• Do-it-yourself hard drive data repair and recovery. Do-it-yourself hard drive repair HDD repair using

    The hard drive (HDD) is designed to store information on a laptop and, unfortunately, is one of the most vulnerable components of a computer. In this article we will provide brief instructions on how to troubleshoot basic hard drive problems yourself. At the beginning of work, it is recommended, if possible, to make a duplicate of the information stored on the disk. There is a high probability that after repair, information from the hard drive will be deleted without a trace.

    Diagnostics and causes of laptop hard drive failure

    The HDD is a small platform on which a magnet, a package of disks, a rotating positioner frame, and a head that reads information from the disk are located. The disks rotate at an average speed of 720 rpm, and even higher when installing applications. Of course, intensive work can lead to wear and tear of HDD components.

    The main reasons indicating a hard drive failure:

    • The HDD makes clicking noises when operating. This is the most common malfunction and indicates mechanical damage to the hard drive components. There can be a lot of reasons: dust, foreign objects, wear of the read head, damaged disk surface due to an impact. Often such a malfunction occurs in the first three years after purchasing a laptop. To determine the problem, you need to disassemble the computer
    • The hard drive makes an intermittent hum when operating. This characteristic, repeating sound indicates wear on the disk read/write head.
    • BIOS does not see the hard drive. The cause of this trouble may be operational errors and due to mechanical damage

    It is possible that the disk may not be located by the system or may work with errors even though it is fully operational. When disassembling the laptop, you should check that the drive jumpers are installed correctly and that the cable connecting the HDD to the motherboard is in good condition. These small and easily corrected nuances can cause disk failure.

    Preparing the hard drive for repair

    The advantage of all laptops is the ease of access and replacement of all computer components, so even those who are not particularly “friendly” with technology can remove the hard drive and prepare it for repair.

    This rule applies to replacing the hard drive. We will not give a plan for removing the HDD from a laptop; there is a sufficient amount of such information on the Internet and they differ depending on the laptop manufacturer. The greatest difficulties can arise in HP Pavilion laptops, where you need to remove the keyboard to get to the hard drive.

    Note: Removing hard drive components, such as the circuit board or cover, yourself will void your computer's warranty.

    DIY laptop hard drive repair

    Oxidation of contacts

    Contact oxidation is the most common cause of hard drive failure. This problem is easily fixable and does not require special skills or time to eliminate:

    • We take out the hard drive and unscrew the external hard drive board.
    • We find the data transfer interface contacts on the board; they are usually located on the side of the board and are arranged in two rows.

    • We inspect the contacts for damage, darkening of oxides, carbon deposits
    • Using a regular office eraser, with light friction we get rid of carbon deposits and oxides on the contacts
    • We treat the contacts with cotton wool moistened with an alcohol solution

    • Bad disk head

      If you hear an intermittent monotonous hum or crackling of the hard drive, then there is a high probability of a breakdown of the hard drive's reading head. When the head is faulty, it is impossible to repair it; you will have to replace it with a new one; such a part is called a donor. The donor must be from the same company as the part being replaced. Remember that replacement must be carried out using gloves to prevent dust from getting on the disk components.

      Replacing the disk head is carried out in several stages:

    • Remove the hard drive from the computer and use a Phillips screwdriver to open the hard drive cover. Opening must be done carefully, being careful not to catch the magnet and the gasket.
    • To remove the heads, you need to sequentially remove the magnet and stops, rotating the disk behind the spindle axis, remove the heads, then unscrew them and remove them. We also perform this operation with the donor disk; after removing the head from it, we place it on the faulty disk
    • Assembling the disk in reverse order

    • Faulty disk surface

      The surface of the disk (the block of magnetic plates) is very vulnerable, as it is constantly in contact with the moving head. Due to a faulty head or mechanical shocks to the laptop body, scratches and dents may form on the surface of the disk, which lead to unpleasant sound during operation, as well as loss of information from the disk. It is often worth replacing the disk head so that there are no more problems with the surface.

    • Damage to information on the drive

      In case of software errors or damage to the magnetic plate unit, the necessary information may be deleted from the disk. And if, if a block of plates is damaged, only part of the information can be restored, and only in special services, then accidentally deleted information from a computer can still be restored if the disk sectors on which it was located were not overwritten.

      To restore information, there are many specialized utilities, such as: R-Studio, Undelete Plus, HDD Regenerator and others. Programs of this kind are easy to use: you just need to install them on your computer, scan the disk space and restore the detected files.

      Do-it-yourself hard drive repair is a labor-intensive procedure that should be performed by technicians, not amateurs. It is also worth remembering that in the event of mechanical damage, the information on the disk will almost certainly be permanently deleted after the HDD malfunction is repaired.

    Repairing a hard drive is a procedure that, in some cases, allows you to restore the functionality of the drive. Due to the nature of this device, serious damage is usually impossible to fix on your own, but minor problems can be fixed without calling a specialist.

    You can return the HDD to working condition even if it is not visible in the BIOS. However, it is not often possible to repair a drive due to the complexity of its design. In some cases, repairs may require you to pay an amount several times greater than the cost of the hard drive itself, and it only makes sense to do this to restore extremely important data stored on it.

    It is necessary to distinguish between repairing a hard drive and restoring it. In the first case, we are talking about restoring the device’s functionality, and in the second, we are talking about returning lost data. If you need to recover files that were deleted or lost as a result of formatting, check out our other article:

    Read more: The best programs to recover deleted files from your hard drive

    You can also replace the hard drive yourself, and, if possible, copy files from the old HDD to the new one. This is suitable for those users who do not want to contact specialists and prefer to simply get rid of the failed drive.

    Lesson: Replacing the hard drive on a PC and laptop

    Problem 1: Bad sectors of the hard drive

    Bad sectors can be divided into software and physical. The former can be easily restored using various utilities, and as a result the HDD operates stably and without failures.

    Read also: 2 ways to eliminate errors and bad sectors on your hard drive

    Treatment of physically damaged sectors does not involve the use of programs. At the same time, the drive itself may begin to make unusual sounds: clicks, creaking, rustling, etc. Other manifestations of problems include system freezes even when performing simple tasks, disappearance of files or folders, or the appearance of empty unallocated space.

    It is impossible to fix such a problem on the hard drive of a computer or laptop manually. Therefore, the user can either replace the hard drive with a new one and, if possible, transfer important data to it, or use the services of specialists who restore data from a physically damaged surface under special conditions.

    You can understand that there are problems with sectors using the following programs:

    1. Crystal Disk Info;
    2. HDD Regenerator;
    3. Victoria HDD.

    If the device is still working, but is no longer stable, you need to think about purchasing a new drive as soon as possible. At the same time, it is strongly recommended to minimize the use of a PC with a damaged HDD.

    After connecting the second hard drive, you can clone the entire HDD or just the operating system.

    Lessons: How to clone a hard drive Transferring the system to another hard drive

    Problem 2: Windows doesn't see the drive

    A physically healthy drive may not be detected by the operating system even when connected to another computer, but may be visible in the BIOS.

    There are several situations in which Windows does not see the device:

    1. The drive letter is missing. It may happen that the volume will be left without a letter (C, D, E, etc.), which is why it will no longer be visible to the system. Simple formatting usually helps here.

      Lesson: What is disk formatting and how to do it correctly

      After this, if you need to return deleted data, use special programs.

      Read more: Programs for recovering deleted files

    2. The disc received a RAW format. Formatting will help resolve this situation, but it is not the only way to return to the NTFS or FAT file system. Read more about this in our other article:

      Lesson: How to change the RAW format of HDD drives

    3. Windows does not see the new hard drive. A HDD just purchased and connected to the system unit may not be detected by the system, and this is absolutely normal. To start using the device, you need to initialize it.

