Verified answer

If your system boots up while pressing the power button and the drive fails to load the operating system; then it is clearly a software issue, in which case you can use a Windows installation disc and try to repair the operating system.

However, if the system powers up and it fails to detect the hard drive, you will need to go to the BIOS and check to see if that is the case by pressing F2 or DEL to get into the menu system. If it can't detect anything; then the drive itself is gone.

In which case there are two things you can do; use a Phillips Head Screw driver and flip the notebook upside down and unscrew the hard drive plate that covers the drive and after you have carefully removed the screws. Unplug the connections connected to the drive.

You can go to a computer swap meet or your local computer shop and buy a 2.5" external drive caddie which should either come with a USB cable and/or with a power adapter in which case you can plug the drive into it and go to any computer system to determine whether or not the computer system can detect the drive.

Alternatively, a USB docking port can essentially do the same thing, it just means it is faster and less of a hassle.

Since the 2.5" hard drive will normally use a SATA connection and a SATA power cable; you can also plug it into a desktop PC and try to boot with the system as a secondary hard drive.

If the computer system can not detect the drive which ever method you've chosen; then you will know first hand that the drive itself is gone. And since the system is refurbished, you are going to have to go get another hard drive of a similar type or better and thus having to reinstall the operating system and your subsequent applications.

Compaq Presario Cq56

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RE:

How do you fix hard disk failure on a Compaq Presario CQ56?

I got a refurbished Compaq Presario CQ56 in August for college, and now, all of a sudden, it won't start up and HP thinks it's the hard drive, but wants $57 just for them to make sure of that. Everyone I have talked to says they think it's the same thing, but can't tell me anything...

Compaq Cq56

Back up all your files as soon as possible. Your computer should have come with a back up or recovery disc which can reset your computer back to factory state which can sometimes correct what ever caused the problem. All of your files and programs that did not come installed with the computer will be deleted though that is why you ned to have a copy saved elsewhere. I have a compaq pesario also but I use Windows Vista. I got the blue screen of death once but once I recovered back to factory state it worked fine. Other than that you might just have to get a new hard drive. I have had my computer since 05/08 and that was really the only problem I have had.

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hmm I have a compaq desktop SR5510 and it does the same thing. been pressing F2 for months. HP utility says it fine. it is fine. SO...don't immediately think it is what it is. If people asked you if you were getting disk errors and such...well that is different. After finally calling Circuit City yesterday, they first want me to run a restore (stupid)...I am just starting to look into this and googling. I am starting to see a problem with the bios and SATA drives in some of the searches. You look too. Post if you find anything. I will too.

Mine failed also, it has a mk2565gsx hdd2h84 f vl01 b toshiba hard drive,

I found a hard drive on ebay thats a

MK2565GSX, A0/GJ002C, HDD2H84 F VL01 B, Toshiba 250GB SATA 2.5 Hard Drive

How can I tell if this one will work ?

there is an main internal fan that is probably too dirty, causing the CQ55 from functioning. I had the same problem and they said the fan can b cleaned with a solution of dawn and water. It sounds crazy but mine worked i just put it in the sink for a day and its working just fine now!

I do computer repair and about the only way is to replace the hard drive.

I just replaced one here in a laptop.

como estoy apasionada del mundo de los ordenadores me gusta hacer mi propia configuración de ordenador, como todos las otras componentes los he comprado de sitios web y han sido excelentes, el hard disk también lo compre aquí, el hard disk es exactamente como esperaba, muy buena compra.