<\/span>What Is Hard Drive Failure?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nHard drive failure refers to when your hard disk drive malfunctions and the data that it contains becomes inaccessible. Hard drive failure can be logical or physical. The type of hard drive failure you encounter will have a direct impact on the recoverability of your data.<\/p>\r\n
Logical hard drive failure<\/b> refers to something software-related. In many cases, you can recover your data and repair logical issues using hard drive repair software<\/a>. Here are some examples of issues that can lead to logical hard drive failure:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- 🦠 Malware<\/b> \u2013 Malware, like viruses, can infect your hard drive and wreak havoc on your system. This can happen if you download a file from a dodgy source and can result in degraded system performance and data corruption.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n\t
- 🗃️ File system issues<\/b> \u2013 Without a working file system, all of your data will become inaccessible through traditional means. This can occur if your system crashes while performing critical tasks, like formatting.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 🪟 Operating system errors<\/b> \u2013 There are a lot of operating system errors that you can run into that will prevent you from using your system like normal. One example of this is the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)<\/a> on Windows.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Physical hard drive failure<\/b> is a bit more severe. While logical hard drive failure refers to software-related problems, physical hard drive failure refers to problems with the hardware. Physical problems are more challenging to fix on your own and oftentimes require the assistance of a professional. Here are some examples of physical hard drive issues:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- 🔧 Mechanical failure<\/b> \u2013 Hard drives are made up of moving parts. If you encounter a problem with a physical component, like a motor failure or head crash, the hard drive won\u2019t function like normal and you won\u2019t be able to access your data.<\/li>\r\n\t
- ⚡ Electrical problems<\/b> \u2013 The power surge that occurs following a power outage is a\u00a0 common form of electrical damage. It could also be a result of a faulty power supply that supplies too much power to your drive, causing it to overheat.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 💥 Physical damage<\/b> \u2013 Hard drives are very susceptible to physical damage. If the hard drive is dropped or otherwise physically damaged, it can very quickly become impossible to recover the data from it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
You can usually determine which type of hard drive failure you have by looking out for some key symptoms, which we\u2019ll look at next.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Hard Drive Failure?<\/span><\/h2>\r\nSometimes HDD failure can<\/i>\u00a0<\/em>be predicted, you just have to know what to look out for. Here are a few common bad hard drive symptoms and signs that could mean your hard drive is nearing its end:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- 🐌 Degraded performance <\/b>– If your computer is no longer performing at the same speeds as it used to (especially in Safe Mode or after a fresh install), this almost certainly points towards a hardware failure.<\/li>\r\n\t
- ❌ Bad sectors<\/b> – A bad sector<\/a> is a portion of your hard drive that cannot store data. If the hard drive begins to fail, you may notice an uptick in bad sectors that can render your data corrupted.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 👎 Clicking or scratching noises<\/b> – The read\/write head used to scan the hard drive platters can sometimes make contact with the disks when errors occur, causing a clicking or scratching noise. This often results from physical damage.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 💥 Crashes<\/b> – Operating system crashes, like the BSOD, can be attributed to hard drive failure. The applications you use may also experience random crashes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
These are just general symptoms that a failing hard drive may present. The next section will touch on ways you can check the health of your drive.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>How to Tell If Your Hard Drive Is Failing on Windows<\/span><\/h2>\r\nHere are a few ways you can tell if your hard drive is failing on Windows.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check S.M.A.R.T. Using Command Prompt<\/span><\/h3>\r\nPossibly the fastest (and easiest) way to check the status of your drive on Windows is through a Command Prompt or PowerShell window. By checking the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) data, you can get a quick heads up of your drive\u2019s health. Follow these instructions to do so:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\t- Right-click Start <\/b>and select Terminal (Admin)<\/b>.
![\"run](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/open-terminal-windows.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Type wmic diskdrive get status<\/kbd> and press Enter<\/b>.