      Lesson: How to initialize a hard drive

    Problem 3: BIOS does not see the drive

    In more serious cases, the hard drive may not be visible not only in the operating system, but also in the BIOS. Typically, the BIOS displays all connected devices, even those that are not detected in Windows. This way you can understand that physically they work, but there are software conflicts.

    When a device is not detected in the BIOS, in most cases this is due to one of two reasons:


    Problem 4: The hard drive is knocking under the cover

    If you hear a knock inside the hard drive, then most likely the controller has been damaged. Sometimes the hard drive may not be detected in the BIOS.

    To fix this problem, you will need to completely change the controller, but doing this yourself is almost impossible. Specialized companies carry out such repairs, but it will cost a lot of money. Therefore, it makes sense to contact the experts only if the information stored on the disk is very important.

    Problem 5: HDD makes strange noises

    Under normal conditions, the drive should not make any sound other than noise while reading or writing. If you hear uncharacteristic squeaks, cracks, clicks, knocks or even scratches, then it is very important to stop using the damaged HDD as soon as possible.

    Depending on the severity of the damage, the drive may not be detected in the BIOS, stop abruptly, or, on the contrary, unsuccessfully try to start spinning up.

    In this case, it is very difficult to diagnose the problem yourself. A specialist will need to disassemble the device to determine the source of the problem. In the future, based on the inspection results, replacement of the damaged element will be required. This may be a head, cylinder, plate or other elements.

    Read also: Reasons why your hard drive clicks and their solution

    Repairing a drive yourself is a very dangerous task. Firstly, you will not always be able to understand for yourself what exactly needs repair. Secondly, there is a huge chance of the drive being damaged. But if you want to try your hand, then you should start by properly disassembling the hard drive and becoming familiar with its main components.

    Read more: How to disassemble a hard drive yourself

    Disassembly will be relevant if you are prepared for a complete failure of the device, are not afraid of losing stored data, or have already made a backup copy.

    Problem 6: The hard drive began to work slowly

    Reduced performance is another common reason why a user will think that the hard drive has some kind of problem. Fortunately, HDDs, unlike solid state drives (SSDs), do not tend to slow down over time.

    Low operating speed usually appears as a result of software factors:

    • Garbage;
    • High fragmentation;
    • Unoptimized HDD parameters;
    • Bad sectors and errors;
    • Outdated connection mode.

    How to eliminate each of these reasons and increase the speed of the device, read our separate article:

    Lesson: How to increase the speed of your hard drive

    A hard drive is a fragile device that is very easily damaged by any external physical impact, be it shaking or falling. But in some cases it can break even with careful use and complete isolation from negative factors. The stated service life of an HDD is about 5-6 years, but in practice it often fails 2 times faster. Therefore, you, as a user, need to take care of the safety of important data in advance, for example, have an additional HDD, flash drive, or use cloud storage. This will protect you from the loss of personal information and additional financial costs aimed at restoring it.

    We are glad that we were able to help you solve the problem.

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    lumpics.ru

    How to fix a hard drive

    Today, a computer has become an integral part of the life of any family, and its malfunction can simply be a disaster for its owners. It's like a family member who contains a lot of information we need and comes to the rescue at the most needed moment. But there are times when the main source of computer data storage - the hard drive (hard drive) - fails, or makes working on the computer very problematic, or even completely destroys it. We will write how we can help our computer, namely how to fix a hard drive if it stops working.


    How to repair a hard drive yourself?

    This article will help you find out:

    1. How to diagnose a hard drive failure. 2. How to repair a hard drive yourself.

    Very often, when diagnosing a problem with a computer’s (or laptop’s) hard drive, we think that we can fix everything ourselves, but we don’t know the intricacies of the work of the craftsmen and go poking around with it using improvised means. In this way we will only make the situation worse. You need to remember: you should never disassemble your computer’s hard drive yourself! It will not be possible to return the hard drive to working condition in this way, but you will be able to completely break it.

    How to diagnose a breakdown?

    The main symptoms of a hard drive malfunction may be:

    1. The system does not find the computer's hard drive. 2. The system freezes or reboots. 3. Problems when reading information from the disk.

    4. Problems with starting the operating system.

    If something matches the description of our problem, we proceed to the second phase of self-treatment of our hard drive. However, you should remember that in cases of self-repair of the hard drive, all responsibility will fall on our shoulders and no warranty applies to this. Therefore, think about how to repair a hard drive yourself and whether it is advisable to undertake this at all, or is it easier to take the entire computer for diagnostics and repair to a specialized service center.

    If you are still wondering how to fix your computer’s hard drive, then you need to try the simplest:

    1. Checking contacts.

    First of all, if the hard drive is not working, you need to check for a good connection between the hard drive and the computer’s motherboard, that is, perform repairs in Russian. Perhaps you just have a bad connection and if you fix it, everything will return to working condition. If, after checking the contacts, you are again wondering how to repair the hard drive yourself, but it still does not work, then you should move on to the next step.

    2. External inspection and cleaning of contacts.

    At the next stage, you need to begin external inspection and cleaning of the contacts. During the cleaning process, you may need to replace the SATA or IDE cable. If after replacement the hard drive works, then the repair is completed, but if not, then you should examine the hard drive very carefully. If after inspection you are convinced that there is no mechanical damage to the hard drive or connecting cables, then you should proceed to the next step.

    3. Checking the motherboard.

    One of the reasons for the inoperability of the hard drive may be voltage surges in the network, which lead to the failure of some components of the computer motherboard. If, during the inspection of the motherboard, malfunctions, burnt areas, etc. are noticed, then it is necessary to replace the burnt board and the hard drive will work again. But there is one caveat: the chips on the board are calibrated for a specific hard drive, so there is no guarantee that replacing will help, even though it is the cheapest option.

    4. Hard drive recovery using special programs.

    If you have carried out all the steps described above, but the hard drive still does not work, then most likely there has been a logical failure of your computer’s hard drive. This can be corrected using special programs that will help “bring back to life” your hard drive: MHDD or Viktoria. These programs can run outside the operating system. To use them, you will need to either create a boot disk or use a flash drive. The interface of these programs is almost identical. You will only need to select the required disk with which you can perform any manipulations, as well as the type of action to be performed.

    The programs listed above, in addition, will help to completely clean the disk from the data stored on it, as well as scan the surface for bad sectors and restore or highlight bad sectors as inactive.

    5. Disk freezing.

    There are also extreme measures to repair a hard drive, or simply: how to repair a hard drive in Russian. To do this, you need to freeze the hard drive. This is an extreme measure, but it will help get your computer's hard drive back online for a short period of time so you can copy important information and transfer it to another device. In order to use this “life hack” you need to:

    Place the disc in a vacuum bag (without air) and leave it in the freezer for several hours. Connect the hard drive to your personal computer and start it.

    If the hard drive does not work right away, turn off the computer, remove the hard drive, then lightly hit it on the table or floor. Reconnect it to your computer and turn it on. If this method does work on your device, copy the files you need, and then you can recycle this hard drive. In the worst case scenario, you will need the help of a qualified specialist.

