
[Solution] How to Fix a Laptop Hard Drive
- Make sure you are either OK with deleting all the software on the damaged hard drive, or you have all the files backed up before ...
- Download the newest version of the boot CD (see Resources below). You may be able to download the files and save them to a flash drive if ...
- Turn on your laptop with the damaged hard drive and enter your BIOS settings. This may be different from laptop to laptop, so check your ...
- Select the "Hard Disk Tools" section by scrolling with your arrow keys and pressing "Enter." Look for "Partition Tools" and run the ...
Full Answer
How do you replace a laptop hard drive?
Physically Swap Your Current Drive with the SSD
- Turn the computer off and remove the back panel. Turn your laptop off and then disconnect both the power cable and any other connected cables -- including the SSD. ...
- Look for any screws securing your drive to the laptop. You'll need to unscrew those before you can remove the drive.
- Lift the old drive up about 30 or 45 degrees and pull it out.
How to fix your computer harddrive in under 5 min.?
Tidy up computer space with Disk Cleanup
- Choose Start→My Computer or Start→My Computer. ...
- Right-click the drive you want to check and choose Properties from the shortcut menu. ...
- Click the General tab, if it isn’t already open. ...
- 4. ...
- Clear the check boxes next to any files that you want to keep; check the check boxes next to any additional files that you want to clear off the disk. ...
- Click OK. ...
Can a laptop be repaired with the hard drive?
Most hard drives have a long guarantee and, if under guarantee (up to 5 years but only with the manufacturer), you can send it to them, and they will send it back to you, or you will receive an equivalent one. A hard disk can not be repaired (but there are ways to try to retrieve information from them).
How do I wipe clean a laptop?
Use a USB Recovery Drive
- Insert a USB drive to the PC. The USB drive should be at least 16GB.
- Type " create a recovery drive " in the Windows search bar and click the best matched result.
- Make sure the Back up system files to the recovery drive option is checked. ...
- Choose a USB drive and click the Next button.
- Read the warning and click the Next button. ...

Can laptop hard drive be repaired?
If the hard drive is inaccessible, TestDisk is a program that can repair it. Though challenging to use due to its scanty interface, this free little tool proves itself to be a powerful tool to save your hard drive. Alternatively you can use Ontrack EasyRecovery with its SMART tools.
How do I fix a corrupted laptop hard drive?
Steps to Recover Data from a Corrupted or Crashed Hard DriveDownload and Install Disk Drill for Windows or Mac OS X.Launch Disk Drill recovery software, select the crashed hard disk and click: ... Preview the files you found with Quick or Deep Scan. ... Click Recover to recover your lost data.
Can hard drive be repaired?
Hard drive repair is possible, but they should NOT be reused after a recovery! Of course, HDDs can be repaired! However, a repaired HDD should not be reused, but rather, have its contents recovered immediately and then be discarded as it cannot be trusted to work into the future.
How do I fix my hard drive repair?
You can fix the 'Disk Structure Corrupted and Unreadable' error by:Unplugging and re-plugging the external HDD or USB drive.Uninstalling and reinstalling disk drive.Running hardware and device troubleshooter.Running disk scan for hard drive errors.Running CHKDSK command.More items...•
How do I fix a corrupted hard drive that won't boot?
Fixing “Disk boot failure” on WindowsRestart the computer.Open the BIOS. ... Go to the Boot tab.Change the order to position the hard disk as the 1st option. ... Save these settings.Restart the computer.
What causes hard drive failure?
Causes. There are a number of causes for hard drives to fail including: human error, hardware failure, firmware corruption, media damage, heat, water damage, power issues and mishaps.
How do I revive a dead hard drive?
0:543:00Revive a dead hard disk - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd keep it there overnight the theory is that by freezing the drive the metal will shrink justMoreAnd keep it there overnight the theory is that by freezing the drive the metal will shrink just enough for the parts to start working again in the morning take the hard drive out of the freezer.
How do I know if my hard drive is damaged?
