HP Pavilion Error (3F0)

[gtifeld]

Greetings. I've seen this problem addressed but haven't found a solution that pertains to my situation exactly. I have a friend with a Pavilion dv5-1017nr that is suddenly giving the 3F0 code on startup (Boot Device Not Found -  Please install an operating system on your hard disk). If I attempt to run the diag hard disk test, it says "Hard Disk Not Exist".

I swapped the drive with another SATA drive from another laptop (a Toshiba). The drive from the Toshiba laptop boots normally in the HP and the drive from the HP boots in the Toshiba. But switching them back produces the same results in the HP. Based on that, I don't believe the connector cable or motherboard is the issue. I've also tried restoring the BIOS defaults and clearing the power, but no difference.

Any ideas/suggestions? If any other information is needed, I'll be glad to provide. I thank you in advance for any assistance.

Regards,

--- Gary

[gtifeld]

I should have provided more info. in the original post about the laptop in question, so here it is:

HP Pavilion dv5-1017nr Notebook
Windows Vista SP2 x64
Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 @ 2.26ghz
4gb RAM
BIOS: F.21

Once again, if any other info. is needed, I'll gladly provide it. Thank you.

--- Gary

[CWB:Hinton]

Hi,

 

It certainly looks like another HDD failure.  The only things I can suggest trying before replacing the drive is:

 

1.  Shutdown the notebook, remove the AC Adapter and remove the battery.  Hold down the power button for 30 seconds, then re-insert the battery, plug in the AC Adapter and see if it will start.

 

2.  Shutdown the notebook, remove the AC Adapter and remove the battery.  Hold down the power button for 30 seconds.  Now physically remove the HDD and then reinstall it again to see if this helps.

[gtifeld]

Hi,

I've already tried both of those steps and unfortunately they made no difference. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

I'm just curious about one thing. If the HD is in fact bad, then would it still boot in another laptop? If it weren't for that, I'd have just presumed the drive was no good. Am I missing something?

Thanks again.

Regards,

--- Gary

[Computer_Commando]

"Non-System Disk Error" or "Disk Error" Appears on Black Screen (Windows 7 and Vista)

[Lisa_maree]

Hi

Just a few things to try .

With the HP drive in the HP see if you can hear it spinning when you power the laptop on ?

It could be the laptop is posting faster than the drive can come up ready, perhaps after the error try a Ctrl alt delete instead of a power down this will restart the post but not power down the hard drive. If the error goes away, there maybe a bios setting to wait a few seconds for the  hard drive to come ready and setting this could fix it .

If you check the 2 hard drives they will have there current writen on the lable some are as low as 320ma and others need 650ma if the one that isn't working in the HP but does work in the toshiba uses a higher current then perhaps the HP can't supply that much current to start the drive.

Just some ideas 

Lisa_maree