In reply to a post by jchamier:

"Boot device not found" from the BIOS/UEFI screens isn't going to be fixed by reinstalling an operating system. This is possible SSD failure, and where if it does boot, checking for HP's own update tool and running it could install new SSD firmware.

If its been dropped onto a hard floor it may have worked loose a connector, its probably not an M.2 unit, as its Win10 and ~5 years old, its likely SATA, maybe in a 2.5" chassis, and something has moved by 2 mm.

A repair shop, or cafe is a good idea.

I sorted out a HP a few years ago that said boot device not found, turned out to be Windows. It seems the computer know the drive is there because it does the tests and pass. Very strange because if the drive is faulty, as it seems to be by clicking, then it should not pass the extensive test.

I agree with your advice about a repair cafe.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

I sorted out a HP a few years ago that said boot device not found, turned out to be Windows. It seems the computer know the drive is there because it does the tests and pass. Very strange because if the drive is faulty, as it seems to be by clicking, then it should not pass the extensive test.

The "boot device not found" message is created by the BIOS/UEFI and probably issued when it can't recognise a suitable boot image. Sometimes a battery going flat may have changed SETUP settings so that what is on the disk is no longer recognised.

In large company deployments (think 500+ PCs or laptops) we tend to rely on the BIOS as it comes from the manufacturer factory so that if battery goes flat we don't lose settings. Generally works ok.

HP's consumer PC are often quite different to their enterprise.

I agree with your advice about a repair cafe.

They are brilliant where you have one.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

The "boot device not found" message is created by the BIOS/UEFI and probably issued when it can't recognise a suitable boot image. Sometimes a battery going flat may have changed SETUP settings so that what is on the disk is no longer recognised.

So as I said, could be a Windows issue, but if the drive is clicking then that normally means the drive has a fault. If so then how did it pass a test?

HP, say nothing more

In large company deployments (think 500+ PCs or laptops) we tend to rely on the BIOS as it comes from the manufacturer factory so that if battery goes flat we don't lose settings. Generally works ok.

HP's consumer PC are often quite different to their enterprise.

Which one is worse?
over the years I have worked a fair bit on HP machines, hate them, almost as bad as Packard Bell

They are brilliant where you have one.

I sometimes see something about repair cafes here, but I have no idea where they are.

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

I sometimes see something about repair cafes here, but I have no idea where they are.

Quick Google brought this up:

https://repaircafeherefordcity.org.uk/

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

So as I said, could be a Windows issue, but if the drive is clicking then that normally means the drive has a fault. If so then how did it pass a test?

the BIOS tests are usually just checking the SMART flags. A clicking drive may be retrying a damaged sector that might be mappable around using something like SpinRite.

Which one is worse?
over the years I have worked a fair bit on HP machines, hate them, almost as bad as Packard Bell

Packard Bell was a consumer brand of NEC, sold in Dixons then PCWorld.
HP consumer product is not a patch on their enterprise range. Generally made of inferior components and some really poor design choices. I would usually suggest Dell if looking at entry level home user price, or even look at Microsoft Surface Laptops second hand at CEX, as they get all the updates from, er, Microsoft directly.

It's clicking in the way it always has when it starts to boot. Maybe it's always been dodgy, who knows?

But that click is familiar to me as an indication it's about to boot. It's never previously been a sign of trouble,

The difference now is it clicks, but then doesn't boot - i.e. I can hear it trying, but then something goes wrong.

It tries a couple more times (more clicks!) but then displays the error message.

Three is the important bit here. That’s how many times the controller tries to access a sector before giving up and reporting an error.

Yep, it's definitely not just a random weird noise. I can tell it's trying.

What model of HP laptop is it? Shouldn’t be too hard to get to the drive in any event.

I’d opt to take the drive out of the machine and then reconnect it (be worth re-seating both ends of any drive cabling as appropriate) before I ordered any SSD replacement.

At least then you’ll check off if it was just a dodgy connection and also confirm drive type/size/interface type should you decide you want to replace it, if indeed faulty.

A lightly used machine shouldn’t have a drive worn out in this sort of age machine. A machine used for hours each and every day with lots of power on/off cycles is a different matter though….saying that I’d put an SSD in there anyway.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

the BIOS tests are usually just checking the SMART flags. A clicking drive may be retrying a damaged sector that might be mappable around using something like SpinRite.

Spinrite, WOW, that takes me back. Gibson Research, used to use their leak test software.

Packard Bell was a consumer brand of NEC, sold in Dixons then PCWorld.

Yes I know it was a NEC brand. I have been sorting out some things and I found some Packard Bell branded blank DVDs, LOL.
I remember their machines, sadly.

HP consumer product is not a patch on their enterprise range. Generally made of inferior components and some really poor design choices. I would usually suggest Dell if looking at entry level home user price, or even look at Microsoft Surface Laptops second hand at CEX, as they get all the updates from, er, Microsoft directly.

My next door neighbour had a HP machine, years ago, I think she still has it, anyway, It was when her hubby lived there, that I had to open it up to install memory, apart from a load of dust and rubbish from smoking being in the vents, it was a pain in the neck to work on. It was a tower, not a laptop.