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Much like your car, a hard disk is a mechanical device. Most of your computer’s other components are purely electronic and can only be damaged by electronic means (such as a power surge). However, hard disks are subject to both electronic and mechanical stresses, which can each cause hard disk problems. Here’s a guide to both protecting against hard drive failure, and emergency recovery if hard disk problems have caught you off guard.

Why Do Hard Disks Fail?

Because hard disks are mechanical devices, they are subject to wearing out, even if you treat them better than your own children. Around 60% of hard drive failures occur through predictable mechanical failure, with the remaining 40% of failures occurring through misuse. Hard disk failure might occur if any of the following happens:

  • Your computer is bumped or jostled while it is running;
  • The electric motor which allows the platter to spin fails due to bad bearings or other components;
  • The filter on your air intake gets too clogged or the filter isn’t working properly;
  • Extreme heat while running causes the electronic circuit board to fail;
  • There is a sudden power failure while the disk is writing.

Types of Hard Drive Failure

There are two main types of hard drive failure – physical and logical.

Physical failures are often due to a failure of the electric motor or the drive itself – the moving parts. They can also happen because of a major head crash (caused by your computer being dropped or jostled while it’s running).

Logical failures come from corruption in the file system. If you’ve accidentally deleted an important registry entry or formatted the drive improperly, or if you have a nasty virus, hard drive problems will occur. The BIOS will recognize the drive, but it won’t boot.

Signs of Hard Drive Failure

All computers have problems, but you don’t need to panic about hard disk failure unless one or more of the following things are happening:

  • Clicking or grinding noises while running;
  • Files mysteriously disappear. Usually more than once;
  • Locking up during the boot process – hard disk problems are indicated if this happens frequently;
  • The computer often freezes, and when it does you are left without mouse or keyboard input and have to do a hard reset;
  • Standard file processes like saving and opening slow down interminably, even for small files;
  • Increase in the number of bad sectors noted when running chkdsk;
  • You can’t speed up computer performance even by applying optimization tricks;
  • You notice that your computer is unusually hot.

Also Read: Fixing 100% Disk Usage on Windows 10

How to Fix Hard Drive Failure on Windows 10 and 11

Before you fix the hard disk failure in your Windows PC, you need to take certain precautions. Anything could go wrong at any point, wiping out your hard work.

That’s why you should consider creating backups of all your information and documents to protect yourself against this possibility. There are several ways you can back up your files:

  • Copy all your documents to an external storage device
  • Back up your files to the cloud
  • Sign up for a backup service

Backing up your files on the cloud is free. However, if the documents are huge, you may have to purchase the premium plan to get enough storage space.

After copying all your necessary files, you can safely proceed to fix the hard drive failure on your Windows 10 or 11.

Below are the best ways to fix hard disk failures:

1. Use the Check Disk Tool

If you’re experiencing hard drive failure, you can use the Check Disk tool to solve the issue. Use the following steps to resolve the problem:

  • First, open “File Explorer” and click “This PC.”
  • Next, right-click the hard drive you want to fix under “Devices and drives” and select “Properties.”

 

Hard Disk Failure

  • Click on the “Tools” tab.
  • Select the “Check” button under the “Error checking” section.

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  • Click on “Scan drive” to scan the whole drive.

hard disk failure

If the error can’t be fixed, you’ll be prompted to schedule another scan when the PC restarts. The hard drive should work properly after the steps are completed If it doesn’t, move on to the next methods.

2. Use the SFC Scan to Check for Corrupted Files

The SFC scan is a Windows feature that can scan for and repair damaged system files. So if you have hard disk failure, run the SFC scan to ensure the issue isn’t related to corrupt files. Below are the steps to run the SFC scan:

  • First, launch a command prompt by entering “cmd” in Windows’s search box.
  • Next, run the application as an administrator by right-clicking on the app and choosing “Run as administrator.”
  • Type “SFC /scannow” and press the “Enter” key.

After the scan, you’ll be informed that problems have been found and rectified automatically. If not, you’ll be instructed to do so manually. Just follow the on-screen prompts to solve the issue manually.

If this step doesn’t work, proceed with the next step below.

3. Run the CHKDSK Scan

CHKDSK is a tool that, like SFC, checks your hard drive for file system issues and corrects them. This solution has the best likelihood of success among the points discussed in this article. You must enter three commands in the Command Prompt to run the CHKDSK scan.

  • First, type “cmd” into the Windows search box and right-click the Command Prompt app. Then, select “Run as administrator” to launch the application.
  • Next, type “CHKDSK” and press “Enter” to check for potential issues. Remember that this command will only inform you if there’s a problem; it won’t fix it.
  • The CHKDSK will tell you if your system is healthy. If it is, you can proceed to the next step. If the check identifies any issues, type the following commands in the Command Prompt:

“chkdsk /f”

Use this command to perform a thorough inspection and fix any problems it encounters.