    Finally, I would like to add once again that the question of how to repair a hard drive yourself is a very serious one and its solution must be approached very carefully. There are many service centers, companies and workshops that carry out such repairs. But before you take your equipment to any service, do not be lazy and find out as much information as possible about this service, read reviews on the Internet or talk to people who have used their services. Among such services, there are often those that do not solve the problem, but take money from you.

    ruinfocomp.ru

    DIY hard drive repair

    All information that exists today can be stored on special devices called a hard drive or hard drive. Their choice is large, and the capacity allows you to store thousands of photos, movies, games, documents and other files necessary for the user. However, like any complex device, a hard drive can fail, which will require troubleshooting and subsequent corrections.

    How to diagnose and test your hard drive

    External hard drive repair

    External drives have gained popularity due to their compactness - a person can carry a huge amount of information with them. Such devices are reliable, but they are not immune to breakdowns. If the failure is not associated with mechanical damage, then you can repair the external hard drive yourself.

    Repairing a hard drive after a fall or other physical impacts is difficult to do at home.

    1. You will need to open the magnetic head unit, which can only be done in a clean, sterile room. Any dust is dangerous for the magnetic insides of the device.
    2. Repairing mechanical damage requires specific knowledge and tools to find the broken element and replace it. The most rational solution is to contact a service center.

    It’s a little easier to deal with software failures, which, according to statistics, bother users of external hard drives even more often than defects resulting from physical impacts. This is due to frequent cases of incorrect shutdown.

    We begin diagnostics and repairs by checking the serviceability of the USB cable that connects the drive to a PC, TV, etc. You can connect the cable to another device and see if it is working.

    If a laptop or PC detects a connected external hard drive, but working with it is accompanied by freezes, crashes, and errors, then it’s a good idea to check it for viruses, some of which are quite capable of disrupting the operation of the hard drive.

    The next step is formatting. Be sure to do the full one, not the quick one. There are a lot of programs for this procedure: Acronis Disk Director, HDD Low Level Format, etc.

    Overview of programs for formatting hard drives

    Formatting can be started through the command line, Disk Management or My Computer.

    The main thing is to select the NTFS file system in the settings.

    If the computer sees the external hard drive, but it is impossible to extract information from it, then it is a good idea to determine which part of it is severely damaged and which files can be extracted and restored. The programs Recuva, Partition Recovery and others are suitable for this. By launching one of them, you will see a list of files that can be returned, and “broken” information can simply be deleted, returning the hard drive to its previous performance.

    Back to contents ^

    First of all, we pay attention to extraneous sounds in the operation of the hard drive when turning on the laptop. This may be clicking, tapping, accompanied by slowing down and freezing. There are many reasons: from simple dirt and dust to damage to the drive, jamming or misalignment of the spindle.

    If the laptop no longer sees the hard drive, then you can try to determine the cause of the problem and fix it yourself. To do this, there are instructions, taking into account which you must follow each point sequentially:

    1. Remove the hard drive from the laptop case.
    2. Next, unscrew the controller board - you will need a star screwdriver. Please remember that this will void your warranty. In some HDD models, the elements are located on the outside and can be seen without additional actions.
    3. We carefully inspect the board for damage. Often, due to overheating, swelling or carbon deposits form on microcircuits. You can also use a magnifying glass and inspect the soldering joints of the connectors: even one leg that falls off can seriously disrupt the operation of the entire device. If you find such signs, then you can calm down - the repair will not be delayed. It is enough to find on the Internet the article number or name of the board that is suitable for your hard drive. Then buy it and replace it.
    4. Do not forget that dust on the contacts can also cause the hard drive to fail or interfere with the flow of signals coming from the motherboard and vice versa. Blow or clean the inputs and cables of the hard drive. To clean the electrical board, a regular eraser, alcohol and cotton swabs are suitable. Try not to flood the contacts - otherwise the disk will stop working altogether.
    5. If the results of cleaning the cables and the controller board are positive, it is recommended to defragment the hard drive and registry.

    Back to contents ^

    Do-it-yourself hard drive repair video

    There are quite a lot of videos on the Internet that clearly demonstrate several ways to troubleshoot a hard drive. They are mainly associated with disassembling the hard drive case and cleaning the board elements. This is explained by the fact that almost 90% of hard drive failures occur due to oxidation of electrical contacts.

    It is not difficult to identify areas that require removal of oxide and dirt. Such contact paths appear darkened. To begin, carefully go over the eraser until a light shine appears. Be sure to clean the group of contacts going to the drive (usually there are 3 of them). Next, take alcohol and an old toothbrush - with their help we additionally wash the contact paths.

    Now you need to protect the board elements from further oxidation. In principle, you can even coat it with silicone grease. It does not allow current to pass through, but protects against corrosion. However, it is best to treat contacts with special aerosol products. For example, Kontakt 60. When using a laptop in an office or home, we recommend that you perform similar cleaning of the hard drive boards at least once a year.

    If the described tips and methods for repairing a hard drive with your own hands did not help solve the problem, then the best option would be to contact a specialized center. The main thing is not to get carried away with troubleshooting yourself and under no circumstances listen to recommendations on various forums about how heating the hard drive or keeping it in the microwave will help. This will only damage the device and waste your time.

    Winchester hard drive repair

    onlineotvetchik.com

    DIY laptop hard drive repair

    In computer technology, HDD (hard drive) is the storage place for all information. But, like any equipment, over time this device can also break down. Most often, laptop computers suffer from this disease. And before you repair a laptop hard drive with your own hands, you need to understand what the operating principle of this mechanism is.


    In case of minor damage, you can repair the laptop hard drive yourself.

    What is Hard Disc Driver

    The HDD or hard drive of a laptop is a 2.5-inch magnetic disk. There can be several such “pancakes”, enclosed in a solid body. It rotates all the time and the faster this happens, the greater the data transfer speed.

    And when the hard drive breaks down, the operating system stops loading or freezes and reboots when accessing files. According to company statistics, manufacturers provide a 12-month warranty on this device, but this does not mean that it will break in a year. Typically, the average hard drive “lives” for about 4 years.

    Diagnosis and causes

    When determining problems with a hard drive, you should first listen to the operation of the computer, then visually examine the outer and inner sides of the disk. The main cause of hard drive failures in the first year of life is manufacturing defects. And only after 3 years of service can we talk about wear and tear of the mechanical parts.


    The disk head is faulty.


    The disk surface is faulty

    When such a failure occurs, the HDD becomes very hot and can make a dull, loud grinding noise. This usually occurs when the laptop is dropped or the disk is scratched. Here you can also repair the hard drive by replacing its heads.

    Oxidation of contacts

    This problem is a fairly common cause of failure of this mechanism. To correct the situation, you should also disassemble the laptop case and remove the hard drive. Carefully remove the cover and carefully handle the board elements:


    Chip problems

    This nuisance can also completely stop the hard drive from working. When it overheats, carbon deposits appear on the chip, and a broken leg (can be seen with a magnifying glass) may be the reason for purchasing a new disk.

    Damage to information

    In this case, the laptop does not detect the hard drive or does not see the amount of its information. This is where the disk program crashes. It can also make a characteristic unpleasant sound, which means that one of the heads has failed, and therefore the information can only be partially restored by reducing the storage capacity. If the heads are in good condition, you can rewrite the data using certain programs, for example, Acronis Recovery Expert or Activ Partition Recovery Pro, etc.

    Half-living disc

    If the hard drive periodically turns off, is not detected by the operating system, or failures occur when writing and reading files, first of all, you should copy important information to removable media. Then check the disk surface with programs such as Victoria (HDD Regenerator).

    The program will determine in which sectors the failure occurred and you can either try to restore it yourself or do a full formatting. In general, such a hard drive can still work for some time, but in the future it will become increasingly destroyed.

