Replacing Hard Drive

I recently dropped my laptop on floor and noticed it won't boot back up. It tries to "repair" the problem but can't do it. I suspect the hard drive failed since I read they are usually the first thing to go when that happens. I ordered the exact replacement hard drive. My question is what do I do after I put the new one in? Its a Lonovo Thinkpad L412. I got it refurbished so it didn't come with any CDs. It had Windows 10 OS

 

I take that you do not have an image of your HDD or boot partition?

If you are sure that it is the HDD that is toast, your options are:

1. Try ebay perhaps a seller has re-install disc(s) for your model
2. Search Lenovo site to see if re-install disc(s) are available for you model
3. Post on the Levono forum asking whether such discs exist, unless a user on this forum who has a Levono has any
ideas
4. Remove the HDD from your laptop, boot with a Linux Live distro and see if it can detect the drive (either internally or via usb) so that you can make an image

Don't think I have missed any alternatives

Failing all of the above then most likely you will have to re-install the o/s ie getting a win10 DVD and re-installing manually......

In your shoes, I maybe tempted to confirm that the HDD is faulty and would suggest as a first option that you remove the HDD from the Levono and connect it to a working pc or laptop via USB to see if it is detected or doing option 4 above

EDIT: you could also try to clone the exiting HDD to the new one using Clonezilla.....may work

Regrettably, not an enviable situation for you

Good Luck

 

When you say connect it to another working computer via USB to see If it detects it , do I have to have a special cable to do that or just any USB cable would work? I had it out once and it looks like a pretty big connector. Also could I hook it into my android smart phone? Sorry if I sound so uninformed I don't know much about the inside workings of computers.

 

You need to connect the HDD with an IDE/SATA to USB cable to another PC.

 

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Drive-Adapter-Converter-Support/dp/B00MYU0EAU

or similar

A powered one is best for HDD ie not SSD

 

OK I put new hard drive in and got a lenovo repair disc compatible with windows 10. It came with an instruction sheet with two options. Option 1- password reset tool instructions, option 2- how do I fix blue screen?
Does this sound right? Something tells me I got the wrong CD.

 

Think so too. The Levono re-install disc for your laptop should just install Windows, so when you install disc it will run through the installation process. If you have never done this before just search online and you will see tons of articles with photos of what is supposed to happen.



The thing about getting a Levono disc for re-installing the o/s as opposed to a normal Windows CD is that the Levono one would / may have specific drivers for hardware in your laptop that the Windows DVD may not which would save some time in finding and installing some hw drivers.

 

Repair installs rarely work from within an internal drive OS.......I would have tried booting to another media to repair the install firstly, before classifying your HDD as dead.

For Win10 installs or repairs on the tech desk we use the Windows Media Creation tool to make a bootable USB stick of the latest windows 10 updated version.
You can boot to this USB and either clean install Win10, or correctly repair a current install.

If your scared of Win 10 because you read all about the doomsayers (lol), you can do the same with Win7 here!
Download the image (ISO), then create your USB bootable media.

A fresh 10 install will prompt for a network connection around half-way, and will smart scan your whole hardware itinerary making available the latest hardware drivers for any machine.......its quite a smart OS and doesn't live in the past like some users.

CD/DVD media went out of fashion in the 90's with plaid flannel shirts,
stonewashed jeans, Doc Martens, combat boots, and high top sneakers.!

 

It allows anyone to download plodr, the secret is you can install the OS without a key by selecting "I dont have a key" when you arrive at the prompt during install.

Once the system is installed naturally it is not activated, but we have 100% success in adding a genuine key post install from control panel > system > change product key

 

Im referring to the media creation tool link ofcourse......for windows 10.

I haven't tried entering a genuine key for the Win7 link I supplied yet, but i might test that out on my older genuine keys.
(thats if they have not rusted away..lol)

Will report back.

 

OEM's for Win7 give the error your right plodr, I didnt know this but then again, I dont need 7.
Thanks for the info and the link!

I tried a few keys that I found among some old VHS tapes of Jurassic Park.....

https://i.ibb.co/pz7bBds/2019-05-18.png

 

So I think what I need to do now is buy a Windows install CD if I read all this right? When I turn on laptop it says operating system not detected. Anybody know the cheapest way to buy one?

 

Fleebay.....

Preferably buy an original Windows disc not one that has been burned by the seller

Also 32bit or 64bit

 

Before paying, I would try the download tool suggested by plodr in post #9, and get it from the MS site in order to make a bootable USB.
If it works your up and away.....and save a few $$

 

Good information in here. Thanks for all the help from everyone!

 

https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/migr-73415
Seems your system was upgraded to W10
If you follow plodr and download that tool, and create the iso, put on usb.
It is possible that your laptop will be remembered on the servers, and be automatically activated on-line, sving you buying another key-Try it-costs nothing that way.

 

I installed WIN 10 and it is running great now!

 

Upgrades often had a few problems, - A fresh install can solve most.
I assume you downloaded and installed as suggested, and that it automatically activated on-line ??