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Question

Laptop won't boot, HDD probably dead

Apr 9, 2017 4:57AM PDT

Hi,
I have an Asus laptop running Windows 10 (initially win 8 ) and for a while I've been having hard drive related issues (drive being at 100% usage most of the time, had trouble booting up and I've already had to go through windows' automatic repairs a couple of times).
Today my laptop just won't boot. I keep getting stuck on the "attempting repairs" or "repairing drive C:" screens. Left it on all night and it's still at 0%. If I ignore the repair I get a BSOD giving me a "CRITICAL PROCESS DIED" error. I can access the BIOS but I've had no luck accessing any other menu to boot into safe mode or try a restore point or anything else.
Honestly I've made peace with the fact that my HDD is dead and I need to change it but I'd like to have other people's opinion before I spend money. I've also never changed one so I'm not completely clear on how to proceed. I don't have a windows install disk or anything either so I'm just a bit lost.
Thanks for your help

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Which model of Asus is it ?
Apr 9, 2017 6:06AM PDT

I installed a 500 GB SSD in my computer yesterday , Man is it fast ! Easy too!

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Answer
(NT) R510JK I think.
Apr 9, 2017 6:08AM PDT
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I think the Pro's will want to know for sure
Apr 9, 2017 6:27AM PDT

What Model so there is no confusion and the correct parts can be found.

I think for now, if you have access to another computer you should download a Live ISO. Image like Puppy Linux  and burn to a disc /usb and see if you can boot it up

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Exact model is R510jk-dm177h
Apr 9, 2017 9:59AM PDT

I tried booting up Linux from an external hard drive (not sure if that is even possible but I don't have any flash drive or the ability to burn disc where I am right now) but it doesn't seem to be detected by the BIOS.

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Re: external hard drive
Apr 9, 2017 10:13AM PDT

In principle, if you install it right, it should be possible to boot Linux from an external HDD. Which leads to the question: how did you install it on that external?
And when you write: it doesn't seem to be detected by the BIOS, what is "it" and exactly where in the BIOS isn't it detected?

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I used a program called Rufus
Apr 9, 2017 10:23AM PDT

to format the disk and extract the ISO on it.
By "it" I mean the external HDD, or more generally an option to boot from removable USB or something, but the only thing I see in the boot order is my internal hdd.

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External booting varies with each PC.
Apr 9, 2017 10:30AM PDT

Today it's more complicated by UEFI BIOS's that you might have to enable legacy booting or turn on some CSM feature (google that?)

You did supply the full make and model but a quick look did not find documentation if the BIOS needed changes to boot what you have.

-> In the long run you'll just replace this HDD and then factory restore it with the maker's media. If you forgot to make the media, you order it.

This runs about 100 bucks to fix. 50 for a new HDD and 50 for the media.

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Ordering a CD ?
Apr 9, 2017 10:37AM PDT

Damn, I thought it was possible to make a windows 10 DVD and install it on a new HDD, do I really need to order a CD from ASUS ? I don't remember ever being told to make a recovery CD or I would have done it. I thought windows 10 "knew" when you'd already installed it on that PC now (through the motherboard serial number or something ?).
Sorry if I'm annoying but I'm a student with no income and 50€ is a lot for me.
I also did try enabling CSM but I did not notice any changes on the "Boot" tab.

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You can try that.
Apr 9, 2017 10:44AM PDT

Many folk can't deal with a clean install of Windows 10. You can certainly try that.

Follow Kees's advice about testing if what you made is bootable.

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Grif notes the link to the media creation tool at link.
Apr 9, 2017 10:46AM PDT
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Thanks
Apr 9, 2017 10:56AM PDT

I'll download it

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Re: Rufus
Apr 9, 2017 10:33AM PDT

Then either:
- the external disk is NOT bootable (check on other PC's)
- the BIOS of your PC does not support booting from a USB connected external disk
- with boot the internal and the external hard disk giving issues, it's not the internal hard disk that died, but an issue with the motherboard

Your task now is to investigate these options.

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It appears to not be bootable
Apr 9, 2017 10:55AM PDT

Alright I tested on another PC and didn't have any success so I must have made a mistake somehow. I do see it in the BIOS though under USB HDD, unlike on my current PC.

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Answer
I agree.
Apr 9, 2017 8:27AM PDT

Your post is on target and typical of what you see with a failing drive.

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Answer
Re: dead disk
Apr 9, 2017 10:18AM PDT

Get the disk out, mount it in an external enclosure, connect that via USB to another PC and see what disk management says about it. If it doesn't see it, it's dead indeed.

An external enclosure is some $15, but you can put any hard disk into it, making it a good medium for backup, so it's money well spent.

Reinstalling Windows on a new hard disk is kind of difficult because you might also need to install some drivers from the Asus site. See if you can order recovery disk for Windows 8.1, then install Windows 10 again on top of it.

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I'm confused
Apr 9, 2017 10:27AM PDT

Sorry if this is dumb but why would it be an issue to install drivers from Asus ? And why not directly install windows 10 ?