Hard drive isn't reading

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Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
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Hi,

I have a Samsung NP300V5A-A05UK Laptop. Recently the computer blue-screened and now whenever I turn it on it goes to a black screen.

I went into the BIOS and it shows that the hard drive is connected via sata (and I have opened it up and checked) I can hear the hard drive start up but it isn't being read.

I installed Windows 7 onto a USB and plugged it in to the computer, when I go to install Windows 7 it doesn't show the hard drive on there.

Any solutions? Thanks
 
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

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Sep 7, 2013
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Test the hard drive to see if it has failed. Download the CD Image for Hitachi Drive Fitness Test for DOS from here: https://www2.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT

Create a CD from the CD Image with IMGBurn: http://www.filehippo.com/download_imgburn

Now boot your laptop from the CD you just created and the testing software will open.
Use the Long/Extended test to test the hard drive thoroughly for possible faults.

If the drive fails the test you will have to replace it.
 
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N

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Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
22
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10,510


Hi,

Thanks for the reply. I do not have a disk drive on my current computer, is there an alternative way? USB maybe?

Thanks
 
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Phillip Corcoran

Phillip Corcoran

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Sep 7, 2013
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No working computer with a CD drive on which to make the testing CD you mean?

You can make a bootable floppy disk for testing instead of CD, but then both your computer and laptop would need to have a floppy disk drive. The floppy disk creator (you make it in Windows) is on the same web page as the CD Image.

CD or floppy disk are the only supported boot devices that I'm aware of for testing with hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic software

Can't you pop over to a friends house maybe, and create the CD on their computer?
 
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Honorable
Nov 22, 2013
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I borrowed a laptop and created the disk you said, everytime I create the disk it says

Verify Failed!

Reason: Layouts do not match.

And the disk doesn't work. Any solution?
 
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TyrOd

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Aug 16, 2013
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You should only follow this advice if you have a up to date and verified backup of all the data you need from this drive.

You should never run physical tests on a drive you suspect may be physically unstable for reasons that should be obvious.

Your first goal should always be to minimize stress to the device.

Getting a professional diagnostic would be optimal, but either way...
You should first seek to make a sector by sector image of the drive.

Obviously, if you run into problems when making the image then STOP and get a professional diagnostic.

Of course if you have a good backup or don't care about the data, then you can proceed with stability testing as suggested.

 
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