Signs of hard drive failure and how to fix it

The average lifespan of a hard drive is around 5-10 years, depending on usage conditions. In fact, your laptop’s hard drive is prone to failure after 3-5 years, including SSDs.

Computer running slow, frozen, blue screen

Signs like the computer running slow, freezing or blue screen are quite obvious signs of hard drive failure. Although many times the error comes from another part, problems with the hard drive are quite common.

To check for problems with the hard drive you can run diagnostic tools, let’s start with looking at the SMART data. To perform a SMART health check, you need the CrystalDiskInfo tool. Let’s download it here.

You open the software installation file, check the box I accept the agreement >> Next.

Keep pressing next in the next steps to install the software, then open CrystalDiskInfo.

In the main interface of the software, you will see the basic information of the hard drive. If you have multiple hard drives, select Disk >> The hard drive you want to check to view information.

If the hard drive status (health status) is displayed as Good, which means the drive is not faulty. So the problem of slow, frozen or blue screen computer has come from another part or operating system. You should try reset the operating system See if the problem is resolved or not.

Otherwise, if the status is displayed in red with Bad, which means the drive is faulty. Now you need to promptly back up important data on your computer. Then you consider replacing the hard drive with a new one or taking the drive for warranty and repair.

Data is corrupt and has bad sectors

Corrupted data can show up in a variety of ways. If you keep seeing one of these symptoms, chances are your hard drive is slowly failing:

• Obfuscated file or folder names
• Error message when manipulating folders, files
• Unable to open file
• Changed data in your file
• Lost file or folder

Sometimes these problems occur when the computer is infected with a virus, but it is also possible that the hard drive has bad sectors.

Bad sectors are hard drive areas that cannot maintain data integrity. Windows automatically hides Bad sectors, so you won’t notice them until you see corrupted data. On a hard drive, bad sectors can build up quickly and need to be addressed promptly.

Windows CHKDSK tool can help you recover data from bad sectors and eliminate them. To perform a quick scan, press Windows + E to open File Explorer, then navigate to This PC.

Right click on the hard drive or drive partition with bad sectors and select Properties.

In the Properties window, go to the tab Tools, press Check.

If Windows says “You don’t need to scan this drive” you continue to choose Scan drive to run the tool.

Once done, you can detect any existing errors and fix them.

The above is a quick scan step, if you want an intensive scan, you have to enter the command in Command Prompt. Your search Command Prompt using the search bar and open the app as administrator (Run as administrator).

You run the following command to recover data and fix errors: chkdsk /rc: (for your C: drive). If you want to scan another drive, just change c: to d:, e:…

If asked: “Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts?”, Please enter Y. The next time you start your computer, the system will automatically scan the hard drive for errors and repair it for you.

Hear strange sounds

If you use HDD, this is very likely to happen when the drive fails. When using the computer, you hear repeated “clicking” noises, this is because the data logger failed and it has to retry several times.

If you hear a grinding or screeching noise, the problem lies with drive components such as the bearing or the main motor that are failing.

When you encounter this problem, it may be time to replace the hard drive with a new one. Please follow the steps below.

Step 1: Backup your data

To retain important data, you need to promptly transfer it to backup hard drive or put on the cloud. If you did this before the hard drive failed, even better.

Step 2: Replace the hard drive

Now you need to choose to buy one for yourself SSD or new HDD (please note the communication port before purchasing). Then you insert the new hard drive into the machine move Windows operating system from old drive to new drive.

If you can’t install two hard drives at the same time, you must remove the old drive and insert the new one, then reinstall Windows.

Step 3: Dispose of the old drive safely

Don’t throw your failed drive in the trash. Electronics containing metals and hazardous components should not end up in landfills. Take your drive to your local recycling center, or ask the electronics store if they will buy back damaged drives.

Conclude

Above, Thuthuatphanmem.vn has shown the hard drive failure and how to fix it. Hope you already know the safe solutions for your hard drive. Good luck!