Does this message indicate that the hard drive has failed? [closed]

So, I have a Dell PC from approximately 2009-2010, and I believe the hard drive has failed.

Here's what the screen says when it starts up:

AMIBIOS(c) 2009 American Megatrends, Inc. BIOS Date: 05/26/10 18:15:43 Ver: A02 CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 930 @ 2.80GHz Speed: 2.80GHz Initializing USB Controllers .. Done. 9208MB OK USB Device(s): 1 Keyboard, 2 Mice Auto-Detecting AHCI PORT 0..ATAPI CDROM Auto-Detecting AHCI PORT 2..IDE Hard Disk SATA Port0 PLDS DVD+/-RW DH-16ABS PD11 SATA Port2 ST31500341AS CC4G S.M.A.R.T. Capable and Status BAD Auto-detecting USB Mass Storage Devices .. 00 USB mass storage devices found and configured. AHCI Port2 Device Error Press F1 to Resume 

Of course, if I actually press F1, nothing actually happens.

Does this indicate a hard drive failure, or are their other possible explanations?

(For the record - everything on the hard-drive is backed up to the cloud, so I'm not concerned about losing or recovering any data.)

One option is to purchase a new hard drive and attempt to repair it myself. However, if I manage to install the new drive and it STILL doesn't work, I won't have improved my situation, and will be out the cost of the hard drive. And I'll still have a 5+ year old computer.

Another option is to bring it to a local PC repairman who is much more likely to fix it successfully, but I'm not thrilled about giving a stranger unfettered access to my hard drive (which contains personal financial info, like tax returns).

So I guess my real question is... what's the best option?

And, is a computer of this age worth repairing?

1 Answer

The hard drive will run you about $50 if you get a regular HDD.

All you really have to do is try it. If it works with the hard drive, you install the Windows version you currently have, and you're done.

If it doesn't work, then you can find out what's wrong with it, by providing us with the details of what happens or simply by looking around for the symptoms.

It doesn't take but a few screws and two cables to replace a hard drive, so there is really no reason to take it to a computer shop in my opinion.

I say it's worth repairing.