Solved need help recovering HDD for Samsung NP-QX410

[vid4763]

Hello,

I'm seeking help trying to bring back to life my college son's Samsung NP_QX410-So2 US

He gave me the laptop to fix and keep. If possible., If, with hopefully some expert advice, I can fix it, my wife and I planto hand it down to our 10 yr old son.

So here is what I know of it so far:

Samsung SATA HDD HM641JI (P/N HM641 JI/SCC)

4G Ram

When I boot up computer, besides general lag probably bcz of problems, I can basically click f2 or f4 for Samsung recovery or f8 for optional startup screen (windows starts....restore point, networking, command mode....etc....)

I have tried f4 to go to Samsung recovery. it gets to a certain point, before any real options are available and just hangs.

I have tried f8 and tried restore point and repair windows and have gotten basically the same results.

So, I am asking for help on what to try next to breath some life back into this thing. it's a very nice laptop and would really like to be able to restore.

I do not have recovery or installation disks.

Thanks!!!!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'd guess Samsung will gladly sell you recovery disks for a possibly exorbitant sum.

Have you pounded on the Samsung web site and your documentation enough to satisfy you that the only way to access the recovery partition on the hard disk is via F4?

Does it now fully boot and "run", however poorly?

 

[whs]

Use any live Linux CD and see whether that works. If yes, we know at least that the hardware is OK.

Here is a choice: https://www.google.com/search?q=liv...8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7MXGB_enUS532&gws_rd=ssl

 

[vid4763]

@ ignatzatsonic

I'd guess Samsung will gladly sell you recovery disks for a possibly exorbitant sum.

Have you pounded on the Samsung web site and your documentation enough to satisfy you that the only way to access the recovery partition on the hard disk is via F4?

Does it now fully boot and "run", however poorly?

Samsung site & docs are useless. I did try F4 but wasn't successful. I've temporarily switched gears and replaced the HDD witch a Seagate from an older Compaq (Vista OS) that had failed a few years ago to see if we could recover some picture and document files. If we can recover either of the HDD's I was thinking I might be able to either reformat the drives or I have an Image disk from my Satellite that might work?

I don't want to sound like I know what I'm doing. I DON'T.

I have some images that might help. Any ideas are welcome to steer me in a positive direction if there is any possibility of recovering/restoring these drive, either or both. inve$tment is an issue, as we have limited re$ources to waste on futile cause.

Here are the images....

 

[vid4763]

@ Whs

Use any live Linux CD and see whether that works. If yes, we know at least that the hardware is OK.

Here is a choice: https://www.google.com/search?q=liv...8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7MXGB_enUS532&gws_rd=ssl

Thanks for the advice. I have no experience with Linux, so I'm not sure how to go about that. please have a look at the updated info. If Linux can help I would gladly follow up with that. if you could offer any beginner help with the Linux approach here it would be appreciated.

I don't mean to complicate the issue by juggling 2 sick HDD's. The Seagate (Vista) has been sitting in a drawer for a "rainy day" to be worked on and a few files recovered from. all but one of the uploaded images is from the Seagate. I switched the Samsung (windows 7) out because I was getting nowhere and thought I might have better luck with the older Seagate (that's what I get for thinking).....

 

[vid4763]

I discovered Samsung recovery disk in the dvd drive. had asked my son if he had one, but said he didn't. LOL. I will investigate this with the Samsung HDD as I know it will not help with the Seagate (Vista)

 

[vid4763]

So far, with the Seagate (Vista) HDD I've tried all F8 options. Have BSOD, or seems so. I can get to Startup repair and it gets basically nowhere. I checked Memory diagnostic(extended), checked out OK. I get to command prompt from the startup repair utility, can see Directories. I've tried restore points, nothing. I downloaded and burned Seatools for DOS, says HDD is fine, I believe. I've downloaded and burned Kasperky bootable AV rescue disk. found my internet and updated virus database and it found no threats. Doing the same with Bitdefender and will post those results.

I'm well out of my element at this point. trying to learn as much as I can get advice with. remaining optimistic it's not hopeless.

Is this BSOD? Is it fatal? Or is it a corrupt damaged MBR?

Thanks anyone and everyone for reading and any thoughtful advice and guidance you have to offer!!!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You've got a Samsung laptop that uses a Samsung hard drive and you have a Samsung "System Recovery" disc that was shipped with that Samsung laptop.

I assume you'd like to use that Samsung recovery disc to restore to that Samsung drive. Yes or no?

What specifically happens if you try?

Or are you instead more interested in trying to recover some type of personal data that is now on the hard drive?

I'm unclear why you are attempting to use another hard drive "Seagate Vista".

 

[vid4763]

@ ignatzatsonic

I apologize for the confusion (I totally understand and was afraid of that happening).

I registered on the Vista Forum for help with the Seagate (Vista OS) for help with that HDD. I will keep only posts re Samsung HDD (Windows 7) to this Forum.

To answer your question, I just re inserted the Samsung HM641JI HDD into the laptop. As I just discovered the Samsung Windows 7 Recovery disk last night (the one my son said didn't exist). As I post this I am for the 1st time attempting whatever the rescue disk may be able to do. time permitting, I will also try the Kaspersky bootable AV disk to see if it can test for infection. I will post back with any findings. Thanks for inquiring!

 

[vid4763]

UPDATE

I was unable to get anywhere with the Samsung Recovery Media disk.

I was able to get to a screen where it looked like I had the option to reinstall Windows 7 (not really sure if that's what it was) or try to repair. I chose to repair and it hung for some time. So I rebooted, checked the F2 (CMOS or BIOS ? ) for the boot order. It had been set, I presume, by my son when trying to fix with Samsung. So all this time it'd had been trying to boot from the dvd drive anyway. I changed order to #1 HDD, #2 DVD. I got to the Windows is starting screen (black with the colored windows logo animation) it did so for about a minute and I saw a BLUE SCREEN flash quickly then it rebooted. BSOD???

I decided to run the Seatools for DOS in the hope it would recognize the Samsung drive and diagnostic test it for errors. It FAILED the short test. SeaTools suggested the long test might repair it. It FAILED the long test and suggested contacting manufacturer for replacement. I've attached screen shots of test results.

Are my conclusions then correct? The Samsung drive is D.O.A.?? unrepairable and unusable??