    You should know that repairing a laptop hard drive is a very delicate process. If there is a warranty on the equipment, then it is better to contact the service center of the store where it was purchased. Well, if you still decide to repair the hardware yourself, you need to understand that information from the hard drive will most likely be lost.

    NastroyVse.ru

    How to fix a laptop hard drive

    How to fix a laptop hard drive? All information existing in the laptop is placed on a special device - the hard drive. The capacity of the hard drive allows you to store a lot of photos, games, movies, documents and other files. Unfortunately, like any complex device, the hard drive is not immune to breakdowns, which requires immediate diagnosis of the malfunction. So is it possible to repair a laptop hard drive? Of course, but you should understand that when repairing a laptop hard drive, information from the disk is completely deleted, so you can do it yourself You can start repairs if the information has been copied or there is no need for it.

    How to fix a laptop hard drive - Checking the laptop hard drive

    You need to think about a serious failure of the hard drive if it begins to make extraneous sounds - clanging or grinding. There can be several reasons for their occurrence: weak fragmentation, expiration of the disk, and others. It happens that the BIOS on a laptop cannot detect the hard drive - in this case, the operating system does not start, and the user sees a corresponding message on the screen. How to fix a kettle? or sound on a laptop?

    This is easy to check - by clicking on the frame that describes the equipment and appears at the time of initial boot. To fix the problem, you should clear the disk of information. To do this, use a bootable CD with a special program called Diskedit. After rebooting, the laptop usually returns to normal operation.

    Do-it-yourself hard drive repair or How to repair a laptop hard drive

    If the laptop does not read the hard drive and the above program did not help, you can try to determine the cause of the failure and fix it. It must be remembered that independent actions will void the manufacturer's warranty. The sequence of actions is as follows:

    1. Remove the hard drive from the laptop.
    2. Unscrew the controller board using a torx screwdriver. In some hard drive models, the elements are located on the outside, so they are accessible without any manipulation.
    3. Inspect the board for damage. The result of overheating is carbon deposits and swelling on the microcircuits; fallen off legs at the soldering points of the connectors also disrupt the operation of the device. To repair, you need to find a suitable part number or name of the board on the Internet, purchase the part and replace it.
    4. Blow or clean the inputs and cables of the hard drive with an eraser or cotton swabs soaked in alcohol - the cause of failure of the hard drive or failure of the flow of signals coming from the motherboard and back may well be dust on the contacts. You cannot fill contacts - the disk may stop working.

    How to fix a disk head

    If the hard drive on a laptop is broken and you need to repair the head, you will need a donor drive, which is installed in place of the damaged one. The main condition for replacement is that the hard drive is in working order and matches the model. How to properly remove a hard drive from a laptop? Actions are carried out in stages:

    1. Unscrew the screws and carefully remove the cover from the disk without damaging the gasket.
    2. Remove the magnet and then unscrew the screws.
    3. Having removed the magnet, you can see the VCM coil, behind which the heads are located - getting them out is not difficult.

    There can be many reasons for a drive failure, and in most cases, even a professional cannot fix the failure. Today we will talk about how to try to find the cause of the failure of a Seagate and other brands of hard drive with your own hands, carry out the recovery procedure yourself and repair the hard drive.

    DIY hard drive repair

    HDD is a very complex mechanism, so repairing it can be a problem even for an experienced specialist. In some cases, a situation arises in which you are forced to pay an amount for repairs that exceeds the cost of the hard drive itself. Naturally, such sacrifices make sense given the possible loss of important data.

    It should be clarified that our article will consider repairing the hard drive, namely restoring the functionality of the device. In this article you will not find information about recovering lost data.

    Damaged sectors

    Failed sectors can be either software or physical. In the first case, it will be enough to download specialized utilities to restore the functionality of the HDD,


    You can recognize physical damage to sectors by unusual computer sounds: creaking, rustling, clicking, etc. System malfunctions and the disappearance of various files may occur.

    Unfortunately, you won’t be able to fix this problem at home and will have to contact a technician who will try to recover data from damaged areas under special conditions. Another solution to the problem is to replace the hard drive with a new one and try to transfer all important data to it.

    The program will help you recover lost data in the event of a software sector violation Victoria HDD. In addition, using this utility you can check the functionality of your hard drive.

    Windows doesn't see the drive

    There are several options here:

    1. The drive letter is lost. Everyone knows that drives in a computer are designated by special letters (C, D, E..). In this case, the system will simply lose sight of the hard drive. In this case, formatting can help you.

    2. For some reason the disc received a RAW format. This is where formatting can help again.

    3. You recently bought a hard drive, so you need to initialize it before work, otherwise the computer will not be able to see it.

    BIOS doesn't see the drive

    If even the BIOS could not detect the device, then everything is very deplorable. In this case, the damage to the hard drive is most likely physical. As a rule, the BIOS shows all devices connected to the computer, including even those that Windows does not see. Typically this problem occurs for one of two reasons:

    1. Mechanical damage to the motherboard, or incorrect connection of the hard drive.


    To check the connection Necessarily Disconnect the computer from power, then remove the system unit cover. We are interested in the cable connecting the hard drive and the motherboard. Inspect the wire for damage, dust and debris. Check the reliability of the motherboard socket into which the cable is inserted.

    Replace the cable or hard drive, and then start the computer again to check for the presence of the hard drive in the BIOS. If the device is not detected again, then the problem may be with the motherboard.

    2. Mechanical failure


    This problem may be indicated by strange clicking sounds when your computer starts up. These sounds mean that the faulty HDD is trying to start working, but is unable to do so due to physical failure. For this reason, Windows and BIOS will not be able to detect the device.

    In case of mechanical failure, professional repair or complete replacement of the hard drive will be required. Data is most likely to be lost.

    The hard drive is knocking under the cover

    If during operation you hear a strange knocking sound inside the hard drive, then there is a possibility that your controller is damaged.


    In this situation, the solution may be to replace the controller, but doing this yourself will be very difficult, since it requires special skills and equipment. The easiest way would be to turn to specialists, but repairs can be extremely expensive.

    HDD makes strange sounds

    In this situation, sounds may be similar to scratching, squeaking, clicking or cracking. In this case, you should stop using the hard drive immediately before the situation gets worse.


    In this case, you are unlikely to be able to diagnose the problem, because the hard drive mechanism is very complex and there can be many reasons. Only a specialist will be able to correctly determine the cause of the malfunction by disassembling the device and replacing the damaged element.

    You should not once again take on the task of repairing a hard drive yourself, because without the proper knowledge and specialized equipment, you can only make things worse.

    Winchester began to work slowly


    In this case, the damage is most likely software. The reason may be garbage, overcrowded startup, bad sectors and system errors, etc.

    Initially, you need to check the integrity of the cable through which the hard drive is connected to the USB connector. To do this, you can try to connect another working device through it. If it also refuses to work, then the problem is in this cable. All that remains is to simply replace this cable and continue to use the hard drive as before.

    Even a problematic hard drive can be detected after connection, but continue to work with major problems:

    often freezes;
    seriously slows down;
    flies out;
    provokes all sorts of errors.

    In these cases, it is useful to check the drive for the presence of viruses. Of course, when checking the hard drive, the antivirus program databases must be up to date, with all the necessary latest updates.

    The correct operation of the hard drive can be restored by formatting it. It is only important to take into account that the process of such formatting should be complete, and not quick. Formatting can be done by using additional programs that are easy to find on the network, and you can also use the internal resources of the operating system.

    Sometimes you can witness that the hard drive is detected and seen by the computer, but every attempt to extract information ends in complete failure. In this case, you should not rush to format; it is best to use certain software to try to identify damaged sectors and ensure their recovery.

