HP Spectre x360 15- hard drive problem

Dippypud

Hello everyone, my laptop 's HD died, so I bought a new SSD drive thinking this'll be easy ... 
Nope, it isn't ...  apparently the new HP Spectres have their bios on the HD, (according to HP themselves), so a new drive does sod all ...
Any advice on getting me back on the web, as I'm writing this on an ancient Dell that randomly has BSoD attacks ...
Help me MSE'ers, you're my only hope, (as HP said they'd get back to me, but that was nearly a month ago) ...

grumpycrab

Not an expert...but did you manage to boot the laptop with a Windows10 USB?

HereToday

Dippypud said:

Hello everyone, my laptop 's HD died, so I bought a new SSD drive thinking this'll be easy ... 
Nope, it isn't ...  apparently the new HP Spectres have their bios on the HD, (according to HP themselves), so a new drive does sod all ...
Any advice on getting me back on the web, as I'm writing this on an ancient Dell that randomly has BSoD attacks ...
Help me MSE'ers, you're my only hope, (as HP said they'd get back to me, but that was nearly a month ago) ...

Of course the BIOS story is complete nonsense. It likely an issue with the Motherboard. I think you'll find many Spectre owners have exactly the same issue. Faulty hardware and poor design. If, for instance the problem is with the connector to the storage drive, changing the storage drive will make no difference at all.

Sadly laptop manufacturers are all too happy to abandon their products. But this is a known issue and they should fix it.

HereToday

There is a suggestion that replacing the cable connector may solve the issue: 

HP SSD BD Cable - 941842-001

Your model may need a different cable.

Here is someone else's experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlJUdYjk3Y

Dippypud

HereToday said:

Dippypud said:

Hello everyone, my laptop 's HD died, so I bought a new SSD drive thinking this'll be easy ... 
Nope, it isn't ...  apparently the new HP Spectres have their bios on the HD, (according to HP themselves), so a new drive does sod all ...
Any advice on getting me back on the web, as I'm writing this on an ancient Dell that randomly has BSoD attacks ...
Help me MSE'ers, you're my only hope, (as HP said they'd get back to me, but that was nearly a month ago) ...

Of course the BIOS story is complete nonsense. It likely an issue with the Motherboard. I think you'll find many Spectre owners have exactly the same issue. Faulty hardware and poor design. If, for instance the problem is with the connector to the storage drive, changing the storage drive will make no difference at all.

Sadly laptop manufacturers are all too happy to abandon their products. But this is a known issue and they should fix it.

Oh poop, in that case ...

Dippypud

grumpycrab said:

Not an expert...but did you manage to boot the laptop with a Windows10 USB?

No, no joy there, as I said HP said it's the BIOS being on the HD, but if the rumours are true about that being total carp ...
I may try the cable thingy first ...
Stay tuned folks ...

Dippypud

HereToday said:

There is a suggestion that replacing the cable connector may solve the issue: 

HP SSD BD Cable - 941842-001

Your model may need a different cable.

Here is someone else's experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlJUdYjk3Y

Ok, will go forward with that ...
More info, if that is of any help, 
Capslock light (white), blinks 5 slow, 3 fast sequence, which I assume is a fault code of some sort ...

Thanks for all the helpful input so far guys and gals ...

[Deleted User]

Dippypud said:

HereToday said:

There is a suggestion that replacing the cable connector may solve the issue: 

HP SSD BD Cable - 941842-001

Your model may need a different cable.

Here is someone else's experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlJUdYjk3Y

Ok, will go forward with that ...
More info, if that is of any help, 
Capslock light (white), blinks 5 slow, 3 fast sequence, which I assume is a fault code of some sort ...

Thanks for all the helpful input so far guys and gals ...

Hello Dippypud,

Before you buy some random cable recommended by @HereToday just pause for a moment. Only the earlier HP Spectre models use a connector cable to the SSD connector board so probably not relevant - I can't find anything saying the X360 used one.

1. What is the exact model of the laptop - find the label similar to below on the laptop - this will help determine whether it was SATA only or PCIe NVMe SSD compatible? (And whether it uses SSD connector cable although no evidence so far that is the problem)



2. What is the exact model of your SSD you bought - some of the early HP Spectre x360's used an M.2 SATA drive only and won't be compatible with an M.2 PCIe NVMe? Eg model HP Spectre 15-ap005na x360 is SATA only.

