Summary: Are you facing HARD DISK 1 (3F1) error issue & don't know why receiving this error code? Then here is the answer of your question, this blog has everything you need to know about HARD DISK 1 (3F1) error and its solutions.
Hard disk error HARD DISK 1 (3F1) is associated with HP laptops and appears when the laptop hard drive that stores the OS gets damaged or corrupt. The HARD DISK 1 (3F1) error can also occur due to damaged operating system files (caused by bad sectors on the hard drive). An HP laptop with affected hard drive displays the following error when you turn it on.
| “Hard Disk Error Please run the Hard Disk Test in System Diagnostics. Hard Disk 1 (3F1) F2 System Diagnostics For more information, please visit: www.hp.com/go/techcenter/startup“ |
In most cases, this problem resides within the hard drive. However, in some cases, the problem can be caused by a malfunctioning hard drive controller but that’s rare. Following are some solutions that you can apply to your system and fix it.
Solution 1. Hard Reset
A hard reset wipes out everything from the computer memory (cache, RAM, etc.) & restores the default functionality thus, re-establishing software connection between the hardware and the BIOS that could probably fix the hard disk error.
To hard reset your HP laptop, follow these instructions:
Check if your system is able to boot completely. If not, proceed to the next step.
Solution 2. BIOS Reset Defaults
To reset BIOS defaults on your HP laptop, follow these instructions:
Your system will reboot. If it still displays the same error, follow the next step.
Solution 3. Use HP PC Hardware Diagnostics
There are 6 different diagnostic tests that are performed either in Quick mode (takes 1-3 minutes) or extensive mode (takes more than 2 hours). To run diagnostics on hard disk, follow these steps:
Alternatively, you can press the F2 key when the error appears on the screen after turning ON your HP laptop. This opens further options for diagnostics. Press F4 to run Hard Disk Tests.
In case you are still stuck with the error, proceed to the next step
NOTE: Diagnostics can fix most problems but it can also damage the hard drive. As the drive is already damaged, running Extensive test can lead to drive failure. Therefore, recover your data before proceeding to any step that involves the exhaustive use of the hard drive. This precaution can help you save your important data before the drive fails. You can skip to step 5 for data recovery and drive repair process.
Solution 4. Reset the Hard drive
If your computer has fallen off or else has got jarred, it’s possible that the connection to hard drive gets loose.
Boot the system and check if it is able to boot successfully. In case it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.
Solution 5. Remove Hard Drive and Test it
If your system is running Windows XP, possibly the SATA drivers are not installed and that’s the reason why your system fails to boot and gets stuck on the error. Therefore, first check and install the SATA driver (refer to user manual of your system).
Alternatively, you can remove the hard drive from the system and test it by connecting to another PC using SATA to USB connector. If your drive is still not recognized, it’s probably damaged or corrupt. Proceed to the next step for recovery and re-installation process.
Solution 6. Use Data Recovery Tool
If none of the above-mentioned solutions work, use a reliable data recovery tool such as Stellar Data Recovery- Standard that facilitates recovery from an inaccessible, corrupt, and formatted hard drive. The ‘Deep Scan’ option allows you to recover all your data and perform raw recovery based on file signatures. All files folders, music, videos, pictures, documents, etc. can be easily recovered with the help of this tool.
Its intuitive user interface makes the recovery process easier. Thus, all you need to do is
After you have successfully recovered the data, format the drive using ‘Disk Management’ tool or ‘Disk Part’ command utility. Insert the drive to the HP laptop, install Windows, and then restore your data to the drive. If possible, replace the HDD with a new drive to prevent future data loss situation.
We learnt why Hard disk error HARD DISK 1 (3F1) occurs and how this error can be solved with the help of HP’s inbuilt diagnostic tools and simple troubleshooting methods. However, such errors can be prevented and data loss situation due to such error can be easily avoided if you keep an eye on your hard drive health using SMART — an inbuilt disk monitoring utility— that comes knotted with modern hard drives and SSDs. You can also run CHKDSK once or twice in a month to keep your drive in good health.