Here are the most common hard drive failure signs:Overheating.Strange sounds.Corrupted data, files, and folders.Major slowdowns.Stuck spindle motor.Frequent error messages.System crashes.Blue Screen of Death.More items...•
How much does it cost to repair hard drive?
Hard Drive Repair Cost The total cost of replacing a hard drive is about $200. This price includes the cost of the hard drive, which is between $60 and $100. It also takes about two hours of labor, for an average cost of $120.
How do I know if my hard drive is corrupted?
If you repeatedly see one of these symptoms, chances are your hard drive is gradually failing:Scrambled file or folder names.Random error messages when opening, moving, or saving files.Files that fail to open.Corrupted data within your files.Disappearing files or folders.
How do I fix a corrupted drive in Windows 10?
How To Fix a Corrupted Hard Drive On Windows 10 (2022)Method #1: Connect to Motherboard USB Port.Method #2: Test Another Device.Method #3: Scan for Viruses.Method #4: Assign or Change the Drive Letter.Method #5: Update or Reinstall Drivers.Method #6: Repair Using CHKDSK.Method #7: Repair Using SFC & DISM.More items...•
How much does it cost to repair a laptop hard drive?
Hard Drive Repair Cost The total cost of replacing a hard drive is about $200. This price includes the cost of the hard drive, which is between $60 and $100. It also takes about two hours of labor, for an average cost of $120.
What are the symptoms of a faulty hard drive?
Symptoms and Signs Of A Failing Hard DriveComputer freezes, slows down or displays a blue screen.Data gets corrupted and the buildup of bad sectors.Unusual and Alien Sounds.The Read/Write – Heads Crashed.The Hard Drive's Spindle Motor Malfunctioned.The Hard Drive Exhibits PCB Problems.Adaptives Deviations.
How do I fix a corrupted hard drive?
You can fix a corrupted hard drive via CHKDSK command. Type cmd in the Windows search box. Right-click the best match and then choose Run as admini...
Can hard disks be repaired?
There are two types of sectors, a hard and soft sector. In most cases, Windows is able to repair a soft bad sector, as it's almost always related t...
How much does it cost to recover data from a damaged hard drive?
To recover data from a damaged hard drive will only cost you less than $100 with a piece of professional data recovery software, but the prerequisi...
How do I recover data from a crashed hard drive?
Get MiniTool Partition Wizard Pro Ultimate from its official website and install it on your PC. Launch Data Recovery. Then select the partition whe...
What to do if you lose all your data on your hard drive?
The following processes will cause you to lose all data on your hard drive that you are about to fix. In the event that you have valuable files on your hard drive, use restoration and or extraction software to retrieve your data. Consider using a professional service to retrieve your files. In the future, always back up all your important data.
How to run PTDD Super Fdisk?
Select the "Hard Disk Tools" section by scrolling with your arrow keys and pressing "Enter." Look for "Partition Tools" and run the program named "PTDD Super Fdisk."
How to keep HDD in good condition?
The best way to keep your HDD in good condition is to use the CHKDSK command utility. This utility scans the hard drive, corrects logical sector errors, marks bad sectors that cannot be fixed, and moves data to safe, healthy places on the hard drive. It's a handy tool, but it doesn't operate automatically.
What does it mean when a disk has a bad sector?
When a drive incurs this kind of operational bug, the unreadable parts of the drive are reclassified as bad sectors . When a disk has a bad sector, it doesn't necessarily mean there's anything physically wrong with the disk drive; it usually means that the drive can probably be repaired with software.
How to run check disk utility?
To run the check disk utility on a PC with one drive, enter chkdsk. This command only checks your disk for errors; it won't fix any problems it finds. To fix problems, you must add command switches, which are optional parameters that tell a command-line utility to take an extra step.
Do you have to reboot to run CHKDSK?
In the latest version of Windows, the legacy CHKDSK tool runs from the command prompt. Unlike older versions of CHKDSK, you don't have to reboot your PC to run the utility.
Is CHKDSK needed for SSD?
The utility is primarily meant for PCs with hard disk drives, so if you have a computer with a solid state drive (SSD), CHKDSK isn't necessary. SSDs come with a built-in system to deal with errors.
