Hdd self-test Getting a blank screen when starting laptop. Went into f10 computer setup > HDD self-test options and did the HDD self-test and the result was Error: Read Failure. Doe's this mean the hard drive needs to be replaced?

to remove the hdd password do the follwing
1) Restart your computer. Note that during computer restart, the screen goes blank for 3 to 5 seconds. Text then appears and the operating system boots up.
2) As soon as the first text lines appear on the screen, press the "Del" key on your keyboard to enter the BIOS setup
3) Navigate to "Security" in the BIOS menu using the arrow keys on your keyboard
4) Navigate to the option "Hard Disk User Password" and press "Enter
5) Navigate to a hard drive, press "Enter" and select "Disable" to remove the hard drive password.
6) Press "F10" to save and exit the BIOS settings. Computer booting resumes.

this will remove the hdd password

Shut down the computer.
Turn on the computer tapping F10 key on your keyboard.
You will see BIOS comming up.
Go to the option SMART and Run HDD Self Test.
If it passes then get another set of recovery disk for HP Pavilion.
If test fails, replace hard drive.

if its saying Please Press F12 it means its not detecting your bootable media (HDD). Check the HDD whether its working fine.(BIOS > HDD self test)/

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If its a HP notebook then perform the har drive self test.
Here are the steps below.
Steps for HDD self test.

1. If the notebook computer is running solely on battery power, plug the AC adapter into the notebook.
2. Shut down the computer if it is running.
3. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
4. Press f10 when the HP/Compaq logo displays.
5. After the BIOS Setup Utility displays, use the Right Arrow key to select the Diagnostics menu.
6. Select HDD Self-Test options .
7. Press enter to display a list of HDD/Self-Test options.
8. Select Notebook Hard Drive and then press f10 to display an Estimated test time .
9. Press f10 to continue. The Hard Drive Self Test executes a Quick test , a Comprehensive test, and a SMART test.

If the hard drive fails then surely there is no option other than replacing it....
Please surely buy HP Hard drive.

Hi there,

Go into the BIOS setup (press f10 during boot process), then SYSTEM CONFIGURATION and disable SATA NATIVE SUPPORT. Try installing XP again and it should see your hard drive.

(If it will work then please vote for me).

Thanks

1. If the notebook computer is running solely on battery power, plug the AC adapter into the notebook.
2. Shut down the computer if it is running.
3. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
4. Press f10 when the HP/Compaq logo displays.
5. After the BIOS Setup Utility displays, use the Right Arrow key to select the Diagnostics menu.
6. Select HDD Self-Test options .
7. Press enter to display a list of HDD/Self-Test options.
8. Select Notebook Hard Drive and then press f10 to display an Estimated test time .
9. Press f10 to continue. The Hard Drive Self Test executes a Quick test , a Comprehensive test, and a SMART test.
If test reports pass then perform installation of OS
else hard drive has gone bad

The issue might be due hardware malfunction or lack of system performance or corrupt os.

perform hard drive self test:
Hard Drive Self Test:
1. If the notebook computer is running solely on battery power, plug the AC adapter into the notebook.
2. Shut down the computer if it is running.
3. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
4. Press f10 when the HP/Compaq logo displays.
5. After the BIOS Setup Utility displays, use the Right Arrow key to select the Diagnostics menu.
6. Select HDD Self-Test options .
7. Press enter to display a list of HDD/Self-Test options.
8. Select Notebook Hard Drive and then press f10 to display an Estimated test time .
9. Press f10 to continue. The Hard Drive Self Test executes a Quick test , a Comprehensive test, and a SMART test.

If test pass then perform below steps:
Improve system performance:
Follow the steps provided in the below url:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00815926

if persists, restore the ntoebook to factory settings.following below steps in the url
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00809678&product=18703:

I have included some directions from HP about using an embedded Hard drive test. This is done using the BIOS. Try this to rule out a hard drive problem. This is supposed to also repair some hard drive issues. Then, we can go from there.

Brian

Perform a hard drive self test Many computer problems are related to soft failures on the hard drive. The comprehensive portion of the HP Hard Drive Self Test repairs soft errors on the hard drive, but does not report the errors. After the test completes, be sure to restart the computer to determine if the test repaired any problems you are experiencing with your computer. To use the HP Hard Drive Self Test, follow the steps below. NOTE: If the notebook computer is configured with two hard drives, then it may be necessary to test each drive separately.

1. If the notebook computer is running solely on battery power, plug the AC adapter into the notebook.
2. Shut down the computer if it is running.
3. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
4. Press f10 when the HP/Compaq logo displays.
5. After the BIOS Setup Utility displays, use the Right Arrow key to select the Diagnostics menu.
6. Select HDD Self-Test options .
7. Press enter to display a list of HDD/Self-Test options.
8. Select Notebook Hard Drive and then press f10 to display an Estimated test time .
9. Press f10 to continue. The Hard Drive Self Test executes a Quick test , a Comprehensive test, and a SMART test.

If any test fails , contact HP for instructions on how to order a replacement hard drive. If all of the tests pass, the hard drive is not damaged. As a rule, HP does not replace a hard drive that is under warranty if it does not fail the HP Hard Drive Self Test.

a) remove any external devices and reboot.
or
b) boot from Windows XP setup-cd into rescue-terminal, execute: fdisk /mbr
or
c) do a hdd self-test in bios (restart, press F10, tools --> hdd self-test option --> notebookharddrive) to check the integrity of your harddrive

yes, may be the hard drive... so goahead and run a test on hard drive....

try going to bios setup.... from the main menu in bios... highlight the hard drive... maybe displayed in first drive, or second drive...push Enter... and from the list select an option smart self test...
There would be two test's one is smart self test and smart extented self test... first select the smart self test... it would go up to 5 min... if it is pass go to second test...ie., smart extended test...it would go upto an hour.

If first test fails... no need to run the second...directly replace the hdd... but if pass go to second.. and check the hard drive..

As you said you are using UBUNTU.... try install it again.. if hdd both test pass..