“chkdsk /r”

Use this to repair any faulty sectors that could be causing the issue.

If these don’t work, proceed with the other methods.

4. Create a System Restore Point

Reverting Windows to a restore point is a great approach to getting the operating system back to normal. All settings are deleted because it restores the whole system. If you experience hard drive failure because of some settings or changes you did, it might resolve the issue.

Here’s what you need to do to create a system restore point:

  • First, type “Create a Restore Point” into the Windows search box.
  • Next, choose the “System Protection” option from the System Properties menu.
  • Next, choose the “System Restore” option.
  • After choosing the restore point, click the “Next” button.

After that, follow the on-screen prompts to create a restore point on your computer.

If the problem persists after you restore your computer, there’s a high chance it’s a hardware problem that is not related to the operating system.

5. Check for Malware on Your Computer

When Windows reports a hard disk issue, it may be due to a virus secretly installed on your computer. So, run a malware check and eliminate the likelihood of malware causing the hard disk failure.

We recommend using Auslogics Anti-Malware to scan your PC. The software is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 and can detect malware, viruses, and spyware. It then safely removes any threats from your computer and keeps it safe.

If the problem persists, try out the next method below.

6. Uninstall Any Applications Recently Installed

Third-party programs installed on your computer may be causing it to have hard drive failure. This usually happens when you install apps from shady or untrusted sources.

So, remove all recently installed apps and programs if that solves the issues. Then, you can begin with the most recent ones before the problem occurs.

Then, we recommend using Auslogics Windows Slimmer to get rid of unnecessary junk files to free up your disk space even further.

If removing such apps from your device doesn’t fix the problem, consider that the problem may come from the hardware.

Also Read: So Easy to Do: How to Uninstall Programs and Apps on Windows 10/11?

7. Check Your PC’s Hardware

Your files are stored on the hard drive’s array of magnetic disks spinning at high speeds. In addition, the hard disk has an actuator arm for reading and writing. In short, there are lots of moving parts that can cause multiple hard drive failures.

To discover if the problem comes from the hardware, try disconnecting your hard drive and plugging it into a different computer. You should change the hard disk when the second computer begins experiencing the same problem.

Sometimes, hardware can wear out with time or become defective from the factory. You can contact the manufacturer or purchase a new hard drive.

Can You Restore Data from a Failed Hard Drive?

Usually, it can be. Unfortunately, recovering from a failed hard drive isn’t as simple as some other computer issues that can be fixed with the help of Google and forums telling you how to speed up your computer. Professional help is recommended.

To prevent massive data loss in the case of hard drive failure, install a program that creates a disk image quickly and easily. Use this backup system at least weekly or more often if you’re a heavy or business computer user.

If you don’t take these preventative steps and need data recovery services, you know some professionals specialize in retrieving your potentially lost data.

If the issue on your hard drive isn’t too serious, you may easily restore files using Auslogics File Recovery.

This is a great tool for restoring files that were accidentally deleted or lost either by mistake, malware, or else.

Protect Your PC from a Hard Drive Failure

There’s no way to know exactly when your hardware or hard drive will fail. But you can take steps to lessen the impact of failure and speed up recovery.

One of the best ways is to keep regular maintenance. This can prolong PC life and prevent data loss. So, keep the following tips to ensure you don’t get hit with hard disk failure:

  • Run active and up-to-date antivirus software
  • Update your Windows to the most recent version
  • Back up your files regularly
  • Update your hardware drivers, and hard disk
  • Avoid power surges and static electricity
  • Regularly defragment your hard drive using Auslogics Disk Defrag 

Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Disk Defragmentation

How to Use SMART to Detect a Hard Disk Failure

If your hard disk is equipped with SMART technology (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology), it uses log files to predict the probability of failure in the future.

SMART technology monitors various hard disk symptoms and logs the disk’s condition. It aims to provide a predictable failure date for the disk.

Here’s how to perform the SMART test to ensure your hard disk is always healthy and reliable:

  • Click the search tab and type “cmd.” Then, right-click and select “Run as administrator.”
  • Type “wmic diskdrive get status” in the Command Prompt window and press “Enter.”
  • If “OK” appears, then the specified hard drive is operational. When you get a “Pred Fail,” it means there are likely problems with the hard disk.

Final Thoughts

Taking good care of your hard drives can ensure their continued reliability and efficiency. However, remember that hard drives aren’t indestructible. But with proper care, they can keep your files safe for a long time.

Also, since you can’t determine when your hard drive may fail, we recommend taking precautions to avoid data loss. That’s why we recommend Auslogics BoostSpeed 13 for your PC needs.

BoostSpeed 13 diagnoses your Windows systems and fixes any issues, cleans out junk files, automates system maintenance, protects your privacy, and more!

Check out this guide to learn how BoostSpeed 13 can secure your PC: Auslogics BoostSpeed 13: Get Your PC in Shape!