Is my HDD dead?

Question

Question

Is my HDD dead?

by Saaang Apr 3, 2016 2:22PM PDT

Hi CNet folks,

I just recently signed up just to ask a question to all of you.

So yesterday i was playing a game, was losing, so my inner rage monster took over and I hit my laptop.

YEAH I know, stupid me.

BUT i think I hit my HDD. I'm using a Toshiba satelite laptop and i wanted to know if it's my HDD and if replacing it Will fix it.

Here are Some things I noticed after I hit my laptop on the keyboard.

1 - It took a while to shutdown. Mouse was still responsive but nothing else. Got a pop-up message saying windows problem. You know, like a message when Firefox freezes and a message pops on screen for u to either wait or terminate something that was using a script or something.

2 - after the crash Tried starting it up again. This is what happend: first comes up the Toshiba logo with the F2 and F12 menus. Second: for some reason I get this oldschool 'windows is loading files' loading bar (white) and afterwards an oldschool Windows (xp?? 2000?? Idk) loading screen and then it just turns black. So the only thing there is left is A black screen and my cursor.

3 - I tried to re install windows 7 using a CDROM but everytime I tried to startup using the CD part as first part of the boot it just restarts itself. So I get the 'press any button to start from CDROM'. I press a button. The screen that is suposed to show up shows for a milisecond and boom restart.

So replacing my HDD, Will it fix this? Or could it be something else after all?

Thanks for the read in advance!

Discussion is locked

11 Posts

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Not quite sure.

by Saaang Apr 3, 2016 6:15PM PDT

I'm not quite sure what you mean. In order to use the recovery disc I need to put in the W7 installation disc and run it first right? (Not install).

Also, the fact that I was running w7 and now suddenly i got these very old windows loading 'screens' isn't weird?

My HDD is still detected in the Bios.

So i'm not sure what you mean. Is it possible that my CD thingy is broken? (Is that the sdd?)

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I mean

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 4, 2016 8:30AM PDT

If you can't boot that Windows 7 install DVD (it's never been on CD) then you won't be able to recover this machine.

Bad HDDs are almost always detected by the BIOS. Can be confusing the first time someone has this issue.

As it stands you need to get your Windows 7 install DVD working. You are there so you can try duplicating this DVD and trying the copy as well as testing these DVDs on other PCs to see if they boot OK.

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I see.

by Saaang Apr 4, 2016 10:04PM PDT

Hmm sorry I did mean DVD. This laptop used to run on Ubuntu for Some reason so I created this W7 DVD disc not too long ago. The problem is though: the menu that apears after you boot through that DVD, it shows for a split second then the laptop restarts. Is this because the DVD is not working? I do want to try the disc out if it's working on other laptops but i'm scared i'm going to mess the current OS up lol.

I can provide you with a vid or screenshots if you'd like that?

Just a note: I don't really care about recovering the files I lost, i just need to get it up and running again since my projects are stored online.

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Edit

by Saaang Apr 4, 2016 10:53PM PDT

So I took out the HDD and starters up to see what happend and it looks like it starts up normally. No black screen at all. Asking me on what drive to install the OS on. And ofcourse there is none to be found. So replacing the HDD Will work afterall?

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That sounds much better.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 5, 2016 7:36AM PDT

Did you try erasing the HDD before booting your Windows 7 DVD?

If the old HDD has some partitions that Windows doesn't understand, there may be trouble. I don't see where you cleaned off the drive and how.

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you hit it?!

by James Denison Apr 9, 2016 11:56AM PDT

anything could be wrong with it now. Surprised you didn't dislodge your GPU video card.

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Formatting is definitely a way to trip up an install.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 9, 2016 12:29PM PDT

You didn't reveal exactly what you did to delete the disk. Here I remove all partitions so the Windows installer can do its thing.

Remember you buried your new post under some one's other post. This makes it difficult to follow.

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Are you posting in more than one thread?

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 9, 2016 12:35PM PDT

This can lead to confusion and seemingly conflicting advice.

Back to Laptops forum

r. proffitt · Answer 1 · Apr 3, 2016 2:36PM PDT

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Answer

Have to write no.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Apr 3, 2016 2:36PM PDT

While it may have a failed HDD the Windows 7 DVD issue blocks you from recovering this laptop.

Did you happen to create your laptop recovery media? Would you order it for say 50 bucks? Many won't and that's the end of a Windows laptop. There are other free OSes like Linux to try next if the 50 dollar recovery media is not an option.

Ernys · Answer 2 · Apr 9, 2016 11:49AM PDT

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Answer

:D

by Ernys Apr 9, 2016 11:49AM PDT

Same problem here budy, kind of hit my pc after losing lol ranked match (i was in promotion -.-) and the everything as u said ... old win loading and stuff.. but i was able to enter setup with the hdd. (Selected sata to IDE, disabled queet boot and in boot screeb reapetedly pressed f8. But fk me if it isnt hdd because i cant instal because of fking 0x80070057 error everywhere ( formating, deletind disk, or installing windows.) So cmon man if u find a solutions plz inform me and if i do il help u

Ernys · Answer 3 · Apr 9, 2016 12:01PM PDT

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Answer

not actualy

by Ernys Apr 9, 2016 12:01PM PDT

I hit it but not strongly, just a slap . But i was able to use pc after that. No error camed :/

Is my HDD dead?

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