Hardrive not readable

agarerikj · Sep 16, 2018

The HDD on my hp ProBook is not working properly. I managed to install ubuntu using a flash drive. In the setup it managed to find the drive and install the OS. However, I get a few errors. The laptop does not recognise the drive when I try to boot. And the built-in diagnostics shows a "hard drive read error".

I also have problems getting Disc manager and EaseUS Partition manager to recognise the HDD

I ran parted magic and completely wiped the entire drive. I still get the same errors...
What should I do?

jojesa · Sep 16, 2018

If you have not done so, go to the BIOS and disable both, Fast Boot and Secure Boot.
Secure Boot won't allow another OS besides Windows on your system.
If it does not boot, you might need to install Ubuntu again.

agarerikj · Sep 16, 2018

I can't find the Secure Boot in my BIOS. However, i checked that the fast boot was disabled and also turned on UEFI mode.

I still have the same problem though:/
I use the HP ProBook 6560b, and it uses a different BIOS compared to what i am used to.

jojesa · Sep 16, 2018

In the BIOS, did you see Legacy Support?
If you do, enable it and press the F10 to accept the changes.
You could post a picture of the BIOS.

agarerikj · Sep 16, 2018

I only found Legacy Support for USB.

I will provide you with some more pictures
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hy2did240o0k8em/AABAeGb6BdC9BmNvVeFSEJAca?dl=0

jojesa · Sep 16, 2018

On the first image there are entries that I cannot see.
I think there should be Notebook Hard Drive under Legacy Boot Order, that should be selected.
By the way you should uncheck:
Floppy Boot
PXE Internal NIC Boot
Upgrade Bay Hard Drive Boot

agarerikj · Sep 17, 2018

I still get this error
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ud0zte9lmxqfr4i/20180916_205153.jpg?dl=0

After checking these settings.
https://i.imgur.com/ulKGX0r.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oXnnXo8.jpg

jojesa · Sep 17, 2018

After selecting Hard Drive under Legacy, you might need to re-install ubuntu.

agarerikj · Sep 18, 2018

I have reinstalled Ubuntu. Howewer, it still get error 3F0

Peter Martin · Sep 18, 2018

so, the hdd is probably bad is my guess. for 89 bucks you can drop in a sizzling SSD, your pc will feel new again

agarerikj · Sep 18, 2018

I have tested both the HDD and the SATA port. Both are working fine. I am using the laptop as a ubuntu server, thats why i do not bother investing in an SSD.

Peter Martin · Sep 18, 2018

it's working fine, but it won't boot... i see. that makes zero sense. so i have to as how you tested it and determined it's "fine"?

agarerikj · Sep 18, 2018

Sure, to find out that the HDD worked, i booted it up from a different computer i knew was working. Then to find out if the Sata port was faulty, i put in a working HDD with Windows 10 on it (in the laptop), and it worked just fine.

There is something in the BIOS that does not let me boot into a different OS than Windows. But i can't figure it out.

jojesa · Sep 18, 2018

Which BIOS version do you have?
I do hope HP did not enable secure boot or some type or hidden block to prevent users from installing another OS.
Lenovo pulled that in several systems.

agarerikj · Sep 18, 2018

I got the laptop from my school, they were going to dump it anyway.

I fully wiped the drive (as described above) to remove all MDM, domain and school configuration stuff.
And even though i have reset the BIOS to default, i am still unable to boot up ubuntu.

If you want to get a better understanding of what i am working with. Check the picture below:
https://gyazo.com/998638acb4ad22cb888bc4695d11e409

jojesa · Sep 18, 2018

Try updating the BIOS, since that BIOS is very old.
You could updated it using a USB drive.
I have installed linux distributions on HP ProBooks (not on that specific model) without any issues, they even offer drivers for linux.

agarerikj · Sep 18, 2018

When i download i get an exe setup file. I even installed it on my PC by mistake:b

Could you provide me with the correct download link for the BIOS?

jojesa · Sep 18, 2018

- When you run the exe file, you will have the option: Create Recovery USB flash drive. You could use that USB to update the BIOS
- Also you could unzip the file, place it on a flash drive and plug it to the laptop. Power on the laptop and press F2,
you will see a System diagnostics mode, select the option to update the bios from a file. Also, pressing the Esc key repeatedly after powering on, will take you to the Startup Menu and pressing the F2 will take you to the System diagnostics.

agarerikj · Sep 19, 2018

I have updated many BIOSes manually in the past. But this one is a nightmare. The .exe file i download from the support file, installs 3 different folders under C:/ named sp52405, sp52405_F, sp52405_E

Then I have tried to run the HPQFlash utility that BTW does not support Windows 10. Then i tried hpqflash and got many "device media is write protected" after wiping the USB in EaseUS Partition manager and making the tickling a little with Rofus DOS-Free. The Rofus DOS-Free worked fine and booted up correctly, but i still get the "device media is write protected" error using sp52405_F.exe. However, sp52405_E.exe works just fine for some reason, but does make the Laptop boot from it and I am stuck with "Invalid System Disk" on the boot.

The way the current BIOS is even more confusing. It tells me to create a Hewlett-Packard folder then a BIOS folder and inside the BIOS folder I am supposed to put in the .efi and .sig file and probably some more.

All this is just a big mess. And I cannot figure out what i am supposed to do.

If you want to take a look at the specific setup I am using, you can download the .exe file below:
https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp52001-52500/sp52405.exe

jojesa · Sep 19, 2018

The HPQFlash utility has to be run on the system to be flashed, so it will not work in another system.
I was able to create a bootable USB with both sp52405_E.exe and sp52405_E.exe files.
You could also boot the laptop and in the BIOS uncheck USB device boot. the connect the USB flash drive and press F2 to update using the System diagnostics mode.

agarerikj · Sep 20, 2018

Did you use the sp52405_E.exe to install the boot files on the Laptop. If that's the case, the laptop gives me an "Invalid System Disk" boot error.

jojesa · Sep 20, 2018

I used both files (sp52405_E.exe/sp52405_F.exe) to create a bootable USB.
You could also place the BIOS file in a FAT32 USB disk, and use the System diagnostics mode to update the BIOS, without booting from the USB disk.
The BIOS files are inside the 68SCE and 68SCF in the sp52405 package. Just extract either 68SCE and 68SCF and you will see the BIOS update file named Rom.bin.

agarerikj · Sep 21, 2018

Thanks, I managed to find the BIOS file and put it on the drive.

When I go to the system diagnostics I get these 4 options:
1. System-Information
2. Start-Up Test
3. Run-In Test
4. Hard-Drive Test

How do I proceed

jojesa · Sep 21, 2018

There should be more choices, when the BIOS file is scanned. It looks like the USB disk is not detected.
Remove the USB disk, and press the F2 key to return to the same system diagnostics menu (make sure the power cord is connected).
Now, insert the USB flash drive that contains the BIOS file into an USB port.
Do you see a Firmware Management or BIOS Management window?

If you don't see the windows, enter the BIOS and reset it to default settings and try again.

agarerikj · Sep 21, 2018

I still do not see any Firmware Management or BIOS Management in the system diagnostics. I reset the BIOS and did what you said.

This is my Kingston G3 64GB:
https://gyazo.com/32e6e7e82aff4f145735c7dc21843bba

And this is my system diagnostics (after reseting BIOS)
https://gyazo.com/408dc09ab95026a59badfa234bb847b0

It does read the USB drive tough:
https://gyazo.com/19d6ac622342fbf77538dc414fa6bc97

Is there away around this?

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