Have I killed my laptop?

Paul_T_3

Did you have any luck when you reseated the Hard drive and any idea what size ( in GB )it was ?

What OS was the laptop running ?

If no luck reseating the drive have a look on Amazon / Ebay etc , I would think that it is a Sata 2.5 inch but check before buying.

Paul

Knarf44

changing the hard drive is a 5 min job - what takes the time is loading the OS, drivers, Updates and programs back on to it.

Did you make the recovery disks a new laptop usually prompts you to do soon after switching on for the first time? If not, you've got no way of restoring what was on the laptop to the new hard disk.

It's possible to download an .iso image file of Windows 7 which you then burn to a blank DVDR and use that to install the OS. Your laptop has an HP OEM Win 7 licence so using that you may have to use the phone method to activate the software.

There's quite a bit of work involved in all this and you'd need access to another PC/laptop with an internet connection during the process. If you don't know much about all this it would be better to find someone who does.

Your laptop will be using a 2.5" Sata II hard disk, probably a 500GB one. Usually the cheapest place to buy hard disks in my experience is a company called Aria Technology. For example a new 500GB Samsung Sata II disk will cost £59.99 plus postage. See link:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Storage/Hard+Drives+-+Internal/2.5+Inch+SATA+Drives/80GB+-+1TB+SATA/500GB+HN-M500MBB+Samsung+Spinpoint+M8+2.5%22+Laptop+Hard+Drive+-+HDD+?productId=46731

Glass_Half_Empty??

Thanks for the replys, I think was windows 7. And size a 1tb I think double the 500gb. I can use my g/f's laptop while I did the work so thanks for the heads up, after looking on some sites for a HD I was looking at £200+ Will the 500gb do me if I dont need the whole 1tb?
Also I think you are saying I shall not have to pay for the OS but will lose all my stuff from the HD?

Knarf44

A 500GB drive is probably the minimum that people install these days although you can also get 320GB if you want to save a bit more money.

If the original HD has failed completely ie it won't start up then it'll probably need to go to a specialist data recovery company and that won't come cheap. Alternatively, you could put the HD in a USB enclosure (£5-£8) and plug it in to your g/f's laptop and see if it's recognised. If it is you might be able to copy important files/docs to a pen drive.

A legal copy of Win 7 can be downloaded from here:
http://www.w7forums.com/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads-t12325.html

Once you have the .iso file you'll then need to burn it to a blank DVDR using something like Imageburn http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Once the new HD is installed boot the laptop from the DVD drive and install the OS. This gives you the 30 day period in which to input your Win 7 licence code. If it won't activate just use the auto phone method or speak to Microsoft directly and explain you had to change the HD.

TakeThis

I imagine that the original HDD is a 7200 RPM example, as opposed to 5400 RPM.

Knarf44

TakeThis wrote: »

I imagine that the original HDD is a 7200 RPM example, as opposed to 5400 RPM.

Possibly but I doubt the OP will really notice the speed difference between the two, if they are using it for general type stuff.

macman

Glass_Half_Empty?? wrote: »

No back ups, only bought it in december
What exactly is on the hard drive as far as info goes? EVERYTHING?
Is there a chance I will be able to have HP fix it under warranty? If not how do I re-install windows when I got no disks in the first place?
Thanks

A 3m old back up is about as much use a chocolate teapot. You need to back up from day one-all hard drives fail sooner or later.
Presumably you didn't burn the recovery disks either when you bought it?
No, malicious damage is not covered under the warranty-, but maybe under your home contents policy?
Worth buying a cheap USB hard drive caddy for a tenner, whipping it out and seeing if you can read from it. But very unlikely if it's clicking. A forensic recovery (£350+) would be the only hope of data recovery.
Otherwise you'll need a new hard drive and to borrow a copy of the W7 DVD to do a reinstall, presumably you have a valid licence key on the machine?

Glass_Half_Empty??

I can't thank you guys enough for all the information you've given me. I will definitely be looking to put a new HD in there at some point soon when money allows. My music was the main thing that has bothered me Never mind my own fault and all that. Just happy it wont be costing £300+ which is what I was thinking.
Is there a "how to guide" somewhere maybe on youtube? My main concern is I change it then can't do what needs to be done without messing everything up and making it worse. My iphone 4 is still in the cupboard after an attempted screen replacement(not my fault).

macman

Replacing a hard drive is a 5 minute job on a modern laptop, go the manufacturer's support site and download it. If you've already located and removed the access hatch, you've done half the job already.