For the fact that computers store data and information for companies and for individuals,there is need to mindful of some warning signs of hard disk failure so as to prevent loss of data and information.

Hard drive damage can occur without any prior symptoms, but in most cases, hard disks exhibit one or more warning signs before failing completely. Because HDD failures often result in data loss, computer users should know the most common warning signs associated with common problems like read/write head failures, damaged controller boards and spindle bearing seizures.

Always take unusual noises seriously and turn off your hard drive as soon as possible to avoid media damage.

Failure symptoms vary depending on a hard drive’s brand, model and operating system. Because all hard drives will eventually break down due to mechanical wear, you should back up your important files regularly to avoid data loss.

CAUSES OF HARD DISK FAILURE

The following are the causes of hard disk failure

Human Mistakes

Its simple human nature, we humans have a propensity to make certain common mistakes.  Our failed handling of a hard disk drive device is no exception. From accidental deletion of files to a dropping of the disk drive, human error is almost always unintentional (we hope!) and is the most common reason that a hard disk drive will fail.

Hardware Failure

Problems with the hardware component found in the hard drive itself is another top reason for drive failure. is still far from perfect. In these type of cases, hardware failure often leads to physical damage.  This is due to the read/write heads touching or gouging into the device’s disks which causes damage to the platter’s magnetic surfaces.  This is known as a head crash and the damage can lead to permanent data loss. Additional problems can also occur with the controller board of the drive and can also lead to permanet failure.

Corruption Of Firmware

A few years past a problem known as BSY became an issue in some series of drives produced by Seagate, which caused these hard disk drives to fail. Firmware corruption such as this, may cause a disk to become unreadable, and cause data loss.

Did you know? Peculiar firmware corruption of a shingled Western Digital drives causes permanent data loss in a blink of an eye!

Excessive Heat

Excessive heat will also lead to severe damage of a hard disk component. As the temperature rises, disk platters expand and then contract with a temperature decrease. This can result in a distorted magnetic surface that develops micro cracks, a severe defect that compromises data.

Water Damage

Water damage caused by spilling a liquid onto a computer device is almost always bad news. Only in specially designed devices will be there be adequate protection built-in.  Most products on the consumer market today are simply not designed to be a barrier against water or other liquids. Water causes unwanted surges in the electrical current which can severely damage your device.

Power Surge

Power surges occur when the flow of electricity is interrupted and then restarted again. A power surge is caused by number of reasons from lightning strikes to power line interference. Power surges can result in data loss when the read/write heads fail to function properly. In worst case scenarios, there will be an insufficient amount of power to pull the heads back to the parking zone before the platters stop spinning.

Unforeseen Mishaps

Accidents happens every day, but a true mishap is not as simple as human error. A mishap is that really unlucky accident that can never be planned for. We’ve had a lively debate on the best way to organize that inexplicable 3% of cases we can only define as mishaps. Which we designate here as it’s own special category. Media issues which may need its own sub-catergory are also included with this group.

Obviously there were other ‘left-field’ reasons that resulted in hard disk drive failure. However, during our  research we did not see enough repetition for any to warrant its own special category.

Some of the most common Hard disk failure symptoms includes the following

• Clicking, Whirring or Whining Noises
• Overheating
• Excessively Slow File Access Times
• Missing or Corrupted Files and Folders
• Boot or Mount Issues
• Crashes or Blue Screen Errors (BSOD)

• Strange noises such as clicking or humming from the drive
• Repeated program crashes or disk errors
• Frequent error messages while running software
• Overall strange behavior from the computer

• Blue screen on a Windows computer, also called the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD
• Computer will not start
• Computer attempts to boot but returns a “file not found” error
• Loud scratching or clicking noises coming from drive

Secure Data Recovery Services offers repair and data recovery for hard drives, solid-state drives, RAID arrays and other devices. We provide free diagnostics and price quotes for failing hard drives through an expansive network of more than two dozen offices. Contact us today to schedule a no-risk media evaluation.

Steps to Take When a Hard Disk is Failing

If you can still access data on a failing hard drive, you may be able to transfer small files to another storage device. However, you should not transfer large files or put excessive strain on the drive, as this can accelerate a serious physical failure. For the best possible chances of a complete data recovery, you should shut down your hard drive as soon as possible. Do not attempt to boot after shutting it down and never use data recovery software to treat physical media issues.

When a hard drive displays warning signs of a physical failure, it needs fast treatment at a qualified data recovery laboratory. Secure Data Recovery Services offers high recovery rates for all hard drives, and we can often use specialized utilities and tools to safely clone failing drives without risking media damage. However, our recovery process varies from case to case.

To treat damaged hard disk, data recovery engineers need access to a certified Cleanroom. Failing hard disks often require read/write head replacements and other physical repairs, and a certified Cleanroom provides a safe environment for these repairs by removing potentially dangerous airborne contaminants.

It is also advisable that you quickly transfer your files and folders to an external hard drive,as you purchase a new hard disk you can easily transfer your files back to your computer.Is thia article useful to you?

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