![\"Check](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/check-disk-status-terminal.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf Command Prompt or PowerShell returns OK<\/b>, it means there is nothing wrong with your drive at present. If it reads Pre Fail <\/b>instead, Windows has detected something wrong with your drive and it\u2019s recommended that you move your data to a healthy drive as soon as possible.<\/p>\r\n<\/span>Check Using CHKDSK \/ Error Checking<\/span><\/h3>\r\nCHKDSK<\/a> will check for file system-related errors, corrupted files, and bad sectors. Moreover, it will try to fix any issues it finds automatically. While CHKDSK can be run through Command Prompt, we\u2019re going to demonstrate how to use the built-in error-checking function that utilizes CHKDSK. However, CHKDSK will only work on drives with a working file system. If your partition is being read as RAW, check out our guide on how to recover data from a RAW partition<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n⚠️ Note:<\/b> While fixing the errors on your disk, there\u2019s a possibility that CHKDSK can damage some files, or even the disk itself (if the disk is in a particularly dire state) due to the additional load that\u2019s put on the disk. Therefore, we recommend making a complete backup<\/a> of the disk before performing these steps.<\/div>\r\nHere\u2019s how you can easily run CHKDSK on your drive:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\t- Open File Explorer and go to This PC<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Right-click your drive, then click Properties<\/b>.
![\"open](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/open-device-properties.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- In the Tools <\/b>tab, click Check<\/b>.
![\"click](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/click-check-button.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Click Scan drive<\/b>.
![\"Select](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/click-scan-drive-option.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/span>Check Using CrystalDiskInfo<\/span><\/h3>\r\nCrystalDiskInfo is a free hard drive and solid-state drive utility that can check the health status of your drive. It can also be used for actively monitoring the health of your drive and alerting you to things such as alarmingly high operating temperatures.<\/p>\r\n
![\"Check](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/crystaldiskinfo-with-hard-drive.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
To use the utility, you don\u2019t need to install it. All you need to do is download the application<\/a> and open it. It will immediately scan your drives and give you a detailed overview of the S.M.A.R.T. data relating to each drive.<\/p>\r\n<\/span>How to Tell If Your Hard Drive Is Failing on Mac<\/span><\/h2>\r\nYou can also check if your hard drive is failing on your Mac. These methods will tell you if your Mac\u2019s hard drive is failing.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check Disk Utility<\/span><\/h3>\r\nThe Disk Utility included with macOS allows you to check the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drives. Follow these instructions to do so:<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\t- Go to Applications<\/b>. Click on Utilities<\/b>, then Disk Utility<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Select your drive from the left pane. Click the Info <\/b>button.
![\"Click](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/click-info-button-in-disk-utility.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Make note of the S.M.A.R.T. status.
![\"Find](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/check-smart-status-in-disk-utility.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive is Verified<\/b>, it means that your drive is healthy and functioning properly. If it reads Failing<\/b>, the integrity of your drive cannot be trusted and you should back up your data immediately.<\/p>\r\n<\/span>Check Using Terminal<\/span><\/h3>\r\nInformation pertaining to your drive, including its S.M.A.R.T. status, can be pulled using the Terminal<\/b>. To obtain information about your disk drives in your Mac, follow these instructions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- Open Terminal<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Type diskutil info disk1|grep SMART<\/kbd>. Replace disk1 <\/b>with your own disk number. Press Return<\/b>.