How to repair a corrupted hard drive?
It can also selectively clean up different partitions to repair the corrupted internal hard drive. 1. Double-click "My Computer/This PC" and then click "Manage". 2. Click "Disk Management" in the list on the left. 3. Right-click on the local hard drive you want to format and select "Format".
What to do if you can't read your hard drive?
If you fail to read hard drive, for an external hard drive, try to plug hard drive into another USB port and open your hard drive again. As for the power check of the internal hard disk, there may be challenges. But if the PC can detect the internal drive, repairing the damaged internal hard drive is independent of the power supply.
What does it mean when you get a warning when you open a hard drive?
1. When you access the hard drive in "My Computer", receive a warning: "You need to format the disk in the drive before you can use it .". 2. A message of "H: is not accessible. The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable". prompts up when you intend to open your hard drive. 3.
How to open a hard drive on another PC?
To do so, you can:. Step 1. Navigate to My PC, right click on it to find Manage and then click on Device Manager. Step 2.
Why is my hard drive corrupted?
The hard drive may be attacked by the virus or physical damage due to power failure or unsafe ejection and so on. That makes it corrupts easily, no matter an internal hard disk or external hard drive. Formatting will erase your important data. You may have stored a lot of files there.
Is the Control Panel an effective path for repairing corrupted external drives and internal hard disk?
Moreover, the Control Panel is an effective path for repairing corrupted external drives and internal hard disk.
What is Going Wrong with Your Computer Hard Drive?
There is this friend of mine who is an HP user and he is getting a hard time with his PC's hard drive. We were figuring out what actually has gone wrong with the hard drive and succeeded, to our surprise. And therefore, I will be listing some symptoms that can help you learn what is going wrong with your computer hard drive so that you also get some assistance and fix the problem. You can refer to the following sections irrespective of the laptop or computer you use.
Why is my laptop's motherboard damaged?
Damage Due to Water – Spillage on any of the internal parts of your laptop or computer can lead to a short circuit and hence a damaged hard drive and motherboard. You can lose your data in such cases and it is better to keep your system away from liquids.
Why is it better to clean your hard drive every month?
But a monthly checkup of junk or unwanted residuals (cache files or left out files after uninstalling software) with a professional tool would be a great help for your laptop. That is why it is better if you keep performing a cleanup every month to upkeep its performance.
What is a corrupted driver?
Corrupted Firmware or Unsupported drivers: Firmware corruption or unsupported drivers can lead to a problem called boot sector errors that can damage your hard drive. Such driver/firmware problems keep the laptop at risk of losing data and an unreadable drive.
What causes hardware issues?
Virus or Malware Attack: A malware or virus attack is another prime factor that can contribute to hardware issues like corruption or crashing. In this "Internet" era, we all make use of the internet day in and out. No wonder a virus or malware can sneak into your PC and corrupt important files on your hard drive and eventually crashing it up or causing data loss.
Why is my hard drive causing a hard drive failure?
Hardware Failure – This often happens due to the poor construction of a hard drive. The regular touching of magnetic plates inside of the hard drive can lead to a damaged hard disk. In such cases, it is better to create a back-up whenever symptoms arise.
Can human error cause a damaged disk?
Well, there can be any physical damage from drops or deletion of some important files accidentally will result in a damaged disk.
Why is my hard drive corrupted?
Corrupted files on a hard drive may come about due to many reasons. It may either be due to malware, electrical failure, or even errors or improper operations. Corrupted files will bring about hard drive failure and can even bring problems during the startup process. This problem comes about gradually and could lead to a computer crash.
How to check hard drive health?
Checking the hard drive health can be done easily either through Disk Management or by using the chkdsk tool. It is best to regularly check and repair hard disk error in Windows 10/8/7 with Chkdsk.
What is a full HDD?
On the other hand, the HDD in full is the Hard Disk Drive. It normally is designed as a mechanical device consisting of spinning or moving parts. These parts include the platters which carry the disk, a reading, or writing head which normally moves over the disk while reading or writing data, among many other parts.
