This laptop was dropped. Screen is busted and this message comes up on boot up. Had to hook up to the tv to get this screen to see what it said. Does it mean hard drive is shot to? I checked it and its still plugged into mother board. Memory and all is still inserted and looks good. What do you guys think I need to check? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!!
Put the drive in a other system and run the manufacturers drive diagnostic tool on it.
Ok I might be able to try that. I have it booted up to a linux disc now and its dont show the drive either.
Already disconnected the drive, cleaned the contacts and put it back in?
I have took it out and looked it over and put it back in with same results. I didn’t clean anything though.
Looks like the drive is broken.
See if that linux distro has a diagnostic tool for drives.
I put the drive in my wifes laptop. It squeals while running and ticks. It tried to boot to windows but it just stays on windows screen. Now its doing a startup repair or something and its not squealing anymore. I’m gonna let it do this and see what happens when I put it back into the original machine.
It says its attempting to fix disc errors. I dont understand why the other machine didn’t even see the disc.
If it ticks (clicking sound) it is broken for sure.
Just another input.
My old computer started by not recognizing the hard drive.
I replaced it. 3 weeks later the replacement hard drive was no longer recognized by the system.
End result it turned out to be a faulty motherboard that spiked the hard drive and killed it.
If it’s an older computer, look further than just the immediate problem. 
Well I realized that the hard drive was knocked out of socket and not inserted correctly. It still wont boot up but just to the windows screen and stays there. Linux didnt find any errors on the HD when I ran it. Its doing the Reparing disk errors now. I added a attachment.