BSOD after wakeup from sleep, won't detect drive now

lg9856 · 08 Dec 2012

Greetings,

I purchased am HP Mini 110 netbook three weeks ago to use in school while I leave my heavier and bigger laptop at home.

It came with Win7 Starter, but I took the (bad) decision of installing an illegitimate copy of Win7 Home Premium because I found starter somewhat clunky.

I downloaded the ISO from a torrent and created a bootable USB. I just run the installer from Windows itself and the installation took about 45 minutes. After that I installed the drivers and everything went fine for a week. I also used the ''activator' that came with the torrent.

This Friday, as I resumed from sleep, the system froze as I put my password for a few seconds and soon after I got a BSOD and the computer shut off. As it rebooted I got a message saying that no OS is installed and that no HD is detected. I attempted to run some diagnostic tests through the BIOS but it tells me that not HD is detected. I even attempted to install Ubuntu and it doesn't detect a drive either.

I already talked to HP costumer service and they'll soon come to pick up the netbook to get it serviced, but meanwhile, I sent it to a technician to find out what is wrong with it. The news I got from him were that the HD was completely dead.

Previously, I had unplugged the HD to make sure the ribbon was not lose and plugged it again.

Now, I am in this dilemma: Would my HP warranty void if they find out I installed a pirated OS which arguably caused the hardware to fail?

Thanks in advance for any response.

ICIT2LOL · 09 Dec 2012

Hiyya and welcome Ig mate you have been a bad person nothing in life is for free mate.

Now if it hasn't destroyed the original install altogether and I suspect it may have try a factory default to get the thing to boot from the factory created partition.

Power up and tap the F10 key it should take you into a reinstall / repair mode but I wouldn't be holding my breath to be honest.

Just as a tip mate and it is up to you if you listen to an old head on old shoulders - ask before you do stuff like that and here is just the right place. It will save you a lot of grief if not money.:)

As the man says in here the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked.

Let us know how you go.

lg9856 · 09 Dec 2012

Thanks.

But, is it even possible for an obscure version of windows to completely destroy a hard disk? Maybe it came with a virus perhaps?

I don't have my computer with me because it is currently on technician, as he is attempting to find out what is going on. I think I was told to do the F10 thing by the HP costumer service, it took me to the BIOS settings, but the BIOS didn't detect a hard drive.

I also downloaded a win7 repair disk, the first time I booted that up, it did work but it didn't detect a partition to repair, I attempted to repair it anyways but after that, the ISO only boots up to this:

Thanks in advance for any help.

ICIT2LOL · 09 Dec 2012

Ok well the tech is going to cost lg another method is if you - slip in a new drive and slip in an OEM OS.

Maybe the tech can come up with something I hope so but it doesn't look good eh?

lg9856 · 09 Dec 2012

Hmm... I am still incredulous about this.

The pirated windows may have come with some sort of virus that wrecked the install, but destroying a whole hard drive?

Are there any similar cases like this?

I still believe that I may have been supplied with a defective system.

ICIT2LOL · 09 Dec 2012

I am sure there are lg but a virus would not physically wreck the drive mate - not that I am aware of.

Now the only recourse is a new drive and an OEM now depending where you are depends on how much this is going to cost. At a rough guess the OEM will be around $100 (AUD) and the drive anything from $60 - $90 - thats out here of course in the US maybe a bit cheaper.

Now you need to find what sort of drive it is probably SATA and also what size you want a 500GB would be suffice I reckon. Because you are putting in a new drive you can use the OEM but remember it will be a one use OS it cannot be transferred to another machine - a retail one can

But personally and I know this is hindsight a 14" screen mate would have been the go I have seen so many of those mini machines go belly up. Plus with the new drive and OS you will have spent more than the 14" would have done in the first place. But whats done eh? I've done some pretty impetuous things in the past you are not the first and certainly will not be the last.
A good lesson learnt eh?

If you go OEM then get the Home OEM Premium at least you will have the version you want. Best in future mate to ask in here re such things:)

Let us know how you go:)

John