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Hard drives are generally used to store large files, back up data, and to save important business files to keep them safe and secure. But, what if your hard drive suddenly stops working or fails? You may lose access to your crucial data. Hence, taking timely backup of your data should be your top priority.
So what are the worst reasons for hard drive failure? And how do we restore our lost data when a hard disk suddenly stops working or crashes?
Read on to know 6 worst reasons for hard drive failure and their symptoms; and solutions to recover lost data from a failed hard drive.
A Hard drive may fail at any moment. It happens after accumulation of bad sectors in the disk due to aging or a sudden crash. This may result in irrevocable damage to the disk platter surface. The reasons behind hard drive failure may be different, but they result in permanent data loss in most cases. Hence, recovering data from a crashed or failed hard drive at the earliest is quite essential. Here is a list of major reasons that lead to hard disk failure, their symptoms, and solutions.
1. Firmware or Manufacturer Faults
This error occurs due to improper power supply, virus attack, accidental shutdown, interruption during firmware upgrades, or manufacturing faults. You might observe the following symptoms even in a brand new hard disk.
Symptoms:
Solution:
Users can contact the hard disk manufacturer and ask them for Return Authorization (RA), as the disk must be under warranty. However, manufacturers generally don’t provide any guarantee regarding safety of your data. For more information, please refer to the warranty/guarantee policy provided by the manufacturer. Further, to recover your data in case of hard drive failure, we would recommend a professional data recovery tool.
2. Electronic Failure or Power Surge
Sometimes, UPS is unable to deliver the required power supply. It’s either too high or too slow. This can also occur when you use an unreliable power source or there is frequent interruption in the flow of electricity.
Symptoms:
Solution:
Make sure that the system hardware is getting proper power supply. You can fix this error by using UPS from a well-known brand. Also, turn off your system properly when not in use.
3. Overheating
This error may occur due to faulty CPU fan, improper ventilation, high-voltage power supply, high temperature, virus infection, and development of bad sectors. These reasons could heat up the system and lead to sudden hard disk failure.
Symptoms:
Solution:
Make sure that the CPU fans are working fine. Double check that sufficient cooling is delivered to the processor and their peripherals. You can also try applying thermal paste between heat sinks of the CPU fan to make it run smoothly.
4. Mechanical or Internal Failure
Mechanical failure in your hard drive can occur due to moving parts, malware or virus attack, bad sectors, improper power supply and so on. These reasons could lead to hard drive failure or damage and data corruption.
Earlier, several rootkit viruses were introduced that used to become active with turning on the system. They corrupted the system functioning at BIOS level. However, Windows latest versions (8/10) are efficient at detecting such malware and remove it using UEFI technology.
Symptoms:
Solution:
You must update your system on a daily or weekly basis. Keep your antivirus software updated and scan your computer to analyze malicious activities or virus attacks. Replace your hard drive every 3-4 years.
5. Corrupt File
Use of malicious or faulty apps, accidental closure of running programs, unethical way of shutting down the PC, power surges, etc. are reasons that lead to system file corruption and make the hard disk inaccessible.
Symptoms:
Solution:
Always shut down your PC in the standard manner. It will prevent command kernel to stop powering remaining CPU equipment. Close all the running programs before shutting down the system and avoid installation of faulty software or malicious applications into your PC. You can also fix your inaccessible hard drive to recover data.
6. Human Errors
Human errors are the most common cause of hard disk failure. Such errors may include modifying system registry settings, wrong installation of OS, alteration in system files attributes, accidental deletion of files or directories, etc. These type of errors are quite hard to repair.
Human errors might not only cause severe damage to hard disk, but could also lead to permanent data loss. Hence, to scan on advance level, and recover data from damaged or failed hard drive, proceed with the most efficient data recovery software.
If your hard drive has failed or crashed, and you don’t even have a backup of your data, you could lose your important files and documents. Sometimes, you may feel that the hard drive has failed, but in reality, it has only become raw or inaccessible due to some logical reasons like software bugs, virus attack or malware, file or system corruption, accidental deletion or format, etc. You can follow the given methods to find out the exact reason, and then recover lost data from drive.