![\"Check](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/check-drive-smart-status-with-mac-terminal.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Make note of the S.M.A.R.T. status.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
This method uses the same information shown in Disk Utility, so your SMART Status <\/b>should read Verified <\/b>or Failing <\/b>(or Not Supported<\/b> if it\u2019s not compatible).<\/p>\r\n<\/span>List of Best Free Hard Drive Testing Tools<\/span><\/h2>\r\nStaying on top of your hard drive\u2019s health is imperative for keeping your data safe. If you want to know how to check if your hard drive is failing, you should use a hard drive testing tool. Here are our favorite hard drive testing tools.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>#1 Disk Drill<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/disk-drill-smart-monitoring.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
Disk Drill<\/a> is primarily a data recovery tool, but it includes much more than just that. It comes with a useful set of features that are great for managing your computer and any devices attached to it. The feature we\u2019ll be focusing on in particular is its ability to give you a comprehensive overview of your S.M.A.R.T. data. Enabling S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring will allow Disk Drill to run in the background and alert you to any issues with your hard drive as they arise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n ![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/sidebar-ban-96.png\")
\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n download-block-title<\/b>
\r\n download-block-text\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n
- \r\n\t
- 🦠 Malware<\/b> \u2013 Malware, like viruses, can infect your hard drive and wreak havoc on your system. This can happen if you download a file from a dodgy source and can result in degraded system performance and data corruption.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n\t
- 🗃️ File system issues<\/b> \u2013 Without a working file system, all of your data will become inaccessible through traditional means. This can occur if your system crashes while performing critical tasks, like formatting.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 🪟 Operating system errors<\/b> \u2013 There are a lot of operating system errors that you can run into that will prevent you from using your system like normal. One example of this is the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)<\/a> on Windows.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Physical hard drive failure<\/b> is a bit more severe. While logical hard drive failure refers to software-related problems, physical hard drive failure refers to problems with the hardware. Physical problems are more challenging to fix on your own and oftentimes require the assistance of a professional. Here are some examples of physical hard drive issues:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- 🔧 Mechanical failure<\/b> \u2013 Hard drives are made up of moving parts. If you encounter a problem with a physical component, like a motor failure or head crash, the hard drive won\u2019t function like normal and you won\u2019t be able to access your data.<\/li>\r\n\t
- ⚡ Electrical problems<\/b> \u2013 The power surge that occurs following a power outage is a\u00a0 common form of electrical damage. It could also be a result of a faulty power supply that supplies too much power to your drive, causing it to overheat.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 💥 Physical damage<\/b> \u2013 Hard drives are very susceptible to physical damage. If the hard drive is dropped or otherwise physically damaged, it can very quickly become impossible to recover the data from it.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
You can usually determine which type of hard drive failure you have by looking out for some key symptoms, which we\u2019ll look at next.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Hard Drive Failure?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Sometimes HDD failure can<\/i>\u00a0<\/em>be predicted, you just have to know what to look out for. Here are a few common bad hard drive symptoms and signs that could mean your hard drive is nearing its end:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- 🐌 Degraded performance <\/b>– If your computer is no longer performing at the same speeds as it used to (especially in Safe Mode or after a fresh install), this almost certainly points towards a hardware failure.<\/li>\r\n\t
- ❌ Bad sectors<\/b> – A bad sector<\/a> is a portion of your hard drive that cannot store data. If the hard drive begins to fail, you may notice an uptick in bad sectors that can render your data corrupted.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 👎 Clicking or scratching noises<\/b> – The read\/write head used to scan the hard drive platters can sometimes make contact with the disks when errors occur, causing a clicking or scratching noise. This often results from physical damage.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 💥 Crashes<\/b> – Operating system crashes, like the BSOD, can be attributed to hard drive failure. The applications you use may also experience random crashes.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
These are just general symptoms that a failing hard drive may present. The next section will touch on ways you can check the health of your drive.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>How to Tell If Your Hard Drive Is Failing on Windows<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Here are a few ways you can tell if your hard drive is failing on Windows.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check S.M.A.R.T. Using Command Prompt<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Possibly the fastest (and easiest) way to check the status of your drive on Windows is through a Command Prompt or PowerShell window. By checking the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) data, you can get a quick heads up of your drive\u2019s health. Follow these instructions to do so:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Right-click Start <\/b>and select Terminal (Admin)<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Type wmic diskdrive get status<\/kbd> and press Enter<\/b>.
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf Command Prompt or PowerShell returns OK<\/b>, it means there is nothing wrong with your drive at present. If it reads Pre Fail <\/b>instead, Windows has detected something wrong with your drive and it\u2019s recommended that you move your data to a healthy drive as soon as possible.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check Using CHKDSK \/ Error Checking<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
CHKDSK<\/a> will check for file system-related errors, corrupted files, and bad sectors. Moreover, it will try to fix any issues it finds automatically. While CHKDSK can be run through Command Prompt, we\u2019re going to demonstrate how to use the built-in error-checking function that utilizes CHKDSK. However, CHKDSK will only work on drives with a working file system. If your partition is being read as RAW, check out our guide on how to recover data from a RAW partition<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
⚠️ Note:<\/b> While fixing the errors on your disk, there\u2019s a possibility that CHKDSK can damage some files, or even the disk itself (if the disk is in a particularly dire state) due to the additional load that\u2019s put on the disk. Therefore, we recommend making a complete backup<\/a> of the disk before performing these steps.<\/div>\r\nHere\u2019s how you can easily run CHKDSK on your drive:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Open File Explorer and go to This PC<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Right-click your drive, then click Properties<\/b>.
