9 Telltale Signs of an Impending Hard Drive Crash
One of the big causes of unexpected data loss and downtime is when a hard drive fails.
This is when a hard drive simply stops operating as it should, which can cause your computer to never reboot and you to lose access to all your files and programs stored on that computer.
If all the information on a computer hasn’t been properly backed up to a backup and recovery tool, the data loss can be costly and difficult to replace. Another big cost to businesses is the downtime experienced when dealing with the crashed computer or server and trying to recover.
Each hour of downtime costs a small business an average of $10,000+.
What you want to do is catch an impending hard drive failure before it happens and then bring it in for computer repairs in our Sturgeon Bay shop, so the problem can be addressed before it results in loss of data and productivity.
But… how do you know if your hard drive has problems and is heading toward a full meltdown?
Here are several warning signs that your hard drive needs repairs as soon as possible.
Computer or Laptop is Heating Up More Than Usual
When hard drives are processing, they naturally will heat up, which is why computers have fans in them to help keep the drive, motherboard, and other components from getting too hot.
If you notice your desktop or laptop getting warmer than usual, it’s a sign that the hard drive could be heading for a crash. There could be a problem with the cooling system or fan, which could result in components being damaged due to excess heat.
Making Clicking Sounds
Another sign of problems with a hard drive is if you begin to hear clicking sounds. This could indicate a worn out or loose part that is getting ready to fail completely.
Without repairs, it could leave your hard drive completely unusable and the data difficult to recover.
Sudden Reboots
Does your computer suddenly reboot on its own and then give you a message about some type of “system error?” If so, it could be heading towards a permanent shut down, never coming back up again.
Computers don’t usually reboot on their own, and if this happens, it’s typically due to some type of critical problem that needs to be addressed before the drive ends up crashing.
Long-Term Processing Sound (i.e. Whirring)
When you’re opening a large file or doing memory intensive work, you can usually hear your drive come to life with a whirring sound. But if this processing sound is happening more frequently and not shutting off, this indicates a potential hard drive problem.
File or Folders Disappearing and Reappearing
Your hard drive is where all the data that makes your computer work is located. If it begins “forgetting” what’s been written on it, this is a major problem and could indicate the drive is about to fail.
How this materializes is if you have files or folders that you know are there but are suddenly gone. Then you reboot and they’re back again.
Corrupted Data
Closely related to files disappearing is when files or folders become corrupted. If file or folder names appear as a strange mix of characters or you can’t open them, and get an error message, this indicates that the drive is having issues.
Not getting this fixed as soon as possible could result in all your data being corrupted and irretrievable.
More Than One Application Begins Having Problems
Software applications that you save on your computer are also stored on the hard drive, so if the drive is close to failing you may begin to see issues with how they operate.
A sign of this would include having problems opening, searching in, or using more than one application on your computer, like an email program for example.
Strange Blue or Wavy Screens
Seeing what’s known in the Windows world as the “blue screen of death” or any strange wavy lines or other screen problems, can be another indicator of an impending hard drive crash.
This can be a corruption of a particular sector, a problem with a graphics card conflict, or something else.
Frequent Slowdowns & Freezing
If your computer has always been fine and then you suddenly start experiencing slowdowns and freezing, this is another sign that the hard drive is having problems and may be heading toward a crash.
Drives are responsible for reading and writing data, and when they begin having problems with this process, it appears to the users as long waits on files or app processes, and tasks freezing up and needing a reboot to clear the problem.
Get Smart Computer Monitoring to Avoid a Hard Drive Crash
Signing up for managed IT services with Quantum PC Services ensures your systems are always monitored and any potential problems are handled expertly before they result in costly downtime or data loss.
Contact us today to learn more! Call 920-256-1214 or reach us online.
