Help! Laptop HDD Disk not found

AuntyJean

Hi,

Not sure if my laptop can be saved! Was using it fine then re-booted after updating my Avast and I had an error. It seemed to be stuck so I held down the off button to switch it off and now it comes up with Internal HDD error -press F1 to contiue and F2 to enter set up utility. Tried set up but don't know what to look for.

If I created a boot disk from my pc would this boot up the laptop and even if I did what do I do then?

S0litaire

Are you running Vista or XP?
The boot disk might be a "restore disk" so be VERY CAREFULL!! you still should be able to use the boot disk to see if your hard drive is ok.

But to me, it sounds like the files in the HDD that tells your PC to use it to Boot have been damaged.
Look for a "Repair" option on the boot disk. NOT a "RESTORE"

If you are unsure do nothing and pop back here to ask

AuntyJean

S0litaire wrote: »

Are you running Vista or XP?

Running Windows XP

S0litaire wrote: »

The boot disk might be a "restore disk" so be VERY CAREFULL!! you still should be able to use the boot disk to see if your hard drive is ok.

Stupid me did not create a boot disk or restore disk when I had my laptop so wondered if I could create whatever is needed on my pc to use on my laptop?

S0litaire wrote: »

But to me, it sounds like the files in the HDD that tells your PC to use it to Boot have been damaged.
Look for a "Repair" option on the boot disk. NOT a "RESTORE"

If you are unsure do nothing and pop back here to ask

I don't even know where to start!

S0litaire

Hm... ok what options does it give you when you boot?
i.e. what does it say next to f2 and f12?

AuntyJean

OMG! switched it off and left it for 1/2 hr, just started it up to answer your question and it has loaded up!

Is it possible that it had just become overheated? Should I get it looked at? I was using it on a table so maybe it could not cool down?

S0litaire

probably not overheating, as long as it's on a hard surface it should cool itself

just make sure you backup your important files and make a recovery disk

AuntyJean

Could you please advise how I make a recovery disk. I will do it now!

I use the laptop to back up my files from my pc and don't really have much on there that is not already on my pc, just some music files really.

S0litaire

Not sure how to do that on your machine.

check out the programs that came with the laptop, their might be something in the "help" section.

AuntyJean

Thanks for your help.