. Select Repair your computer or Install Windows if necessary.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support