USB Ports Not Working When Trying To Recover On Notebook

Now, when it boots, it goes from the "Samsung" splashscreen to a BSOD and goes no further!!! I have tried restarting then SHIFT+F10 which does bring me to the start-up BIOS. But nothing seems to resolve the new boot issue. Seems the HDD is shot. Only final solution I can come to at this point. So, if this is the case, and I wanted to replace the HDD, how? I know a new HDD doesn't come with W8 pre-installed so I guess I would have to buy it? Is it worth it to buy a new HDD and W8 install disk?

 

Rather than buying Windows you should see if there are restore disks available from mfgr website because they are usually around $20 + postage vs Windows $100 for oem version. If it is only a year old it is well worth fixing for $100.

 

I did just that Rich!! Samsung is sending me a recover/Restore disk at NO CHARGE!! Now, how do I go about finding a replacement HDD for this laptop? I can do ANYTHING with a desktop but laptops are so tiny and haven't worked on them much. Thanks

 

Any drive will do you probably need the frame off the existing hard drive to be applied to the new one so it will work in the laptop.

 

I'm back folks. It took 4 months to get a restore disk from Samsung for the laptop. First, they said it was out of stock then they mailed it to my old address 3 times. I have set the boot sequence to boot from the disk and when it loads, it starts with "Loading Files" then goes to the "Starting Windows" screen. The problem is it hangs there! Been sitting on that screen for 45 minutes. Should I wait, consider the HDD is shot or take another approach? Thanks for the continued help folks!!

 

OK, so get THIS. 4 months ago was when I originally ordered the restore disk for Windows 8. Samsung said I would get it witin 7 business days. After waiting 30 days, I chatted with them and they said the disk was out of stock. When they finally mailed it to me (1 month later), they sent it to the wrong address (even though I verified it). When I didn't get the disk after 2 weeks of them sending it, They said it was sent to the wrong address AGAIN!!! They sent in a request for the Windows 8 restore disk again and I did get a disk....The WRONG disk!! I was supposed to get a Windows 8 restore disk and they sent me a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 disk. They are resending (supposidly) the Windows 8 restore disk. I guess this explains why the disk they sent is hanging on the "Starting Windows" screen unless like I feel, the HDD is failed. Sorry...had to vent!!!

 

A dismantling video here might be of some use for extracting the original hard drive to replace it Tim.

 

Thanks Nev but I got the back panel open already because I wanted to check the SATA connects and in the event I do need to install a new HDD. I just want to wait till the RIGHT restore disk arrives to see if I can recover the installed HDD. My friend doesn't have a lot of money to work with and she uses the notebook with Skype to stay in touch with her family so I am beating every bush (trying to restore) before I have to tell her we need a new HDD for the notebook. Thanks for the vid

 

OK Tim, here is a small suggestion, take the hard drive out, you may have to buy a hard drive to USB adapter and keep it for your own use later, then connect the hard drive to a known to be working computer. You can then use that computer to run quite a few checks on that hard drive, including copying the data if that needs to be saved. The checks we can recommend will tell you if the hard drive is OK or not. Let us know if you want to try that, Rich or Cindy will tell you where to get the different hard drive checking downloads if I am not available.

Nev.

 

OMG...Nev that is an AWESOME idea!! That may also allow me to save some of the pics my friend has saved on the old HDD if I can access it the way your saying! Now keeping in mind the HDD is a SATA, what kind of cable do I need? Where can I find it? This is getting better Even if I can't save the old HDD, maybe the way your going, I can at least save the JPG's she has on it!!! Your the best ...FEED ME.........

 

This is what you need:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-...2630050&sr=8-1&keywords=sata+to+usb+converter

 

Rich beat me to it Tim, that is exactly all you need, and surprisingly enough if there is a well stocked computer or general electronics shop in your locality, they probably will have one or similar in stock, though might cost a little more than Amazon, but saves waiting for a delivery.

Once connected, and providing the drive is working enough to be read, it is no different than reading the contents of a flash drive.

Once you have copied the required data over, you can then run a few checks on it. If you can let us know who made the hard drive, I suspect it may be either a Samsung or a Seagate, (Seagate actually are the makers of some Samsung drives) we can tell you which hard drive checking program to download.

Nev.

 

OK, after 4 months of screw ups on Samsungs part, I FINALLY got the W8 restore disk. Now, before installing a new HDD, I wanted to see if the notebook would respond to the restore disk. I set the boot sequence to "Boot from CD/DVD" as first option then to go to HDD as second. When I reboot with the restore disk in, I get the "Press any key to boot from disk" so I do. Now, it is hanging on the Samsung splash screen and eventually shuts down. It has even gotten into a reboot loop a few times. It does not go past the splash screen so now I'm thinking there may be another issue besides a corrupt HDD. Your thoughts.......

 

Most system software refuses to install to a corrupted hard drive.

 

So you think it is the HDD and I should just install a new one Rich?

 

Yes I do.

 

One final question Rich...At this point do you think it would be useless to order the SATA cable you posted above? Since the old HDD is reacting this way, I think it would be impossible to remove any files from the old HDD. Thanks for your insight Rich

 

Those are not expensive and are worth having, however they don't always work. What I would do if you cannot hook this up to a desktop and see if Windows sees it, is use a Linux Live-cd with an external usb flash drive or portable hard drive and if you can see it copy out whatever you need to save out of the old drive.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/