<\/li>\r\n\t- In the Tools <\/b>tab, click Check<\/b>.
<\/li>\r\n\t- Click Scan drive<\/b>.
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/span>Check Using CrystalDiskInfo<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
CrystalDiskInfo is a free hard drive and solid-state drive utility that can check the health status of your drive. It can also be used for actively monitoring the health of your drive and alerting you to things such as alarmingly high operating temperatures.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\nTo use the utility, you don\u2019t need to install it. All you need to do is download the application<\/a> and open it. It will immediately scan your drives and give you a detailed overview of the S.M.A.R.T. data relating to each drive.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>How to Tell If Your Hard Drive Is Failing on Mac<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
You can also check if your hard drive is failing on your Mac. These methods will tell you if your Mac\u2019s hard drive is failing.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check Disk Utility<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
The Disk Utility included with macOS allows you to check the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drives. Follow these instructions to do so:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Go to Applications<\/b>. Click on Utilities<\/b>, then Disk Utility<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Select your drive from the left pane. Click the Info <\/b>button.
<\/li>\r\n\t- Make note of the S.M.A.R.T. status.
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIf the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive is Verified<\/b>, it means that your drive is healthy and functioning properly. If it reads Failing<\/b>, the integrity of your drive cannot be trusted and you should back up your data immediately.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>Check Using Terminal<\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Information pertaining to your drive, including its S.M.A.R.T. status, can be pulled using the Terminal<\/b>. To obtain information about your disk drives in your Mac, follow these instructions:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Open Terminal<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Type diskutil info disk1|grep SMART<\/kbd>. Replace disk1 <\/b>with your own disk number. Press Return<\/b>.
<\/li>\r\n\t- Make note of the S.M.A.R.T. status.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
This method uses the same information shown in Disk Utility, so your SMART Status <\/b>should read Verified <\/b>or Failing <\/b>(or Not Supported<\/b> if it\u2019s not compatible).<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>List of Best Free Hard Drive Testing Tools<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
Staying on top of your hard drive\u2019s health is imperative for keeping your data safe. If you want to know how to check if your hard drive is failing, you should use a hard drive testing tool. Here are our favorite hard drive testing tools.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>#1 Disk Drill<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
<\/p>\r\nDisk Drill<\/a> is primarily a data recovery tool, but it includes much more than just that. It comes with a useful set of features that are great for managing your computer and any devices attached to it. The feature we\u2019ll be focusing on in particular is its ability to give you a comprehensive overview of your S.M.A.R.T. data. Enabling S.M.A.R.T. disk monitoring will allow Disk Drill to run in the background and alert you to any issues with your hard drive as they arise.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n download-block-title<\/b>
\r\n download-block-text\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n - Type diskutil info disk1|grep SMART<\/kbd>. Replace disk1 <\/b>with your own disk number. Press Return<\/b>.
- Select your drive from the left pane. Click the Info <\/b>button.
- Right-click your drive, then click Properties<\/b>.
- Type wmic diskdrive get status<\/kbd> and press Enter<\/b>.
- ❌ Bad sectors<\/b> – A bad sector<\/a> is a portion of your hard drive that cannot store data. If the hard drive begins to fail, you may notice an uptick in bad sectors that can render your data corrupted.<\/li>\r\n\t
- ⚡ Electrical problems<\/b> \u2013 The power surge that occurs following a power outage is a\u00a0 common form of electrical damage. It could also be a result of a faulty power supply that supplies too much power to your drive, causing it to overheat.<\/li>\r\n\t
- 🗃️ File system issues<\/b> \u2013 Without a working file system, all of your data will become inaccessible through traditional means. This can occur if your system crashes while performing critical tasks, like formatting.<\/li>\r\n\t