subject: 10 Signs that your Hard Drive is About to Fail [print this page] 10 Signs that your Hard Drive is About to Fail
Despite the reliability of most computer systems today, they are all mechanical devices and all are destined to break down and stop working at some point due to physical damage, logical errors or simply wear and tear.
When they do, they can take your important files and information with them, causing you unnecessary stress and expense to get your data back, if it can be retrieved at all. While sometimes hard drives do fail unexpectedly without warning, there are often signs that your hard drive is beginning to break down. If you can recognize these signs and back up your essential data before a complete crash occurs, you can save yourself a lot of hassle. Here are 10 signs that your computer hard drive may be about to crash:
1. You hear clicking or grinding noises coming from your drive.
These sounds are telltale signs that the Read/Write heads on your hard drive are scraping too close to the magnetic platters. This is a mechanical failure of your hard drive and indicates that it will need to be replaced.
2. Your computing locks up while you're trying to boot.
This is probably not a serious sign if it happens occasionally, but if happens on a regular basis, this could indicate a more serious problem.
3. The dreaded "Blue Screen of Death".
The aptly named "Blue Screen of Death" happens when your Windows system is having problems. Sometimes it can be fixed with a "repair install" of the operating system or by removing a faulty device driver. If these fixes don't work, it's usually a sign of hard drive failure.
4. Your computer freezes on a regular basis.
Most computers freeze on occasion, but if yours freezes regularly, requiring you to restart your computer to get out of it, this can be a sign that the hard drive is not working properly.
5. Files mysteriously disappear.
A failing hard drive can often result in files disappearing unexpectedly. If this happens it could be a logical error in which you may cause more damage by continuing to run the computer. The best option is to shut it down and get it to a data recovery and repair specialist.
6. Your system BIOS doesn't recognize your hard drive or doesn't recognize the label correctly.
BIOS may not read your drive at all, or it may identify it as a different model number than the one you actually have. This indicates either physical or logical damage to your hard drive.
7. Your computer runs really slowly.
If your computer seems to be running extremely slowly for no obvious reason, it may be a sign that your hard drive is on the way out.
8. Your computer shuts down and reboots on its own.
Again, if this happens once in a blue moon, it may not be a problem, but if it begins to happen more and more frequently, it is likely a sign that your hard drive is in distress.
9. Frequent error messages when performing simple tasks.
If you get strange error messages when performing simple tasks such as moving or opening files, you may have some form of logical error within your hard drive.
10. You get an Operating System not found error.
This is an indication that your PC can no longer detect the presence of your hard drive or that it is badly damaged. This is a sign of a major problem with your hard drive.
If you experience any of these symptoms, the best bet is to immediately back up any files you don't want to lose, starting with your most important files first. If you do lose data, you'll need to send your drive to a reputable data recovery company to have them repair your hard drive and recover your data.
There are data recovery programs out there that are available for purchase, however, with these programs you run the risk of overwriting your current data and losing it forever. It's best to consult a computer specialist to diagnose and offer solutions to help you get your important files and information back.