    Good helpers in solving such a technical problem are programs such as Recuva or Partition Recovery. You can find other decent software analogues on the Internet.

    If a technical problem arose not with the portable hard drive, but with the built-in hard drive, then you will have to perform other actions aimed at restoring its functionality. Frequently occurring specific sounds that are reproduced especially actively when the computer equipment is turned on can indicate problems that arise. Constant freezes and excessively slow operation of your laptop or computer can also confirm your fears.

    It is impossible to immediately determine the reason that provoked such a technical failure. This could even be a simple penetration of dust or dirt, as well as damage to wires or jamming of the spindle. So, if you decide to repair the laptop hard drive yourself, then you need to strictly follow the algorithm we have proposed.

    First, you will need to remove the hard drive and, accordingly, unscrew the bolts securing it. Unfortunately, such actions of yours completely void the warranty, so weigh the degree of risk, and only then continue to perform the actions. If the warranty period has expired, you have nothing to fear.

    Unscrew the bolts
    Now unscrew the controller board. Armed with a magnifying glass, visually carefully inspect the board. Pay attention to the adhesions. Even one leg that falls off can cause the entire device to malfunction. And also the identification of specific carbon deposits or swelling of the microcircuits indicates that this particular board has failed and needs to be replaced. It is enough to go to a specialized store and purchase exactly the same new board, and then install it, eliminating the old one that has failed.

    If a visual inspection reveals traces of dust or dirt, you will have to undergo a “general” but very careful “cleaning”. Arm yourself with cotton swabs, alcohol and an ordinary eraser, and use them to carefully remove all dust. You should not be hasty when performing such manipulations, since any sudden movement can disrupt contacts and, accordingly, provoke an even greater failure.

    If you find traces of oxidation, which are accompanied by dark shades in appearance, you can try to eliminate them too. Initially, cotton swabs and alcohol, as well as an eraser, will also help you. Gently brush areas where signs of oxidation are visible until they lighten. However, after such cleaning has been carried out, it is recommended to protect these areas from possible re-risks of oxidation.

    Of course, you will have to visit the store and purchase either silicone lubricant or special aerosol products. However, your money will not be thrown away in vain; all contacts will be under confident protection.

    After completing these steps, return the hard drive to its original place, secure it and turn on the PC. Even after making sure that the hard drive is working perfectly, we still recommend defragmenting it and the registry too.

    Checking the status of the hard drive using SMART

    Modern hard drives have a built-in SMART self-diagnosis system. It helps to identify problems and predict hard drive failure, thus preventing data loss in a timely manner. Through SMART you can find out the wear percentage of the HDD, as well as check the current parameters and device performance.

    To check the status of the hard drive,

    Install a SMART test program (such as Hitachi Drive Fitness Test, CrystalDiskInfo or HDD Health, see full list).
    Run the program and wait while the hard drive characteristics are calculated.
    Study the indicators, comparing the current and critical indicators. If an error is found, look at the table to see what it means.
    A separate advantage of SMART diagnostics is that you can quickly and fairly accurately determine the condition of a hard drive, both newly purchased and used. However, keep in mind that SMART can make mistakes, even if according to statistics everything is OK.

    If the errors are fatal, back up your important data and replace the HDD. Parting with money is an unpleasant procedure, but it is better to do it on time, and not after the collapse of the hard drive with all that it entails.

    Fixing hard drive read errors

    If there are errors on the hard drive, its performance deteriorates. Characteristic symptoms:

    The hard drive makes strange sounds (for example, loud rustling of heads, squeaks, clicks)
    Operating system performance is significantly reduced
    "Brakes" and "freezes" when opening files on the hard drive
    Files, folders suddenly disappear, HDD partitions are displayed as unallocated space (RAW).
    The simplest reading errors can be corrected using the chkdsk system utility.

    Some bad blocks can be “cured” yourself, two wonderful programs will help with this - HDD Regenerator and Victoria HDD.

    In addition to this, there are instructions for restoring bad blocks: it explains how to fix errors with the HDD Regenerator program. In fact, it does not correct bad blocks, but moves them to another area on the hard drive. Thus, other processes and programs will bypass these blocks.

    The situation becomes more complicated if the file table, partition table, or other service information is damaged. In such cases, it is necessary to clone the contents of the HDD to a “donor” - a working hard drive of a similar model. This can only be done in special. laboratories.

    HDD is not detected (this does not mean that it is broken)

    If the computer does not “see” the hard drive (connected via Sata or IDE interfaces), this is not necessarily due to a broken drive.

    First, make sure that the HDD is connected to the PC correctly. How to do it:

    Turn off the PC and disconnect the power supply (there is a corresponding button on it).
    Carefully remove the hard drive from the system unit, disconnecting it from the motherboard and power supply.
    Clean the hard drive from dust.
    Put the HDD in its original place, checking the SATA/IDE cables and the power cable (coming from the motherboard and power supply to the hard drive, respectively): there is no damage, and whether the HDD fits tightly into the device socket.
    Turn on your PC.
    Go to BIOS and check if the HDD is in the list of boot devices.

    The hard drive is clicking suspiciously: what to do?

    If the hard drive makes clicking noises when the OS starts, the cause is usually wear on the hard drive heads. Like any other mechanical failure of the HDD, you cannot fix it with your own hands.

    However, if you hear clicking sounds on the hard drive that is still working (that is, it reads and writes files normally), you need to urgently take action and play it safe.

    First of all, be sure to back up your valuable information to another HDD, USB flash drive or cloud storage.

    Once the backup is done, study the SMART indicators using the applications we wrote about above. Self-diagnosis will allow you to determine the current state of the hard drive and identify errors.

    Data recovery after ROM failure and damage to service information
    A HDD with damaged ROM has characteristic symptoms:

    not detected in BIOS
    makes noise (clicking, tapping)
    The operating system does not load.
    Recovery of ROM and service data on the HDD is carried out by specialists using special equipment. It is impossible to perform data recovery yourself.

    Broken/damaged controller

    Characteristic symptoms for this type of breakdown:

    knocking inside the HDD case
    The hard drive does not show up in the BIOS.
    To fix the breakdown, you will need to completely replace the controller and, in some cases, flash/replace the hard drive electronics. Otherwise, the data on the device can be read as if nothing had happened. However, it is not possible to restore the hard drive yourself.

    If the information on the disk is of particular value, repairing the HDD in a specialized laboratory will cost several hundred dollars.

    Recovery of HDD in case of fall (case damage)

    As with any HDD failure, the following symptoms are typical:

    The disk begins to make knocking and clicking noises
    not detected through BIOS
    may suddenly stop and “start” unsuccessfully.
    To eliminate the breakdown and restore the disk, you will need to completely disassemble the faulty unit and replace its mechanical filling, which includes heads, cylinders, disks and other elements.

    In this situation, the most realistic solution is to replace the hard drive with a new one.

    How can you extend the life of your hard drive?

    Improper use of the hard drive leads to rapid failure of the device.

    Hard drive prevention includes:

    checking for bad sectors, bad blocks,
    defragmentation,
    checking SMART indicators,
    temperature monitoring.
    Like any mechanical device, a hard drive requires careful handling: a blow from a fall can be fatal.

    HDD repair: answers to reader questions

    Hello! After upgrading from the 7th to the 10th version of Windows, the external drive was no longer detected on the laptop and on all other devices, including a computer with the seventh version of Windows. Why is my hard drive not detected? What could be the problem and how to fix it?

