6 Worst Reasons for Hard Disk Failure and Data Recovery Solutions
Contents
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.
6 Worst Reasons for Internal/ External Hard Disk Failure
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:
- Drive freezes at startup.
- The system can’t detect/identify the hard disk at all.
- The system fails to boot/hang up in the middle of booting procedure.
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:
- Sudden startup failure
- System BIOS can’t detect the hard drive
- Hard drive isn’t able to spin up
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:
- Pc frequently reboots/freezes
- Fans are either moving too slow or not at all
- System hardware is making clicking sounds or noise
- Desktop or Laptop gets heated soon after starting
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:
- Total system freeze
- Grinding or clicking sounds from hard drive
- Files & Folders becoming invisible or corrupt
- Appearance of black screen while booting
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:
- The files become corrupt or damaged.
- The hard drive is inaccessible.
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.
Okay, the Drive Has Failed! Now What to Do?
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.
Retrieve Your Data from Corrupt/ Failed Hard 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.
Tips To Prevent Data Loss from Failed Hard Drive
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:
- Stop using the drive when you encounter any symptoms mentioned in this post.
- Unplug or remove the drive from CPU, and keep it in a clean and safe environment.
- Make sure that there are no ‘hot spots’ or any mark on the external controller board.
- You can also search and confirm that no any drive parts are broken or damaged.
- Take regular backup of your data, and keep a professional data recovery tool handy.
- Take precaution while handling external drive and laptop to prevent damage due to sudden drop.
Wrapping Up
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!
Hi,
I have SQL server 2008 R2 with a lot of important data.
in 19.9.17 morning the server restarts itself (maybe in the night) and show a message in a blue\black screen that the server restart to keep the data safe…it’s showing a message outside the server (there is a small led screen) the hard disk fault: “E1810 HD 2 fault. Review & Clear SEL”.
MY E drive gone with all the SQL data which was stored there…
Please, Any Help????
Hi,
In this context, I suggest for a free demo of Stellar Windows Data Recovery – Professional. By using a free demo, you can analyze the recoverable SQL data from E: drive.
If it shows the expected result, then you can move ahead for a full version of the software.
my laptop gets started everytime but aftet some time it suddenly closed and show blue screen and shows some stuffs. what can I do . do I have to change hard drive or it is other related problem
Hello Kishan,
It seems that your bootable files fail to start up in the system. In addition, there could be some problem with other system files that make the PC unbootable. You need to make the PC bootable by reinstalling the operating system
By changing the hard drive and reinstalling the operating system, there might be chances that your system may be working in normal condition.
By doing this way, you may lose all your previous data available on your drives, If you really want to recover your old data, then you need to purchase a third party data recovery software. The best possible solution is to use a professional tool like Stellar Windows Data Recovery – Professional.
Note: – A bootable CD is available with this software, by additionally paying $20 which is capable of recovering data from a unbootable system.
Is this a problem of hard disk damage or is it just the problem with the windows ?
Hello Ashwinikumar,
Based on the query on your previous thread, where you mention about a hard drive error message displayed at your side. I assume the problem is related to hard disk.
Thank you very much sir. But my laptop is not getting started. It is showing the message like something is exiting and operating system not found and only the screen showing this message remains. Then how can i install the software and recovre my data?
Hello Ashwinikumar,
I hope this excellent post will solve all your queries.
Hi sir, i have dell inspiron N4010 which is of 7 yrs old. While working it suddenly got freezed. I cut the power supply and restarted it. It showed the message that hard drive error detected. Then i tried to reinstall windows but it was not detecting hard drive. What may be the problem.? And Solution for data recovery? Plz help..
Hello Ashwinikumar,
Sorry to hear about your issue.
Please avoid any re-installation as it further reduces the chances of data recovery due to overwritten of data.
As you wish to recover the files so we recommend you to try the demo version of Stellar Data Recovery Professional from the below-mentioned link:
Download software
After installing the software, please follow the below-mentioned steps to create an image of the drive as your drive contains bad sectors:
1. Run Stellar Windows Data Recovery software.
2. From Select What to Recover screen, select the type of data i.e. Everything, Documents, Folders & Emails or Multimedia Files, you want to recover. Click on Next.