Why does my hard drive make a clicking sound?
When a hard drive clicking sound is heard, it immediately identifies that the hard drive is not functioning properly and a hard drive failure is fast approaching. To understand where the click sound comes from, one should first know how a hard drive works.
What is a hard drive called?
A hard drive goes by many names depending on the user. Some will call it the hard disk others the fixed disk or drive or even fixed disk drive. All these names refer to the hard disk, including the version hard disk drive .
Why is my hard drive not spinning up?
Some other causes are related to electronic failure as well. Electronic failure can cause the system BIOS to be unable to detect the hard drive. At times, how a hard drive works will be affected, that is, it will not be able to spin up. One can also experience startup failure due to Electronic failure.
What happens when a computer crashes?
Hard disk failure normally occurs when the operating system stops functioning properly. This is when hardware exception occurs which cannot be handled by the system. It can also occur during the internal sanity test or check within the operating system when it detects that the system has lost its self-consistency.
How to fix corrupted external hard drive?
You can attempt to fix your corrupted external hard drive using Check Disk, a utility that’s included with Windows that scans for hard drive related errors and attempts to fix them.
What is the best tool to recover data from a hard drive?
To recover your data, you need a data recovery tool. The one we’re using is Disk Drill. Not only does it have an impressive track record of successful recoveries, it’s also packed with useful features that can be used to monitor your hard drive’s health and preemptively warn you of potential problems (we’ll look at those later).
What is the check disk command?
You can use the Check Disk (CHKDSK) utility in Windows to scan and fix any hard drive-related problems. The command being used will also look for bad sectors and mark them as unusable to the operating system.
Why is my hard drive not showing?
The drive is corrupted – Corruption can result in the hard drive not appearing when connected. Instead of checking Windows File Explorer, try checking Disk Management to see if it appears.
What is check disk?
Check Disk (CHKDSK) is a command in Windows that can scan and resolve any problems it discovers on your hard drive. It’s customizable using different parameters, depending on what you want the command to do.
Why won't my drive read?
Incompatible file system – If your drive is formatted with an unfamiliar file system, it won’t be readable. Try connecting it to a machine with a compatible operating system.
How to isolate a hard drive?
In order to isolate whether the issue sits with your hard drive or the computer, try connecting the hard drive to another computer. If the hard drive works in another computer, then the fault may actually be with your own computer.
What to do if your hard drive is damaged?
You can also try pulling the hard drive and connecting it to another computer. If the drive has partially failed, you may be able to copy a few important files off it. You may also be able to use a tool like Piriform’s Recuva, which promises “recovery from damaged disks”. This won’t work if the drive is truly lost beyond repair, though.
Why won't my computer detect my hard drive?
For example, if your computer doesn’t detect the drive during the boot-up process, you should open its case and check the cables that connect the hard drive to the motherboard and power supply. Unplug the cables and plug them back in, ensuring you have a solid connection. Your hard drive may just have a cable that’s come loose.
What does it mean when your computer can't boot from a hard drive?
If your computer sees the drive and just can’t boot from it, that’s a sign the drive may be broken (or that there’s a software problem).
Why does my hard drive make a clicking noise?
Any sort of clicking noise from a mechanical drive is a bad sign. This indicates the head, which reads and writes the data from the platters on the drive, has failed. It’s best to shut down the drive completely to avoid further damage and use a professional data recovery service if you need your data back. You won’t hear any strange noises from a solid-state drive, as they have no moving parts.
Why does my computer freeze?
Bear in mind that system freezes and data corruption could also caused by other hardware components failing, like your RAM, motherboard, or power supply. You can run a memory test to check whether your RAM is working properly, but it’s harder to pin down whether you have an issue on your motherboard or another hardware components.
Why do you wrap a hard drive in freezer bags?
If you do this, be sure to wrap the hard drive in two high-quality freezer bags to prevent condensation from forming inside the drive.
Why is my hard drive making weird sounds?
For example, if your mechanical hard drive is making weird sounds, it’s almost certainly a drive failure in hardware.