    Answer. The HDD may well not be detected because when updating or clean installing the OS, you could delete the partition using the Windows Setup Wizard. In any case, the disk partition couldn't just disappear. You can check using the Windows utility utility Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) or any partition manager like Partition Magic. If you need to recover a deleted partition, use the free TestDisk utility.

    Are the methods for restoring an external hard drive different from an internal one?

    Answer. Definitely not. The hardware of the devices is identical, the only difference is in the form factor for storing information - that is, roughly speaking, in the box in which the disk's hardware is packaged. An external drive is more susceptible to physical damage and other risk factors. But they are more mobile and offer the user a convenient connection via eSata or another interface for connecting to a PC. Thus, this guide on how to restore a hard drive will be useful to both owners of “traditional” drives and external ones.

    The hard drive was in the laptop, the system in which stopped loading. Why am I going to format it - but! It was not there, as an “External” disk (I stuffed it into the case from an external “Transend” 500 GB) it is visible only as a local disk “G” and “F” without any information. All attempts to call the properties lead to Windows 8.1 freezing on the laptop - it is not visible in Disk Management, HDD Low Level Format is also not visible. Tell me, if the hard drive doesn’t work, how can I bring it back to life with my own hands?

    Answer. Try partitioning the hard drive again (Partiton Magic can help), it is advisable to perform low-level formatting of the HDD, see information on the topic here. By the way, in addition to HDD Low Level Format, there are many alternative utilities for formatting. It would be a good idea to check the working condition of the disk; to do this, check the SMART indicators and scan the disk using HDD Regenerator or Victoria HDD.

    What to do if your hard drive clicks? That is, it works, but sometimes it makes characteristic sounds - that is, clicks. At some moments, a freeze occurs, and the operating system freezes, and then dies along with the disk.

    Answer. In rare cases, the problem is associated with broken power contacts and sata/ide connectors connected to the motherboard. Therefore, the first thing we recommend is to turn off the PC and check the connection to the hard drive. Second, be sure to make a backup copy of the data on the disk, since clicking sounds are an unhealthy symptom, indicating that the HDD has problems, and a crash can be expected at any time. Third, to diagnose the condition of the disk, use specialized programs - HDD Regenerator, Victoria HDD Doctor, etc.

    If the hard drive clicks and is not detected, the situation is more dire (good luck). In this case, the mechanics are already worn out, and you will not be able to restore the HDD; only replacing the hard drive with a new one will help.

    How to increase the speed of your hard drive? I have Windows Vista OS.

    Answer. Users of Windows Vista and higher operating systems are angry about the slow operation of the disk subsystem. In practice, copying files is noticeably slower than in XP. Why is my hard drive slow? One of the reasons lies on the surface and can be easily eliminated. The fact is that by default in Windows the maximum performance of the hard drive is disabled. Therefore, we urgently take measures:

    Open Device Manager (Win + Pause Break, “Device Manager” link).
    Find the disk device in the list of devices and select “Properties” in the context menu.
    Select the “Policies” tab and activate the “Enable enhanced performance” option.
    To speed up your hard drive, restart your computer.
    I reinstalled the system and I have it on a PCE SSD, but suddenly another 4TB hard drive stopped being detected? Then I went into computer management, then into disk management, it shows a capacity of 3.7 TB and 3.7 TB is free, that is, the disk turns out to be 100 percent empty and there is 2TV of information! Please tell me what can be done?

    Answer. Perhaps the problem is related to a file system table failure; in such a situation, you can recommend the TestDisk utility to recover a partition that is not detected by the system, but contains important information.

    I have an HP 620 laptop. Everything was fine, but I started to close the windows and the computer froze. I thought it would go away, 15 minutes passed - nothing, there was no reaction to anything. Even a software shutdown could not reset.

    I turned it off physically with the button, turned it on again and the message appeared on the black screen of the laptop: non-system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready. After this, the system does not see the hard drive. But when the laptop is turned on, it spins, that is, everything is ok with power.

    About 2 years ago I updated the BIOS from the official website. Maybe this is why the hard drive won't open? But before that I worked hard, always good. What could it be? Help please, this is the hard drive I have - Toshiba HDD2E67 320GB.

    Answer. If the problem was related to the BIOS, the OS would not boot. Or, at least, a factory reset could solve something.

    Try to start looking for the reason on the surface: the hard drive does not work because it has failed. This could happen for a variety of reasons (such as physical damage or wear and tear - which is less likely). If it is possible to check a similar hard drive on the same laptop, do so.

    Repairing a hard drive after a fall or other physical impacts is difficult to do at home.

    You will need to open the magnetic head unit, which can only be done in a clean, sterile room. Any dust is dangerous for the magnetic insides of the device.
    Repairing mechanical damage requires specific knowledge and tools to find the broken element and replace it. The most rational solution is to contact a service center.
    It’s a little easier to deal with software failures, which, according to statistics, bother users of external hard drives even more often than defects resulting from physical impacts. This is due to frequent cases of incorrect shutdown.

    We begin diagnostics and repairs by checking the serviceability of the USB cable that connects the drive to a PC, TV, etc. You can connect the cable to another device and see if it is working.

    If a laptop or PC detects a connected external hard drive, but working with it is accompanied by freezes, crashes, and errors, then it’s a good idea to check it for viruses, some of which are quite capable of disrupting the operation of the hard drive.

    The next step is formatting. Be sure to do the full one, not the quick one. There are a lot of programs for this procedure: Acronis Disk Director, HDD Low Level Format, etc.

    Formatting can be started through the command line, Disk Management or My Computer.

    The main thing is to select the NTFS file system in the settings.

    If the computer sees the external hard drive, but it is impossible to extract information from it, then it is a good idea to determine which part of it is severely damaged and which files can be extracted and restored. The programs Recuva, Partition Recovery and others are suitable for this. By launching one of them, you will see a list of files that can be returned, and “broken” information can simply be deleted, returning the hard drive to its previous performance.

    DIY laptop hard drive repair

    First of all, we pay attention to extraneous sounds in the operation of the hard drive when turning on the laptop. This may be clicking, tapping, accompanied by slowing down and freezing. There are many reasons: from simple dirt and dust to damage to the drive, jamming or misalignment of the spindle.

    If the laptop no longer sees the hard drive, then you can try to determine the cause of the problem and fix it yourself. To do this, there are instructions, taking into account which you must follow each point sequentially:

    Remove the hard drive from the laptop case.
    Next, unscrew the controller board - you will need a star screwdriver. Please remember that this will void your warranty. In some HDD models, the elements are located on the outside and can be seen without additional actions.

    We carefully inspect the board for damage. Often, due to overheating, swelling or carbon deposits form on microcircuits. You can also use a magnifying glass and inspect the soldering joints of the connectors: even one leg that falls off can seriously disrupt the operation of the entire device. If you find such signs, then you can calm down - the repair will not be delayed. It is enough to find on the Internet the article number or name of the board that is suitable for your hard drive. Then buy it and replace it.

    Do not forget that dust on the contacts can also cause the hard drive to fail or interfere with the flow of signals coming from the motherboard and vice versa. Blow or clean the inputs and cables of the hard drive. To clean the electrical board, a regular eraser, alcohol and cotton swabs are suitable. Try not to flood the contacts - otherwise the disk will stop working altogether.
    If the results of cleaning the cables and the controller board are positive, it is recommended to defragment the hard drive and registry.

    There are quite a lot of videos on the Internet that clearly demonstrate several ways to troubleshoot a hard drive. They are mainly associated with disassembling the hard drive case and cleaning the board elements. This is explained by the fact that almost 90% of hard drive failures occur due to oxidation of electrical contacts.