Method 1: Carefully Connect the Hard Drive
Sometimes, when we connect the hard drive to the system, it doesn’t show in File Explorer. It might happen if the drive is loosely connected to the port. To fix this, reconnect the hard disk carefully. If this doesn’t help either, there might be some issue with the connecting port. Remove the drive, reboot the system and reconnect the drive to check if it is showing up now in the File Explorer.
Method 2: Fix Unallocated Drive
If the hard disk doesn’t show up in the file explorer, but is shown unallocated in the Disk Management, follow the given steps to fix this error:
1. In the Disk Management window, right-click on Unallocated drive and select New Simple Volume.
2. In the New Simple Volume wizard, click Next.
3. Click Next again to specify the volume size.
4. Click Next and select ‘Assign the following drive letter.’ Choose a letter from the drop-down list, and click Next.
5. Select ‘Format this volume with the following settings’ and select the desired file system; click Next.
6. Click Finish and your hard drive is ready to use.
Now, you can access the hard drive. However, you won’t be able to access your data as the hard drive had been formatted while fixing the error. But don’t panic! You can recover your data from a formatted hard drive easily using a professional data recovery software.
However, if the drive is failed or crashed due to Mechanical or other physical reasons and the drive is not visible in Disk Management, data recovery through the software is not possible. To recover your data from a severely damaged, crashed or dead hard drive, you must refer to a professional data recovery service provider.
Sometimes, the hard disk can crash or become dead without even making any grinding or screeching sound. In such situations, you might even lose the chance of taking backup of your data on another device. Hence, follow the given tips to protect your data from permanent loss:
Tips:
The hard drives are prone to corruption or failure at any moment. If you do not have backup of your data, you may lose important files, documents, and other stuff. In this blog, we mentioned 6 worst reasons of hard drive failure along with their symptoms and solutions to recover lost data. Some tips to prevent data loss and hard disk failure are also mentioned above. However, if the drive is already dead, take help of a professional data recovery service provider.
In case of any query, please write us in the comment section below. For more relevant updates, stay tuned!
Satyeshu is a Windows blogger and data recovery expert. He is having good technical knowledge and experience in Windows data recovery. He writes about latest technical tips, Windows issues and tutorials.
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Hi,
It would be great if you could tell us how to prevent data loss from failed Hard Drive.
Hi Mason,
The tips to prevent data loss from failed Hard drive are:
Stop using the drive when you encounter any symptoms as discussed in the post. And some tips to prevent data loss and hard disk failure are also mentioned in the blogs. However, if the drive is already dead, take help of a professional data recovery service provider.
Can you please tell me do overheat also causes hard disk failure?
Hi Robert,
Yes, overheating causes hard disk failure. This error may occur due to faulty CPU fans, improper ventilation, high-voltage power supply, high temperature, virus infection, and the development of bad sectors. These reasons could heat the system and lead to sudden hard disk failure.
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
My laptop had a severe damage hard drive and was not booting. I took it to Best Buy, explained the problem to one technician and he told to get a contract service for $200.00 and he assured me that Best But technician will recover all my personal files and picture. I pay the $200.00, and left my laptop with them. Two technician assured me that my personal files would be recovered. They installed a new hard drive, but, they did not recovered my personal files and pictures. Everything was gone. In their website, they said they have the Greed Squad tech, who area data save professional. I believe all they did was changing the hard drive without bothering saving the data. I am an artist and writer. I lost a treasure of photos and writings. What can I do? Those people took my money but did not fulfilled what they stand for.
Nice Post. keep it up,
I recently changed my hard drive because it failed and stopped working. i took it to the technician and he said that my hard disk has failed and has only 5% health, he also said that you need to hire professionals for recovering data because there is very less chance of recovering data and they cost so much. Can you help me out.
Hi Syed, if the drive is showing in disk management then you can try Stellar Data Recovery Professional to recover lost data. In case of not showing hard drive then you can also contact our technical support executive. They will assist in better ways. Visit
Hi, My hard disk has crashed and “on” switch is not going off. What should I do about it?
Hi Fatima, If you want to know in detail kindly visit your hard drive vendor technical support form. There you can get the information in deep. But if you have lost any data then you can try stellar data recovery software if the hard disk is showing in disk management.