Troubleshooting Hard Drive Failure Issues

The hard drive is an essential part of hardware found in all computers and laptops. It stores not just your files, but also the operating system and all software you use. Needless to say, experiencing hard drive failure issues can be a major nuisance, since you may end up being unable to access your files, or even boot your computer. If you suspect you might be having such issues, then you should try the troubleshooting tips below.

Please keep in mind that hardware failure is rarely instant – instead, the health of the hard drive may rapidly deteriorate. This is why you should immediately back up important files to another hard drive, cloud storage, or backup service – this way, they will be unharmed in case the hard drive fails completely.

Run an anti-virus Scanner

Data corruption may not always be caused by hard drive failure, and there is a chance that malware may be involved. Unexplainable computer trouble may often be owed to malware infection – it is recommended to run an anti-malware scanner before proceeding with the other troubleshooting steps.

Run the Windows Disk Check

Open 'This PC' through the Start Menu or your desktop icon. Right-click each one of the hard drive partitions, and click 'Properties.' Select the 'Tools' tab and then press the 'Check' option. Wait for the process to complete.

Check Hard Disk Drivers

System drivers are meant to allow your operating system to work with your hard drive. To make sure that they are up-to-date, you need to open the 'Device Manager' through the 'Start Menu.' Expand the 'Disk Drives' tab, right-click your hard drive, and select 'Update Driver.'