Laptop suffered a fall. Won't start now.

virhlpool on 05/11/2016 - 09:06
Last edited 05/11/2016 - 09:19 by 1 other user

Hi, I had purchased an Acer laptop in this amazing deal and upgraded its RAM to 8GB. I was very happy using it. Unfortunately, it fell down from bed yesterday and now it won't come out of 'preparing to auto-repair' or 'Repairing disk errors. This might take over an hour to complete' loops.

What are the options to get it repaired and what cost should I anticipate?

Looks like hard drive has been affected though I am no expert. If I have to sell it, will it sell in current condition and how much should I expect?

Thanks for your opinions!

Computing

Comments

  • niner on 05/11/2016 - 09:15
    +2

    Don't get a $214 repaired.

  • oscargamer on 05/11/2016 - 09:42
    +2

    OP - as you said, i think your HDD has suffered

    i would…

    …open it up and disconnect and reconnect the HDD and see if that changes anything - while you are there, disconnect everything you can and reconnect - something has become damaged or moved during the drop
    …borrow another HDD and see if the bootup changes with the new HDD
    …sell it for $30

    • virhlpool on 05/11/2016 - 10:48

      Highly appreciate the advice.

  • holdenmg on 05/11/2016 - 09:50
    +1

    Currently HN offers: $397
    http://www.harveynorman.com.au/computers-tablets/computers/l…

    It would cost even less if you go with the AmexConnect:
    https://network.americanexpress.com/connect/au/en/secure/doe…
    Spend $300 or more, get $100 back, and any other ACER Australia Cashback you can find…

    Maybe the RAM from the old ACER can be saved and put into service in a new one?

    Either that or sell the old one for what you can get or put a cheap SSD in yours and keep it if you are sure the only thing wrong is the Hard Drive.

    • virhlpool on 06/11/2016 - 04:09

      Awesome. Yes, I can use use 8GB RAM which I already have in my faulty laptop in this one (either additional or replacing the 4GB RAM which is included)? Never replaced a RAM in ASUS laptops. Should it be easy?

      and any other ACER Australia Cashback you can find…

      The one you shared above is ASUS though.

    • virhlpool on 07/11/2016 - 00:33

      Came across this one just now: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/273398

      Looks like a great/ better deal. What do you think?

      • chinezejew on 08/11/2016 - 23:11

        Did u buy?

        • virhlpool on 08/11/2016 - 23:50

          Yes. :). Just a few hours before deal ended.

        • chinezejew on 09/11/2016 - 00:02

          @virhlpool:

          Cheap.
          You pay for what you get though.

          Now u can learn to reformat the laptop.

        • virhlpool on 09/11/2016 - 00:10

          @chinezejew: How do I retrieve Windows 10 of previous laptop which won't re-start? Is there any way I can get it back before I have to get rid of the laptop? I don't think there was a CD or any code that came along with it for Windows.

        • chinezejew on 09/11/2016 - 01:05

          @virhlpool:

          U r a noob i understand.

          Take a step back. Rethink.

          1. Ask youtube/ google these questions first

          But let me giv u a tad of direction.

          You do not need a serial key. Windows recognize win10 was previously installed on your system.
          You just need an install disk/ usb.

          Now… go find a working computer.
          Download win10 and make an install disk/usb yourself.

          You do not need to get rid of the laptop.

          You need to determine if the hdd is damaged or not. Remove the hdd from laptop; and test it on another computer through an external enclosure.
          http://www.msy.com.au/132-25-hdd-enclosure

          If it loads up data… backup the important stuff… put it back into the laptop. And install windows fresh from a usb/ dvd drive.

          1. Google search windows10 download link.
        • virhlpool on 09/11/2016 - 01:08

          @chinezejew:

          Thanks.

          You need to determine if the hdd is damaged or not.

          If damaged, I need to go for what type of HDD if I purchase new? Any particular type?

        • chinezejew on 09/11/2016 - 06:48
          +1

          @virhlpool:
          The cheapest 2.5inch ssd you can find is an upgrade.
          Or 2.5inch hdd

  • mskeggs on 05/11/2016 - 10:21

    Almost certainly there is nothing wrong with the hardware.
    I think this had an SSD?
    If yes, most likely the cable is a tiny bit loose, or it lost contact in the middle of activity for a moment when you dropped it.
    If it is a hdd, and the laptop was turned on, it may have damage to the disk surface.
    The worst case is you buy a new drive ($60 for a 120gb ssd would be a suggestion) and restore your backup onto it.
    Or if you let it do its disk repair loop a few more times it might end up with success.
    It may be the drive head is a tiny fraction misaligned so it is not reliably read/writing.
    In any case, this is all easily and cheaply fixed in an afternoon.

    • virhlpool on 05/11/2016 - 10:49
      +1

      I think this had an SSD?