3. On Select Location screen, select Recover from Disk Images from Other Locations and click on Scan button.
4. Now select Create Image option and click on Next.
5. From Create Image screen, select the drive or partition for which you wish to create am image .
6. To create image of the entire drive or partition click on Start Imaging.
7. In ‘Create Media Image to Save’ dialog box, locate the destination where image file should be saved. In the File Name text box, type name. Click on Save.
8. Click on Scan to start the recovery process.
Note: If you can’t find your desired partition in the Partition Found section, you can choose Deep Scan option to perform a comprehensive scan of the selected drive for deleted or lost partition.
my lenovo laptop not starting, had windows startup problems. i was tried F8 option and as well trying to open in safe mode but there is no response its showing as windows boot manager error status 0xc00000e9 fix info: unexpected i/o error has occurred . can i reinstall os ?
Hello Suresh,
Do you want to recover your data?
Hello,
I have acer aspire E5-411 laptop with windows 8 pro os. 1 month ago is lagging after it goes to deskptop after boot it takes 5-10 minutes before the lagging stops and after that it works fine. I think that the hard disk is the problem so that i checked my hard disk using the chkdsk and found no errors. I use the Hdtune and shows 1 red box and I use 1 more software the CrystalDiskInfo and it shows yellow warning sign that my hard disk has bad sector. I thought it just need to change its os to windows 7 then I did it and it’s working fine till yesterday. It was just working fine I shut it down properly then I go to sleep. When I wake up and restarted my laptop after the starting windows logo it goes to bsod and restarted immediately. It’s on a screen asking what to do startup repair or start windows normally when I chose the startup repair it just shows black screen forever. when I chose start windows normally it just repeat the scenario. Now I’m trying to reinstall windows but the setup starting is just stucked and I don’t know what to do now.I need my very important pictures and files I can’t back it up because i can’t even go to the login part of starting windows please help me.
Hello William,
As you wish to recover the files so we recommend you to try the demo version of Stellar Data Recovery Professional from the below-mentioned link:
Download software
After installing the software, please follow the below mentioned steps to create an image of the drive as your drive contains bad sectors:
1. Run Stellar Windows Data Recovery software.
2. From Select What to Recover screen, select the type of data i.e. Everything, Documents, Folders & Emails or Multimedia Files, you want to recover. Click on Next.
3. On Select Location screen, select Recover from Disk Images from Other Locations and click on Scan button.
4. Now select Create Image option and click on Next.
5. From Create Image screen, select the drive or partition for which you wish to create am image .
6. To create image of the entire drive or partition click on Start Imaging.
7. In ‘Create Media Image to Save’ dialog box, locate the destination where image file should be saved. In the File Name text box, type name. Click on Save.
8. Click on Scan to start the recovery process.
To recover data using any disk image:
1. Run Stellar Windows Data Recovery software.
2. From Select What to Recover screen, select the type of data i.e. Everything, Documents, Folders & Emails or Multimedia Files, you want to recover.
3. Click on Next.
4. On Select Location screen, select Recover from Disk Images from Other Locations and click Scan.
5. select Recover from Existing Image option and click Next.
6. All the disk images and saved scan information are listed on Recovery from Image screen with their respective size. Select the image from which you wish recover data and click Add.
7. After adding the images click Scan to start the recovery process.
8. Once the scanning process is completed, details of the files and folder found are displayed.
Regards
Team Stellar Data Recovery
Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images
on this blog loading? I’m trying to figure out if its
a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would
be greatly appreciated.
Hello Brianna,
Please try to open infographics with some other browser, preferably Chrome or it may be due to the older browser version.
Great information. Lucky me I ran across your website by accident (stumbleupon).
I have book marked it for later!
Hello,
We are continuously bringing lots of interesting and informative posts for our readers.
Hi Team,
It’s an impressive way to show the failure with the help of infographics. Certainly, the content looks more refreshing and lively. Please keep going. Thanks
Hello Kelly,
Thank you for appreciating the infographics. Please share among friends and colleagues.