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.
hello sir or madam
i have nightmare with my laptop i replaced my hd same hd whats use to be same make and when i setting up windows passed all stages after keep saying no hd i already check hd before setup saying pass the test please any help what i need to do????
Kole I have sent you an email with a link to check out.
I BOUGHT BOTH IDE AND SATA HARD DRIVES 500GB AND 400BT THAT IS LAPTOP HARD DRIVES,
THEY BOTH JUST STOP WORKING. I USED THEM AS A BACKUP DRIVES THAT IS EXTERNAL BACKUP DRIVES.
WHEN EVER I CONNECTS TO MY PC, IT NEVER SPINS, LIKE THE POWER ENTERING THE BORD IS LESS,
DUE TO THAT I MOUNT IT UNTO MY MACHINE PERHAPS IT MIGHT WORK BUT NO IT TELL ME NO HARD DISK FOUND,
PLEASE WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM WHAT CAN I DO TO REVIVE MY HARD DRIVE BACK TO IT STATUS
THANKS
sir ,… My laptop compaq nx6115 normally booting when i put win xp,vista,7…But after restarting(Auto restart in setup process) It is just saying ” press any key to boot from cd or dvd” … Here if i dont press anything… This screen is staying like dat only for long time… nd if i press again comes the same….when i tried removing the bootable CD …It is displaying a single cursor for long time….. My frnd says that it is a hard disk problem…What is the actual problem?… Can my hdd recovered?…Please reply sir…
sir i am having a problem in formatting that my computer is unable to read dvds for formatting and when cds are read after sometime of processing it stops processing and tell about virus or hardware currupted.please help me.
Hi I replace a hard drive on a toshiba satellite due to a forgotten password but when I try to install windows The disc number two stop,when start creating CRC file what can I do from here,
Please any help will be appreciated..!
I have an HP laptop and for some reason it keeps saying that windows cannot be pulled up and I cant get passed the login user page?!? pleasee help! do I need to restart my windows?
I find the problem with my HD is that it is the software on my laptop that is the problem, and stops it from backing up.
I have to uninstall and then reinstall the HD software and it gets up and going again.
ok so i have a hp labtop i did a self hard disk check and it said i need to get new hard disk I. what does that mean lol im not computer smart, i also try to restore the computer but it shows up like if you have not seen this screen before blah blah blah. if you could email me with things i can do or if there is nothhing and the labtop s garbage please help me email is kolebaschuk@live.ca thanks and please email me
after turning on it displays”backup your data u have corrupted hard disc press F1 to continue” and also it is detecting disc drive