      It has HDD. It was idle when it was dropped - not sure if it was off or hibernated though. Kept on disk repair loop for 24 hrs with no luck. :(

    • dlf73 on 05/11/2016 - 13:08

      Almost certainly there is nothing wrong with the hardware.

      The fact that the laptop was dropped and now has drive errors almost certainly indicates a hardware fault…….
      Almost every HDD in laptops are screwed in place so movement even from a drop is very limited.

      it may have damage to the disk surface.

      Is this not a hardware fault?

      • mskeggs on 05/11/2016 - 20:01

        Is this not a hardware fault?

        Yes, sorry. I meant no hardware fault that would require the laptop to be decommissioned. A replacement disk is almost a consumable if you use a laptop long enough.

        • dlf73 on 06/11/2016 - 12:15

          Thats cool. Yes, absolutely no need to toss laptop before some further tests done.

  • DarkOz on 05/11/2016 - 10:34
    -2

    Buy another $300 laptop and upgrade the RAM again with your existing RAM. Drop it off your bed again. It'll probably cost you more to have it inspected even before repair.

    • virhlpool on 05/11/2016 - 10:48

      On the way to do it mate, to keep you happy.

      • chinezejew on 05/11/2016 - 10:52

        Reformat it.

        Download win10 and install fresh.

        Pull ssd or hdd out and use a 2.5inch bay… u maybe able to obtain data off it as external usb.

        Then do the reformat

        • virhlpool on 06/11/2016 - 04:20

          Doesn't let me go beyond those loops I mentioned in my post above, so I can't reformat it at first place. What's 2.5 inch bay?

        • chinezejew on 06/11/2016 - 07:57

          @virhlpool:

          U are confusing yourself.
          Bios should be before windows.

  • dlf73 on 05/11/2016 - 13:03
    +1

    As suggested reseat HDD. My view is not connection issue but rule this out.
    Run repair again. If fails you can look at other software to repair such as easus, eassos or spinrite. If you try these and still fails I think time for new HDD and restore from backup(if you have one).
    Also think about removing HDD and plug into another machine using a dock to see if you can copy any important data first. At least this way you may get it and when trying to do repairs if drive becomes worse then you at least have saved your data(if no backup that is!).

    • virhlpool on 06/11/2016 - 04:22

      How do I even download/run those softwares when I am unable to go beyond those loops mentioned in my post? Any suggestion?

      • chinezejew on 06/11/2016 - 07:55

        Can u enter Bios?
        Boot from CD.
        http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/operating-systems/14…

        Take out the Ssd and test it in an external bay.
        http://www.msy.com.au/132-25-hdd-enclosure

      • chinezejew on 06/11/2016 - 07:57

        Can u enter Bios??

      • dlf73 on 06/11/2016 - 12:17

        Companies mentioned provide programs that allow you to run from a bootable CD/USB. They give you instructions(last time I looked a while ago) on how to do this.
        You download them and create bootable media from another computer.
        As suggested, first things first, remove HDD and put into a cradle to verify you can access drive OK, which may or may not give a good idea where the issue lies…….
        :)

  • scrimshaw on 05/11/2016 - 19:47

    Have you run the windows' built in disk diagnostics tool (or SeaTools from Seagate website) and did it come up with any errors? Any bad sectors that appear will indicate a bad platter. Which is not good.

    A dropped HDD is pretty much condemned and will have no monetary value, second hand (unless you manage to convince some unsavvy guy to buy it, in which case you are a smooth criminal).. even though it might work it's lifespan will be completely unpredictable. Continued usage of a partially damaged drive also further worsens the damage in some cases.

    • virhlpool on 06/11/2016 - 04:23

      Laptop doesn't start and gets into those loops over and over. How do I run built in disk diagnostics tool?

      • scrimshaw on 06/11/2016 - 11:10
        +1

        you would needed to have a windows repair or recovery DVD, or usb recovery drive. If you are going to use another disk diagnostics program, like SeaTools, you would also need to create a bootable disc or USB stick.

        Are you using a windows computer now? Try this. Press the start button or ask Cortana
        "Create a recovery drive" and then hit enter.

        but I wouldn't waste your time doing that. I'm pretty sure your hdd is stuffed up anyway even without diagnostics. Take it out of your laptop and stick it into a usb enclosure, and try to recover your data from it using GetDataBack, by plugging the hard drive into another pc running windows.

        • virhlpool on 06/11/2016 - 11:19

          I am a naive at this stuff. A couple of questions: What do you mean by sticking HDD into USB enclosure?

        • veej on 06/11/2016 - 12:22
          +1

          @virhlpool:

          Buy something like this and put your old hard drive in it. You plug it into another computer and if the hard drive isn't toally messed up you can try and get your data back.

          https://www.zapals.com/orico-2189u3-usb-3-0-to-sata-3-0-hard…

          (don't buy this one if you are in a hurry, they take a while to be sent from overseas)

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