I ran a test on my laptop using UBCD, as Windows 10 was stuck on the 'Automatic Repair Tool' and it confirmed that the HDD was infact dead.
I have a few concerns about buying a new HDD, incase it doesn't work:
I ran a RAM test too, and there isn't anything wrong with the 4GB that it has.
It has an older i5 processor (gen 3 I'm pretty sure). Originally Windows 7, upgraded to Windows 10.
I have a few concerns about buying a new HDD, incase it doesn't work:
■ The laptop was able to boot the DOS interface from a USB to run diagnostics, however it couldn't boot something graphical like Hirens - does this mean there is more than just a HDD issue?
■ I can't boot Hirens to retrieve the Windows product key, as the sticker has faded underneath the machine. I don't want to have to pay for Windows unnecessarily.
I ran a RAM test too, and there isn't anything wrong with the 4GB that it has.
It has an older i5 processor (gen 3 I'm pretty sure). Originally Windows 7, upgraded to Windows 10.