    It is not difficult to identify areas that require removal of oxide and dirt. Such contact paths appear darkened. To begin, carefully go over the eraser until a light shine appears. Be sure to clean the group of contacts going to the drive (usually there are 3 of them). Next, take alcohol and an old toothbrush - with their help we additionally wash the contact paths.

    Now you need to protect the board elements from further oxidation. In principle, you can even coat it with silicone grease. It does not allow current to pass through, but protects against corrosion. However, it is best to treat contacts with special aerosol products. For example, Kontakt 60. When using a laptop in an office or home, we recommend that you perform similar cleaning of the hard drive boards at least once a year.

    Finally, I would like to say that a hard drive is a fragile device that can be easily damaged by physical impact. The average lifespan of a HDD is 3-5 years, so you should take care of the safety of important system files in advance so that it is not too late. We hope our article helped you.

    In this article we will look at the types of hard drive failures and malfunctions and advise what to do in various situations. Looking ahead, let's say that some errors can be corrected on your own, in other cases you need the help of qualified specialists or replacing the HDD.

    Note. Recovering deleted files and repairing them are different concepts. HDD repair does not provide for the return of data to the storage device, while data recovery is not always possible due to a breakdown of the hard drive or partial or complete damage to its surface.

    Checking the status of the hard drive using SMART

    Modern hard drives have a built-in SMART self-diagnosis system. It helps to identify problems and predict hard drive failure, thus preventing data loss in a timely manner. Through SMART you can find out the wear percentage of the HDD, as well as check the current parameters and device performance.

    To check the status of the hard drive,

    1. Install a SMART test program (for example, Hitachi Drive Fitness Test, CrystalDiskInfo or HDD Health, see).
    2. Run the program and wait while the hard drive characteristics are calculated.
    3. Study the indicators, comparing the current and critical indicators. If an error is found, look at the table to see what it means.

    A separate advantage of SMART diagnostics is that you can quickly and fairly accurately determine the condition of a hard drive, both newly purchased and used. However, keep in mind that SMART can make mistakes, even if according to statistics everything is OK.

    If the errors are fatal, back up your important data and replace the HDD. Parting with money is an unpleasant procedure, but it is better to do it on time, and not after the collapse of the hard drive with all that it entails.

    Fixing hard drive read errors

    If there are errors on the hard drive, its performance deteriorates. Characteristic symptoms:

    1. The hard drive makes strange sounds (for example, loud rustling of heads, squeaks, clicks)
    2. Operating system performance is significantly reduced
    3. "Brakes" and "freezes" when opening files on the hard drive
    4. Files, folders suddenly disappear, HDD partitions are displayed as unallocated space (RAW).

    The simplest reading errors are corrected by the system utility.

    Some bad blocks can be “cured” yourself, two wonderful programs will help with this - and.

    Are the methods for restoring an external hard drive different from an internal one?

    Answer. Definitely not. The hardware of the devices is identical, the only difference is in the form factor for storing information - that is, roughly speaking, in the box in which the disk's hardware is packaged. An external drive is more susceptible to physical damage and other risk factors. But they are more mobile and offer the user a convenient connection via eSata or another interface for connecting to a PC. Thus, this guide on how to restore a hard drive will be useful to both owners of “traditional” drives and external ones.

    The hard drive was in the laptop, the system in which stopped loading. Why am I going to format it - but! It was not there, as an “External” disk (I stuffed it into the case from an external “Transend” 500 GB) it is visible only as a local disk “G” and “F” without any information. All attempts to call the properties lead to Windows 8.1 freezing on the laptop - it is not visible in Disk Management, HDD Low Level Format is also not visible. Tell me, if the hard drive doesn’t work, how can I bring it back to life with my own hands?

    Answer. Try partitioning the hard drive again (Partiton Magic can help), it is advisable to perform low-level formatting of the HDD, see information on the topic. By the way, in addition to HDD Low Level Format, there are many alternative utilities for formatting. It would be a good idea to check the working condition of the disk; to do this, check the SMART indicators and scan the disk using HDD Regenerator or Victoria HDD.

    What to do if your hard drive clicks? That is, it works, but sometimes it makes characteristic sounds - that is, clicks. At some moments, a freeze occurs, and the operating system freezes, and then dies along with the disk.

    Answer. In rare cases, the problem is associated with broken power contacts and sata/ide connectors connected to the motherboard. Therefore, the first thing we recommend is to turn off the PC and check the connection to the hard drive. Second, be sure to make a backup copy of the data on the disk, since clicking sounds are an unhealthy symptom, indicating that the HDD has problems, and a crash can be expected at any time. Third, to diagnose the condition of the disk, use specialized programs - HDD Regenerator, Victoria HDD Doctor, etc.

    If the hard drive clicks and is not detected, the situation is more dire (good luck). In this case, the mechanics are already worn out, and you will not be able to restore the HDD; only replacing the hard drive with a new one will help.

    How to increase the speed of your hard drive? I have Windows Vista OS.

    Answer. Users of Windows Vista and higher operating systems are angry about the slow operation of the disk subsystem. In practice, copying files is noticeably slower than in XP. Why is my hard drive slow? One of the reasons lies on the surface and can be easily eliminated. The fact is that by default in Windows the maximum performance of the hard drive is disabled. Therefore, we urgently take measures:

    1. Open Device Manager (Win + Pause Break, “Device Manager” link).
    2. Find the disk device in the list of devices and select “Properties” in the context menu.
    3. Select the “Policies” tab and activate the “Enable enhanced performance” option.
    4. To speed up your hard drive, restart your computer.

    I reinstalled the system and I have it on a PCE SSD, but suddenly another 4TB hard drive stopped being detected? Then I went into computer management, then into disk management, it shows a capacity of 3.7 TB and 3.7 TB is free, that is, the disk turns out to be 100 percent empty and there is 2TV of information! Please tell me what can be done?

    Answer. Perhaps the problem is related to a file system table failure; in such a situation, you can recommend the TestDisk utility to recover a partition that is not detected by the system, but contains important information.

    I have an HP 620 laptop. Everything was fine, but I started to close the windows and the computer froze. I thought it would go away, 15 minutes passed - nothing, there was no reaction to anything. Even a software shutdown could not reset.

    I turned it off physically with the button, turned it on again and the message appeared on the black screen of the laptop: non-system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready. After this, the system does not see the hard drive. But when the laptop is turned on, it spins, that is, everything is ok with power.

    About 2 years ago I updated the BIOS from the official website. Maybe this is why the hard drive won't open? But before that I worked hard, always good. What could it be? Help please, this is the hard drive I have - Toshiba HDD2E67 320GB.

    Answer. If the problem was related to the BIOS, the OS would not boot. Or, at least, a factory reset could solve something.

    Try to start looking for the reason on the surface: the hard drive does not work because it has failed. This could happen for a variety of reasons (such as physical damage or wear and tear - which is less likely). If it is possible to check a similar hard drive on the same laptop, do so.

    HDD drives or hard drives have a low level of stability, so they are not immune to failure. Typically, hard drive failure occurs due to mechanical damage (not meeting operating temperatures, shaking, etc.). But the user can solve some problems with the drive on his own, without contacting a specialist.

    About DIY repairs

    On your own, you can only fix those problems that are software in nature, or minor physical problems, for example, accidentally disconnecting the connecting cable with the motherboard.

    If the problem is more serious, you won’t be able to fix it yourself. The price of service center services will depend directly on the pricing policy of the service and the complexity of the breakdown. It may be wiser to purchase a new drive than to try to repair the old one (an exception may be the drive on which very important information is stored). It is worth understanding that the service center does not guarantee you the complete safety of your data.