3. What is the exact model of the SSD you removed?

4. Did the 5 flashes on caps lock only start happening AFTER installing the new SSD or was it doing it on the old SSD? 

5. What made you think the old SSD was failing?

All the above info will go a long way to solving this issue otherwise it is just guesswork.

EDIT: The 5.3 error code on the caps lock sounds serious, the suggestion is remove all accessory devices - sounds like the BIOS could be toast. Really need to know whether it was doing it before the new SSD was fitted. If it was, there are a couple of things that can be done attempt to reset the NVRAM to see if that works and maybe emergency flash utility that I'd need to look into.

HereToday

Deleted_User said:

Dippypud said:

HereToday said:

There is a suggestion that replacing the cable connector may solve the issue: 

HP SSD BD Cable - 941842-001

Your model may need a different cable.

Here is someone else's experience:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlJUdYjk3Y

Ok, will go forward with that ...
More info, if that is of any help, 
Capslock light (white), blinks 5 slow, 3 fast sequence, which I assume is a fault code of some sort ...

Thanks for all the helpful input so far guys and gals ...

Hello Dippypud,

Before you buy some random cable recommended by @HereToday just pause for a moment. Only the earlier HP Spectre models use a connector cable to the SSD connector board so probably not relevant - I can't find anything saying the X360 used one.

1. What is the exact model of the laptop - find the label similar to below on the laptop - this will help determine whether it was SATA only or PCIe NVMe SSD compatible? (And whether it uses SSD connector cable although no evidence so far that is the problem)



2. What is the exact model of your SSD you bought - some of the early HP Spectre x360's used an M.2 SATA drive only and won't be compatible with an M.2 PCIe NVMe? Eg model HP Spectre 15-ap005na x360 is SATA only.

3. What is the exact model of the SSD you removed?

4. Did the 5 flashes on caps lock only start happening AFTER installing the new SSD or was it doing it on the old SSD? 

5. What made you think the old SSD was failing?

All the above info will go a long way to solving this issue otherwise it is just guesswork.

EDIT: The 5.3 error code on the caps lock sounds serious, the suggestion is remove all accessory devices - sounds like the BIOS could be toast. Really need to know whether it was doing it before the new SSD was fitted. If it was, there are a couple of things that can be done attempt to reset the NVRAM to see if that works and maybe emergency flash utility that I'd need to look into.

I didn't recommend a cable. I simply suggested that one person fixed their issue with a new cable and another fixed it by reseating the storage drive.
Try to cool your ardour. Not necessary here. I guessed that the OP changed the drive with good reason; but let's wait to see the replies to your questions.

If you couldn't find anything about a cable for the Spectre x360 then you didn't look hard enough: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/SSD-ribbon-cable-for-HP-Spectre-x360-15/td-p/7837818

Either way, better to have two pairs of eyes on the problem. 

[Deleted User]

HereToday said:

Try to cool your ardour. Not necessary here. I guessed that the OP changed the drive with good reason; but let's wait to see the replies to your questions.

Sorry - didn't mean it that way, just didn't want the OP buying random components after they posted that they'd try the cable next. I looked at a lot of teardowns of the x360 and just saw an M.2 plugged direct into the m/board.

HereToday

[Deleted User] said:

HereToday said:

Try to cool your ardour. Not necessary here. I guessed that the OP changed the drive with good reason; but let's wait to see the replies to your questions.

Sorry - didn't mean it that way, just didn't want the OP buying random components after they posted that they'd try the cable next. I looked at a lot of teardowns of the x360 and just saw an M.2 plugged direct into the m/board.

I certainly didn't intend for them to run out to buy a random cable. Especially when they aren't cheap. But to investigate further.
A lot of people having boot up issues thinking it's the storage drive; but it wasn't. If it's an inherent fault then HP should fix it. Though one can only imagine the run-around.
Concerned that the OP has disappeared. Goodness knows what they are doing in the meantime.
Perhaps can take a look at the DELL too. BSOD might just be simply a RAM or Driver issue