Windows 7 - Computer Not Booting Hard Drive/Unresponsive Hard Drive

Hey guys,

I have a HP Touchsmart IQ500. Turning my computer PC on today, all I got was a blue HP invent screen with setup, boot menu, system recovery, and system diagnosis, and I could not get past it.

I entered the BIOS and figured out that the hard drive was listed as "not installed." Pretty sure that is the main problem.

I tried a system restore (with the Windows 7 install disc), but I guess the computer couldn't read the hard drive enough to enter safe mode (I tried restarting and F8ing several times).

I put in an external hard drive, and the BIOS read it; however, windows does not allow you to partition an OS on a hard drive.

I am all out of ideas; I'm currently taking apart the computer (touchsmarts are hard to pry open), but I have no clue about computers so I'm hoping one of you guys can help.

Thanks in advance!

It should be under warranty...probably too late but taking it apart will most likely void the warranty.....sounds like a dead hard drive/loose cable

Yep, it's likely one of two issues. Either the power to the drive has become disrupted by loose cable, failing PSU, etc....or the drive just died.