    Provided that you have a warranty for the hard drive or the computer itself, then you can try to request warranty service or a replacement for a broken disk. They can refuse you only if they can prove that the disk failed due to your fault.
    Sometimes it happens that you cannot perform certain operations with data on a disk, but you can copy it to another medium. Don't be lazy to take advantage of this opportunity, it can help save your data.

    Option 1: Bad sectors


    Disks may work with damaged sectors, but you will begin to notice some oddities in operation, for example:

    • When performing even the most primitive tasks in the system, everything “slows down” very much;
    • Files and folders are deleted on their own. Also, you will often have to deal with errors that a particular file located on the problem disk is damaged;
    • The system stops seeing the hard drive for a while.

    In this case, the most harmless option is software failures, which can be caused by viruses or incompatible software. To eliminate such failures, it will be enough to launch a special utility using the “Command Line”, which will scan the computer and, if possible, eliminate the detected errors. Instructions for launching the utility are as follows:

    Provided that if the problem lies in physical damage to the disk sectors, then it will either have to be repaired or replaced (the latter is recommended). Data can be transferred to another hard drive or SSD drive.

    Option 2: Windows does not see the hard drive

    The operating system may not see the disk for the following reasons:

    • The drive does not have a letter. For example, A, B, C, etc. In this case, you will have to format the hard drive. If any data was recorded on the media, it can be restored using special software;
    • The disc is in RAW format. In this case, it will also have to be formatted, but this will have to be done according to the special instructions below;
    • If you just purchased the hard drive, then most likely it was not initialized correctly by the operating system. Initialization instructions will be below.

    So, let's look at how to convert the RAW format to NFTS or FAT32:

    1. Initially, you will have to prepare a flash drive with an image of the installed operating system. How to make a bootable USB flash drive, see this link.
    2. Since the disk is not displayed in the operating system, it will have to be formatted through the BIOS. Restart your computer and enter BIOS. As a rule, keys are responsible for entering F2 or Delete, but other keys from F2 to F12. The key must be pressed until the Windows logo appears.
    3. Further actions depend on the BIOS version. In most cases you will need to find the tab "Boot", which is located in the top menu or in the central part of the screen.
    4. Here, using the arrow keys and Enter select "1st Boot Priority".


    5. A menu will open where you need to select your flash drive.
    6. Click on F10 or select item "Save & Exit".
    7. The computer will restart and the Windows Installer window will open. Select your language and keyboard layout.
    8. Now click on "System Restore", which can be found in the lower left part of the window.


    9. A recovery window will open where you need to fall into "Command line".


    10. Enter this command: wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, volumename, size, description

      And click Enter for use.


    11. The Console will display all information about the disks - sizes, file system, etc. Finding the right disk will not be difficult, since the title will include "RAW".
    12. Now write the command: format /FS:NTFS X: /q

      Where "X" there you need to specify the drive letter with the RAW file system. To apply, click Enter. In this case, the disk file system will be changed to NFTS. If you need to change to FAT, then use this command: format /FS:FAT32 X: /q

    If your operating system boots normally, then it is not necessary to create a separate bootable USB flash drive, since the “Command Prompt” can be opened from the OS interface, and the first 9 points of the instructions can be skipped.

    Now it remains to figure out what to do if Windows cannot initialize the hard drive on its own:

    1. Open the utility "Disk Management". This can be done by calling the line "Run"(key combination Win+R) and entering the following command into it: diskmgmt.msc

      To apply the command, click on "OK", or to the key Enter.


    2. In the utility window, find the disk that has not been initialized. It can be found by the fact that all free space on it is marked in black.
    3. Click on the disk icon (not space, but disk) and select an item from the drop-down menu "Initialize disk".


    4. A window will open where you need to select a disk to initialize. There is almost always only one disk available there.
    5. Below you will need to check one of the items: MBR or GPT. It is recommended to install MBR if the storage capacity is less than 2 TB. After selecting the drive, click on "OK".


    6. The disk will be initialized by the system, but its space will be displayed as unallocated, therefore, in "Explorer" will not be shown. To fix this, right-click on the block with unallocated space and select from the context menu "Create Simple Volume".


    7. A window will open "Simple Volume Wizards". It will contain introductory information. Click "Next".


    8. In the next window, you can leave everything as is, since by default the wizard marks all available space. If you do not need to use the entire volume, then set the desired number opposite "Simple Volume Size (MB)". All values ​​are specified in megabytes. 1 gigabyte – 1024 megabytes. Click to apply "Next".


    9. Specify the letter that will be assigned to the drive and click "Next".
    10. In the format disk window you will need to select a file system. It is recommended to install NFTS or FAT. The latter is relevant only for small disks. Check the box next to "Quick Format" and press "Next".


    11. As a final step, you will be shown a progress report. Click on "Ready".

    Option 3: Hard drive does not show up in BIOS

    This problem occurs in more serious cases, since the BIOS by default displays all connected devices, even if they are not visible in the operating system interface.

    There can only be two reasons why the hard drive is not visible even in the BIOS:


    Option 4: The hard drive knocks during operation

    If the hard drive makes strong tapping sounds during operation, this means that its controller has failed. In this case, the HDD can work more or less stably for a short time. However, soon it will no longer be recognized by the system, and then by the BIOS.
    It is impossible to replace the controller at home, so you will have to contact a service center. However, it is worth weighing the pros and cons, since repairing the controller can cost as much (if not more) as the hard drive. If you still have a valid warranty, you can request repairs, but most likely you will be offered to replace this disk with a new one.

    It is advisable to carry out repairs only if the disk contains very important data, since after it the risk of repeated failure will greatly increase.

    Option 5: Strange sounds

    In addition to knocking, the drive may make other sounds that are uncharacteristic for it, which also indicates a problem. However, in this case it is much more difficult to determine their source, since the problem can only be diagnosed by sounds. For example, the disk may squeak, buzz, crackle, etc. In addition, for media from different manufacturers, the same sound can mean different problems.

    The HDD that produces these sounds may work stably for some time, but if you notice them, it is recommended to immediately backup all information stored on it. Take the disk itself to a specialist so that he can disassemble it and carry out diagnostics.

    Based on the diagnostic results, you can find out the final cost of repairs. If you return the disk under warranty, then the diagnostics should be free, but they may not repair you, but instead offer to replace the HDD with one with similar properties.

    Option 6: Hard drive is slow

    Over time, the processing speed of a hard drive may slow down, but this does not mean that it fails. Most likely the problems lie in the hardware and are easy to solve.

    The most common reasons that lead to a slow PC over time are as follows:

    • Software garbage, that is, data from deleted programs, temporary system files, etc.;
    • HDD drives, unlike SSDs, are susceptible to fragmentation over time. If its percentage is too high, the speed of the device will decrease significantly. The only solution in this case is to carry out a defragmentation procedure. This procedure should not be abused, since frequent defragmentation harms the operation of the media;
    • Startup is full of various applications. In this case, the operating system will take a particularly long time to load;
    • The operating system is poorly configured to work with HDD;
    • The disk has bad sectors and other software errors;
    • Connection via outdated connectors, for example, via IDE.

    The solution to each of these problems is the topic of a separate article; the solution to some of them can be found on our website:

    Due to its specific nature, a hard drive is a fragile device that can be damaged even if you just shake it lightly for a while. Therefore, to avoid breakdowns and other problems, try to handle the hard drive as carefully as possible. The stated service life of many HDDs is 5-6 years, but it may end earlier, so do not forget to regularly backup important information, or store it on another drive.

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