t410 won't startup

I accidentally dropped my perfectly working t410 about 3 feet from the ground, and when i turned it on it would not go past the first screen (thinkpad boot screen). I have a feeling that there's something wrong with the hard drive as that part of the laptop makes noises while i'm trying to boot it. Does anybody know anything that might help? This is quite disappointing as I bought the t410 because of how they handle drops.

 

If it posts the boot screen, and nothing else seems to be broken then it is may be just the hard drive. Have you checked the bios? I will try using another hard drive and boot from the reinstallation disks (if there is another hard drive around).

 

Try re-seating the hard drive as the contact may have become dislodged from the SATA connector during impact. Also check the BIOS to see if it recognises the hard drive by pressing F1 during the ThinkPad logo, it should bring up the Serial ID of the HDD.

If the hard drive is still clicking then unfortunately its a sign of a failing drive. Assuming the T410 is still in good shape and you're using the stock drive provided by Lenovo you can try and get a warranty replacement for the drive.

 

You did not purchase a fully rugged Toughbook. A Thinkpad is merely more likely to be able to handle drops because it can sense the fall and park the heads of the hard drive. Also it has rubber gourmets maybe...

Dropping a laptop will still always have potential consequences. The internal chassis is good for structural support in a fall, but again nothing is going to always work out in a fall.

If you have accidental protection then you are covered by any damages you have a result. Also if it is just the hard drive luckily that is cheap and easy to replace.

Also back up important data regularly.

 

This guy had no issues...Its a pretty good toss.

YouTube - ‪A LENOVO NOTEBOOK CRASH TEST BY ME‬‎

 

I saw that too...but I don't think that is a T410 and I wonder whether that makes a difference. But as for the OP, I am quite sure something either must have come loose OR your HDD is dead or otherwise messed up.

Since the HDD is user-replaceable, why don't you change it and see what happens?

 

I would definitely say HDD dislodged. It's strange that the HDD in Thinkpads aren't mounted to the chassis, just using the rubber rails. HP and Dell mounts it to the chassis...

3 ft drop definitely woudl have enough force to knock it loose.

 

You can get a 500GB 7200rpm drive for $80 or less these days. If that's all you lost, count your blessings.

 

Comparing the older IBM to the newest TPs is funny

 

It's built thinkpad tough....