Is the HDD messed up?

[bigant262]

My brothers computer stays on this screen and doesn't boot past this.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g189/nahfeese/dy1t9f.png

It boots up my Windows 7 disc that I have, and I tried to format and re install windows and it still hangs on this screen. I ran a diagnostic too and everything passed.

 

[psaus]

Which diagnostics have you run?

Also, when launching the Win7 installer process, at the point it asks you which HDD to use, does Win7:
- see it?
- report size correctly?
- able to format (Quick or full)?

Depending on the drive's mfg, they typically have SMART tools you can download for full HDD diagnostics. (the ideal method is to download the bootable CD-ROM version, so an OS isn't in the way).
For example, Seagate has SeaTools for their drives. Run the long SMART test diagnostics and see what results there.

If most of my above suggestions are a no-go, then it's looking like the drive could be bad, but before assuming that:
- insure everything is physically connected well (data and power)
- is the BIOS seeing the drive; if not double check the SATA port is enabled
- do you hear the drive spin up when powering the system on
- try different sata ports
- try the HDD in question in a different computer (just try to initialize the drive and copy a small file to it).

Please reply with as much of that as you can and we'll try to further determine the problem...

 

[bigant262]

Best answer selected by bigant262.

 

[bigant262]

I figured it out. I ran a diagnostics and it said it couldn't read the hard drive, so he bought a new one and now it works.