After just three years, the failure rate of hard drives and SSDs typically rises sharply. When the hard drive is exposed to varying temperatures, humidity, or external shocks, it may occur sooner. After three to five years, if you start to detect early indications of a hard drive failure, such as decreased performance, an increase in the number of damaged sectors, or even weird noises, you should start investigating fixes.
Here Are The Signs Of Hard Drive Is Failing On Your PC
1. Computer Slowing Down, Frequently Freezing, And Blue Screen Of Death
The first sign of a hard disk failure is when your PC crashes, freezes, or takes a long time to execute commands and tasks that could happen in a fraction of a second earlier. Frequent Blue Screen Of Death also is a sign of the hard drive failing on your PC.
2. Data Corruption And The Emergence Of Bad Sectors
If you notice one of these signs consistently, your hard disk is likely slowly degrading:
- Strange File or folder names
- Error messages appear when you open, save or move files.
- Files do not open.
- Corrupted Files
- Files and Folders vanish.
Your files could be affected by a virus, or you could just have corrupted sectors on your hard disk. Bad sectors are automatically hidden by Windows, so you won’t see them unless you experience data corruption problems. Use the Windows built-in tool CHKDSK to identify and resolve hard disk errors.
Step 1: Press Windows + S to open the Search Box and type CMD.
Step 2: Locate Command Prompt app under Best Match and click on Run As Administrator.
Step 3: The Command Prompt will now open in elevated mode. Press the Yes button if the UAC prompt box appears.
Step 4: Once the Command Prompt box launches, copy and paste the following command:
chkdsk /r c:
Step 5: When prompted, respond with Y to perform CHKDSK.
Note: The computer will now restart and the CHKDSK will automatically run.
3. Unusual Sounds
You’re in trouble if your hard disk starts making odd noises. The head attempts to write data, fails, returns to its home place, and tries repeatedly, resulting in the click of death sound. When the hardware makes grinding or screaming noises, the bearings or spindle motor are likely failing.
What Should You Do If Your Hard Drive Is Failing?
1. First, Backup Your Data
The best course of action is to constantly retain copies of your data on a backup disk and to be prepared to replace it, if necessary. Two drives will rarely fail at once. Natural disasters like floods or fires would be an exception. In these situations, we advise keeping a copy of your most crucial information in a different physical location, such as at work, with a relative, or with a friend.
Also Read: 10 Best Backup Software For Windows – Paid & Free
2. Replace The Drive
When you’re prepared to replace your SSD or HDD, choose and install the appropriate drive.
3. Properly Get Rid Of Your Old Drive
Remember to delete your old drive before you discard it to stop someone from recovering your data. Please refrain from throwing away your failing drive in any way. Electronics have dangerous parts and precious metals that shouldn’t be disposed of in a landfill. Instead, take old gear to a nearby electronic recycling facility, inquire whether your electronics retailer would accept it, or use a program like Western Digital’s free electronic recycling program, which will save you 15% on your subsequent purchase.
The Final Word
You shouldn’t rely on software or indications to determine whether your hard disk is failing. It is more prone to malfunction suddenly and without any prior notice. You should rely on backups rather than attempting to forecast something that is even less predictable than the weather.
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