Question
Issue: What is a Hard Drive Crash?
Hello. I can't load my computer any longer and I don't know what is the problem. Is there a way to figure out is there something wrong with my Windows OS or my hardware?
Solved Answer
An operating system crash and hard drive crash is not the same thing. The crash of your OS is the result of a logical failure, whereas the crash of the hard drive is a physical failure. Even though your information may not be instantly accessible, it is still possible to retrieve it. In order to avoid data loss, you should always backup your files.[1] However, if you have not done it this time and you suspect that your hard drive is crashing, there is still one more solution to try.
So first of all, you need to know whether the crash results from a physical or logical failure. If the failure is logical, the computer will fail to boot the operating system. However, physical failure may also result in a computer's inability to boot the OS. Also, if you hear weird noises coming from your computer, this may signify that the failure is of physical nature. You may hear grinding, clicking or whirring noise. If you do, stop trying to reboot your system.
The heat coming from the excessive work of the hard drive may also cause crashes. Overheating hard drive cannot cool due to the clogged ventilation area. If you overlook this overheating issue smoke or even fire can damage your machine. As well as corrupted files or human errors. When someone tampers with system files or deletes important data hard disk malfunctions can easily be caused.
We have already covered another issue with data restoring from a hard disk that got corrupted or damaged. This is one of many results after a Hard Drive Crash or even malware infections or encryption processes.[2] Nevertheless, there is a need to determine the type of Hard Drive failure.
Physical hard drive failure
The noise is the best indication that failure is physical. If that's definitely not the sound emitted by the cooling fan, you are dealing with the physical failure. Your information is still intact and the hard drive is still functioning, you may still try to get an image of the drive or copy it to a new drive, even though it is quite risky.
You may not know what will be the last straw that will make your hard drive crash irreparably. The best thing for you to do is to put it into another system and recover the data from the drive using Data Recovery Pro.
If the retrieval has been successful, you may now buy a new hard drive, reinstall the OS as well as other programs. As much as computers have advanced, the hard drive is still one of the most vulnerable parts of the hardware.[3]
Logical Hard Drive Failure
A logical failure happens when the hard drive is OK, but it is still impossible for you to load the system. This might be caused by various reasons. It may be a virus, a system drive conflict, human error or simply a system malfunction.
In this case, if you want to recover your data, you should refrain from reinstalling Windows or using amateur system tools. Take advantage of a reliable data recovery solution like Data Recovery Pro and think of using a backup the next time.
See if your hard drive is dead by running S.M.A.R.T check
Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology can help view if your hard drive may develop severe problems soon.
An open-source program that is free and easy-to-use – CrystalDiskInfo shows details about your hard drive. The application shows S.M.A.R.T status information of your hard drives. You can see Good displayed on your screen if everything is working properly and there are no issues. Other results may be Caution or Bad, Unknown. In any other cases, you may need to check your hard drive and backup your data in case of a crash.
Check drive status via Command Prompt
- Go to Command Prompt and type:
wmic diskdrive get status - OK determines that everything is working as supposed to.
- Other results indicate problems that need to be fixed.
Recover files and other system components automatically
To recover your files and other system components, you can use free guides by ugetfix.com experts. However, if you feel that you are not experienced enough to implement the whole recovery process yourself, we recommend using recovery solutions listed below. We have tested each of these programs and their effectiveness for you, so all you need to do is to let these tools do all the work.
Protect your online privacy with a VPN client
A VPN is crucial when it comes to user privacy. Online trackers such as cookies can not only be used by social media platforms and other websites but also your Internet Service Provider and the government. Even if you apply the most secure settings via your web browser, you can still be tracked via apps that are connected to the internet. Besides, privacy-focused browsers like Tor is are not an optimal choice due to diminished connection speeds. The best solution for your ultimate privacy is Private Internet Access – be anonymous and secure online.
Data recovery tools can prevent permanent file loss
Data recovery software is one of the options that could help you recover your files. Once you delete a file, it does not vanish into thin air – it remains on your system as long as no new data is written on top of it. Data Recovery Pro is recovery software that searchers for working copies of deleted files within your hard drive. By using the tool, you can prevent loss of valuable documents, school work, personal pictures, and other crucial files.
Olivia Morelli is a young, but a perspicacious IT expert who is currently just a year away from a Bachelor’s Degree in Software Systems. Her primary passion is cyber security, however, thanks to her detailed understanding of computer networks, operating systems and hardware, she can find a fix for any PC or Mac issue...
- ^ Sarah Mitroff. Back to basics: The three easiest ways to back up your files. Cnet. Latest tech news and product reviews.
- ^ Tarcisio Marinho. Ransomware encryption techniques. Medium. Where words matter.
- ^ Joel Lee. These 5 PC parts tend to die: How to extend their lifespans. Makeuseof. Technology explained.
