Internal Hard Drive Replacement

[bar2jr2017]

My Toshiba PC was upgraded from 8.0 to 8.1 and then Windows 10 during free period. My hard drive has failed and I want to replace with an SSD. When SDD is inserted into hard drive location and PC turned on screen remains dark. Any suggestions?

 

[USAFRet]

My Toshiba PC was upgraded from 8.0 to 8.1 and then Windows 10 during free period. My hard drive has failed and I want to replace with an SSD. When SDD is inserted into hard drive location and PC turned on screen remains dark. Any suggestions?

For a new drive, you'll have to reinstall the OS.

What do you mean by "screen remains dark" ? Anything on it at all?

 

[bar2jr2017]

After installing SSD and turning on PC nothing appears on PC screen so it remains black

 

[bar2jr2017]

Do I use Microsoft Media Creation tool and download software to my USB thumb drive and then insert thumb drive after PC is turned on or before I turn on PC?

 

[USAFRet]

Do I use Microsoft Media Creation tool and download software to my USB thumb drive and then insert thumb drive after PC is turned on or before I turn on PC?

Create your Windows 10 install USB with the media creation tool
Plug it in.
Then turn the system on.

 

[bar2jr2017]

Since I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 do I download Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 Media Tool?

 

[USAFRet]

Since I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1 do I download Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 Media Tool?

Windows 10.
From here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Download the Media Creation Tool.
Then use that to create your USB install.

 

[bar2jr2017]

Have downloaded tool to USB thumb drive; installed in PC's USB slot, turned on PC. Screen still dark after 3 minutes. Should I wait longer to see something?

 

[USAFRet]

Have downloaded tool to USB thumb drive; installed in PC's USB slot, turned on PC. Screen still dark after 3 minutes. Should I wait longer to see something?

No, it should be instantly viewable.

Let's go back to the beginning...
Originally Win 8.1
Then upgraded to Win 10.
It was working fine after that?

Then....the HDD died? How did you determine this?
Insert SSD, and still the screen remains black?

This might not be a hard drive fail.

This s a desktop system?
Please list all the specs of this.

 

[bar2jr2017]

This is a Toshiba laptop L855 with 4 GM and 750 HDD. Everything working fine about a week ago. When PC turned on nothing displayed. Then I left PC on for about a day and then screen came on and I could access my files but not Windows or internet. Down loaded my files and turned off my PC. Next day PC would not display a screen drive making noises. Turned off and then tried later in day to turn on...no response. Took out HDD and reinserted but still no start up, Still noises. Bought new PC but wanted to try to restore old PC for a spare in case new one becomes a problem. Discarded old HDD a couple of days ago after destroying physically. Bought new SDD PLus drive today at Best Buy and trying to install

 

[USAFRet]

From your description, the blank screen happened before the possible drive fail.

How were you able to access your files, but not Windows or internet?

 

[bar2jr2017]

Yes the blank screen happened twice before. My files were on the HDD that I needed not on the cloud so I downloaded those files to a new thumb drive and then uploaded to new PC. I may have misspoke about the Internet being accessible as Edge was not on.
PC is still on and still have black screen. I am considering turning off and then turning on again but will await your feedback. Thanks so far

 

[USAFRet]

If you are seeing a total blank screen, possibly the system is trying to use an external monitor, rather than the laptop screen.
There should be one of the top row keys to toggle this.
Otherwise, something else is broken or loose. Like maybe the ribbon cable to the screen.

 

[bar2jr2017]

Toggled keys but no change.

 

[bar2jr2017]

Have turned off power and will turn back on. I also made a recovery CD of my old drive. Could I try installing that to SSD Plus before using Media Craetion tool on USB thumb drive?

 

[USAFRet]

Toggled keys but no change.

OK...power off, then power on again.
To do anything with the OS, you first need to at least see the BIOS.

 

[bar2jr2017]

OK I 'm googling for Tochiba hard drive problems to see if other Toshiba lap top users ahvge experienced similar issue to see if they have a solution. Thanks for help I will advsie if I find a solution so others may benefit in the future

 

[USAFRet]

OK I 'm googling for Tochiba hard drive problems to see if other Toshiba lap top users ahvge experienced similar issue to see if they have a solution. Thanks for help I will advsie if I find a solution so others may benefit in the future

I still don't think this stems from a drive issue.

 

[bar2jr2017]

Just checked CMOS battery inside enclosure and it is dead so it may be problem. Going to buy a new one tomorrow to see if it fixes issue