Hard Disk
Hard disk failures are the most common computer hardware problems. And laptop hard disks fail more often than desktop HDs. If you knock hard or drop your laptop even a few inches while it’s working, you may damage the HD.
Symptoms:
- The laptop starts as usual but when Windows starts to load it goes to blue screen with either “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME”, “hal.dll is missing or corrupt” or “WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM” (or similar) is missing or corrupt. All these error messages indicate a filesystem problem. Sometimes it can be fixed by just scanning the HD for errors. However in over 50% of the cases these errors indicate that the HD is starting to go bad and is probably developing bad sectors.
- The laptop starts as usual but Windows freezes on the initial “Windows XP” screen, although the blue bar continues to move, and you can hear feint but continuous clicking. Hard disk have to be replaced.
- As soon as the laptop is started there are loud clicks or grinding sounds and Windows doesn’t load. Hard disk have to be replaced.
- Shortly after starting the laptop a message appears (usually on a black screen) “SMART test failed. Backup your data immediately and replace the hard disk” or similar. Well, that says it all. S.M.A.R.T. is a self-test that is build into the hard disk.
In almost all cases the laptop can be started from a “live” bootable CD and everything works normal. In rare cases the HDs PCB (printed circuit board) may short or even burn. Then the laptop wouldn’t start unless the HD is removed.
Troubleshooting:
The first case from above (corrupted filesystem) is by far the most common. There are several ways of diagnosing and fixing the corrupted/missing files. If this was just a software problem, the hard disk will continue to work properly. However keep in mind that this may also be a signs of deterioration and backup daily!
Also the hard disk will need some preventive maintenance. Check it for errors every few days or at least every week. To do that you must be logged in an admin account, then right-click the “C” drive in “My Computer”, select “Properties”, then “Tools”, then click on the “Check Now” button. Select both boxes and click on “Start”. Windows will tell you that the hard disk cannot be checked now but you can schedule a check for the next restart. Click “OK” and restart the laptop. The check will take from about 30-40 min. to over 2 hours, so do it when you’re not planning to use the laptop for some time.
hi, i have sony vaio vpceb46fg my laptop was damaged by my nephew at right side of touchpad (not touchpad) and then it stops working at a place after half hour it doesn’t boot and said missing os i installed one then it again repeats the same thing and ultimately i installed ubuntu to get rid from problem on running win7. What should i do? i don’t want to send my laptop for any kind of repair.
i appreciate if you help me.
Hi,
I have a Dell Latitude D430 and whenever I install a new OS everything’s okay, but after a few hours or days it can’t get past the windows starting logo when I start it. Could there be a way to repair the hard disk or do I have to replace it?
my laptop toshiba satelite, freezes all the time , i was using xp2009 sp3 previously bt later installed sp2 i it worked fine for 4 days and refused to open, i tried using hdd regenerator but again it worked for 1day and its not doing fine cos all the time its disk checking. WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM?.
buy a new laptop. somerimes in start up after boot screen, windows 7 logo is not shown. it still in black color. what is the reason for it?
my laptop shows “corupt volume ‘ messages and hardware scan shows ‘smart self test run-out’ , what is the problem??? please help someone!!!!!
also, can this be due to overheating???
during os install error given system disk not found
my acer aspire 5100 crashed. I bought a new hard drive and it is asking for a hdd password. where do I find this password.
Hard drive went bad on Acer 5920. Bought new HD. Recovery disc 2 apparently bad (keeps kicking it out then asks for it again) Have windows XP disk.. when booted to that it says no hard drive found. I have a USB setup for a sata drive. It locates it on another computer. Have formatted. and inserted a drive #.. so far .. nothing
hI,
i HAVE SAMSUNG r430 laptop and it shows that YOUR HARD DISK MAY FAIL , TAKE BACKUP and when i start the machine it shows checkdsk everytime…what should i do?
hey guys me too have a problem, my screen going blue over and over then it says win32k.sys possible causing the problem. sometimes NTFS. any 1 can help me?