Dropped laptop, now inop

[EvilHorace]

It was still hooked up to an audio out cable and I was in a hurry and forgot about that cable. I picked it up, the cable snagged, it slipped out of my hands and fell face down onto the basement floor. It's not physically damaged externally but doesn't boot up, just starts and says "disc error, press any key to restart" (repeats). I don't hear its HDD spinning up either.
It's about 1 year old and has an extended warranty from BestBuy but does anyone here have any idea what broke? HDD?

[hapoo]

probably the hard drive, but why bother... just take it to best buy

[EvilHorace]

I know it'll be there for weeks too as nothing's fixed all too quickly, especially if they need to send it out BUT should I fess up and tell them it fell or just pretend that I have no idea why it won't boot?
If I tell them the truth, will they say "oh, warranty doesn't cover accidental damage"

[chadlnc]

I would tell them the truth...............you tried to boot it up and it doesn't work. You just don't have to tell them the WHOLE truth.

[LPMiller]

first though, take out the hard drive and reseat it. It may just have come loose.

[EvilHorace]

Thanks and not a bad idea but of all the 3 covers on the underside, there's one with those small "security" torx screws (nub in center) and although I can buy a screwdriver like that, it might not help me either. The other 2 covers are easily removed with a regular philips screwdriver for ram and the phone modem.
I'm assuming that's where the HDD is (under the cover with the torx screws)? I've never opened up a laptop otherwise so it being under warranty, I'm in no big hurry to try removing all the bottom screws.

[LPMiller]

Originally posted by EvilHorace
Thanks and not a bad idea but of all the 3 covers on the underside, there's one with those small "security" torx screws (nub in center) and although I can buy a screwdriver like that, it might not help me either. The other 2 covers are easily removed with a regular philips screwdriver for ram and the phone modem.
I'm assuming that's where the HDD is (under the cover with the torx screws)? I've never opened up a laptop otherwise so it being under warranty, I'm in no big hurry to try removing all the bottom screws.

that's odd, because hard drives should be user serviceable. Check the sides of the case, as it may actually be side mounted, like on a Dell/Toshibia. Then their might either be a screw, or a plastic lock. There should at most be 1 screw holding in the drive. What model 'top do you have?

[EvilHorace]

It's a Toshiba Satelite 1805-S253. I found it and it was on the side as you said. Removing and re-installing it didn't help so apparently it'll have to go in. I tryed R&Ring the battery too.
There is some physical damage after all to the corner near the HDD where it must have hit first when it landed (scuffed slightly) and the case is slightly separated there but pressing down at that spot makes no difference when trying to boot it up.
Thanks for your help though, was worth checking at any rate.

[LPMiller]

yeah, sounds like a dead drive...hope that's all it is. Good luck!

[EvilHorace]

I took it in and the tech spent about 1/2 hour trying to get it to run scandisc (wouldn't) so then concluded that "seems as though the HDD's out of it" and it's being sent to Chicago for a new one. You'ld think a HDD could just be ordered w/o sending the lappy out but being under warranty, I guess they have their rules to follow.

[LPMiller]

Originally posted by EvilHorace
I took it in and the tech spent about 1/2 hour trying to get it to run scandisc (wouldn't) so then concluded that "seems as though the HDD's out of it" and it's being sent to Chicago for a new one. You'ld think a HDD could just be ordered w/o sending the lappy out but being under warranty, I guess they have their rules to follow.

If it's still under the makers warranty, then yeah. Usually, once the extended warranty kicks in, if they can't fix it ( and laptops are a bitch to fix) they will just replace it.