Dropped computer, got disc error

Fluffy89

New Member
I managed to drop my computer from about 1 meter height, which didn't look like a very bad crash at all at first, but when I tried to boot it up I got this error:

Non-system disk or disk error
Replace and strike any key when ready

(When I strike any key, it just continues to re-appears)

This is my computer: HP Compaq NW8440

What can have happened, and how can I fix it?
 
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make sure there are not any disks in the drives cd/floppy
and if you have the windows disk maybe try and do a fix find out more before you take that second step
 
check all connections in the laptop, chances are your hdd is buggered.
get your story straight before you claim on warranty 'YOU DIDNT DROP IT, IT JUST FAILED ON YOU'
remember that and you'll be fine
 
if you cand find another laptop harddrive try that and if it dosent see if you can get waranty
 
I think when you dropped it you've damaged the hardrive, it isn't hard as it's a moving disc with an arm that runs over it, much like a bigger floppy disc.

I think it's had it, see if you can a different hard drive, I bet you don't have the same problem...
 
Yeah, it's rather difficult to dislodge a laptop hard drive. They are suppose to take quite hard hits, but it does sound like it may be damaged. If the computer was running, as dragon mentioned, it's almost certainly damaged.

Try opening the laptop up and checking everything is seated proproly. Again, I doubt this is a problem, but hopefully the drive just got knocked out of place.
 
And I assume that if the harddrive was damaged, the data will be lost forever?

(The computer was not on when it hit the ground, by the way)
 
out of interest, was it turned on when you dropped it?
Curiosity noted but for 1m fall, it wont matter, thats in excess of 300gs

Yeah, it's rather difficult to dislodge a laptop hard drive
I dont think it would be an issue of dislodging but rather shock-impact damage.
 
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