However, if you still ever face a data loss situation due to hard drive errors, use a reliable data recovery tool such as Stellar Data Recovery- Standard for Windows before formatting or repairing the drive. This award-winning software helps you recover your lost data in an efficient and easy fashion.
Aruna Attri is a Senior Data Recovery Expert at Stellar®. She is a technology blogger and Windows expert. She has experience in Windows data recovery domain. She loves to troubleshoot Windows issue and write technical tips and tutorials.
Hi All, really hope someone can help!! I have a HP Pavillion Laptop which shows that ‘Hard Disk Error’ screen when I start up. Ran the diagnostics and ‘Smart Check – Passed’ , but both ‘Short and Long DST – Failed’. Priority now is for me to recover the files, but how do I even download the Stellar Data Recovery Tool on that laptop if I can’t even get past the initial ‘Hard Disk Error’ and all the diagnostics screens?? Thanks in advance!
Hello Francis,
It may be several reasons for Hard Disk Error. But generally, it appears when hard disk store the OS which get damaged or corrupt. It means some time when operating system files damaged it happen. In your case, you can update or install the new operating system on your machine. It may solve your Hard disk error, and then you can use Stellar Data Recovery Software and recover your files easily.
Hi Aruna Attri, i was read the all comment and i thought your the main person to contact about the corrupt hard drive, so here my question for ya. I got a hp laptop and it works pretty well, but just came the issue yesterday on my hp laptop can display the things inside my hard drive, and i plug in to the docking station and it said that my hard drive was corrupt, so can you help me out with this issue, cause i do really need thing inside my laptop and all the data too in the hard drive.
Hello Kantabu,
Please follow all the manual steps given above to fix your hard drive problems. But before you do anything, you should recover your data using Stellar Data Recovery Professional for Windows. Therefore, recover your data before proceeding to any step that involves the exhaustive use of the hard drive. Thanks
Hello first I want to thank you for all the helpful information!! My problem is I have a HP all in one with error No Hard Disk Installed. I have not yet tried any of the 6 suggestions yet. but I’m wondering, how do I download the Stellar software on it if nothing else works? I’m sending this message from my Samsung Galaxy 8 phone, and if I download the software on my phone how does this help my HP. 🙁
Hey Patricia,
You should try first all the steps given above, and Stellar Data Recovery Standard for Windows works on pc. It does not work on mobile devices. You can download its free demo from our official website: https://www.stellarinfo.com/windows-data-recovery.php
What if diagnostic test fails to start.
Windows runs normally after that but gives this error and the diagnostic test doesn’t start.
Hello Raheel,
In this case, we can recommend to use Stellar Data Recovery- Professional for Windows. You needs to install the software on the working machine and connect the drive from this non-working PC external and he can recover the data as well. Thanks
The preview section of the software can’t display my image files using above mentioned tool. How to recover?
Hello Cecil,
It’s highly unfortunate that the desired photos are unable under the Preview section. Please switch to Deep Scan feature and scan the drive. If the images are still not found, that DIY software can’t help in your case and you may avail our data recovery services.
What are the chances of recovery if the software is not able to access the infected drive?
Note: I downloaded the Free Download from official website.
Hello Mitchell,
I can offer 2 solutions for your query
1) Switch to Deep Scan mode in the interface and then try to scan. Hope the drive is accessible by the software
2) If still no success, it seems to be some physical error for which you can leverage our data recovery services from world-class experts.
The highly technical support staff is really helpful to me. They inform each step by step process with all basic details.
Hello Orlando,
Thanks for the feedback.
Kindly subscribe our youtube channel.
The highly technical support staff is really helpful to me. They inform each step by step process with all basic details.
Thanks for the kind words Domingo.
If I go for the first solution and reset my Hard disk then the data stored in it would be deleted?
Yes, in case you reset the hard drive then the stored data will be deleted. However, you can recover the lost data by using Stellar WDR-Home.
Is there any free version available for data recovery by Stellar?
Yes, you can try our Stellar Windows Data Recovery – Free Edition