Test for a Failing Hard Disk Drive

How can I tell if my Hard Drive is failing?

So you think your hard disk drive is failing and would like to run tests to check your drive? We HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing it into a professional for a correct diagnosis, they can save you time and money. There are various tools available to technicians that do not run under Windows and the options can be confusing to a beginning user.  Remember tests put more stress on a hard disk drive, spinning a drive up and down, if a drive is close to failure, a test can put the final nail in the coffin. Once that drive fails, and you need your data, it can cost a lot to send the drive out to retrieve the data.

If you want to continue, remember, we are NOT held responsible for drive failure or loss of data.

There are various tools you can search on the internet to test your drives but Microsoft has included the following tool in Windows called Check Disk, or chkdsk.

The quickest and easiest way to run chkdsk on your drive is to schedule it in windows by doing the following:

Start

Computer

Highlight C:\

R Click and choose Properties

Click on the Tools Tab

L Click Check Errors

You may select automatically fix errors if you choose but if it does find errors I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Backing up your Data and replacing that drive as soon as possible because it may totally fail at anytime.

Windows will pop up a window telling you it’s in use and to schedule a chkdsk. Go ahead and accept the defaults.

Click on the Start Button and restart the machine as normal.

Upon restart you will see a black screen with text DO NOT PRESS ANY KEYS OR IT WILL CANCEL THE SCAN 

The scan should start in 45 seconds and may take hours depending on how big and the type of Hard Drive you are checking.

However, chkdsk only tests data integrity. Most all drives will test under SeaTools from Seagate (Windows and DOS versions available) and can give you a better idea if the drive itself is failing. Western Digital also has Data Lifeguard Diagnostics. HDDScan is another tool.

Signs of possible Hard Drive Failure

• Loud grinding of drive
• Clicking
• Blue Screen Errors (BSOD)
• Very slow startup or freezing
• Corrupted Data
• Disappearing Data
• Your computer might not recognize your hard disk drive
• Blinking cursor at top left of screen after cold booting your computer

These are just some of the signs of hard disk drive failure.

We are not responsible for anything you do on your computer or any mistakes that you make attempting these walk-throughs. Proceed at your own risk. If you’re not sure about what you’re doing then we’re sure you should not be doing it. 🙂