There are a lot of factors that can affect the lifespan of a hard drive; thankfully most hard drives give signs of impending failure before they eventually fail. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 6 signs of a failing hard drive to look out for.

Corrupted Files

If your files are frequently being corrupted, it’s a sign that your hard drive might be failing. Of course, corrupted files can also be caused by other factors like overclocking SATA bus, driver issues, viruses, sudden power failure etc., however if the incidence of file corruption is overly frequent, a failing hard drive is more likely the cause. It is advisable to immediately backup your data and diagnose the hard drive for problems.

Slow Response Time and Transfer Rates

Whenever a hard drive is failing, its performance typically reduces significantly causing slow response time and transfer rates. This reduced performance is so bad that it might take several minutes to send a small audio file, or it takes a ridiculous amount of time to open simple programs like Windows Explorer. Slow response time and transfer rates can also be caused by other factors like system load, fragmentation, infections etc., so it may or may not be indicative of hard drive failure. Nevertheless, if it persists it could lead to hard drive failure. It is therefore advisable to backup your data as a precaution.

Accumulating Bad Sectors

Hard drives typically store data in tiny clusters and whenever these clusters get corrupted or damaged that part of the hard disk is no longer functional and thus referred to as a bad sector. These bad sectors can cause serious damage to your data and when you run into them, and bad sectors alongside frequent freezing of your device is definitely a bad sign. It should be a strong reminder to backup your data as soon as possible.

Strange Noises and Extreme Heat

Mechanical hard drives tend to make noise while functioning because of several moving parts inside it. However, when your hard drive starts to make odd clicking and grinding noises, it’s mostly likely caused by physical damage or deterioration of the hard drive. It might be a damaged header, failed motor etc. Whatever it might be, these strange noises indicate that it is time to backup your data as soon as possible.

S.M.A.R.T

S.M.A.R.T is a Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology that helps to analyze current hard drive state and predict hard drive failures. Most modern hard drive support this technology, be sure your hard drive is one of them and try using this technology to predict possible hard drive failure especially when your hard drive starts acting abnormally.

Other Signs Include…

Some other possible signs of impending hard drive failure are: frequent but irregular crashes especially when booting up Windows; frequent and cryptic error messages when performing activities like moving files etc.; disappearing files and folders; disappearing data and disk errors; and scrambled and changed folder and file names.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-signs-failing-hard-drive/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

john4reala:
bro why

---

john4reala:
allow me na

try again later

ooooook!! is that all

veekid:

---

bro why

The fact remains that any man made thing can spoil @ any time

veekid:

---

allow me na

ook

What an educative write-up.

No wonder why some of my HDD got damaged.

NL ppl are most inclined to comment on snake, tonto dike, buhari, Biafra etc topics. but real information that adds value they just turn to the other side

nothing last forever

HELP!!! How do I recover my vital files, my harddrive is dead, systems don't see it again, at all. How do I recover my vital files? Pls, don't tell me there's no solution. This is Nairaland.com there's got to be. Thanks op, this post is so timely, why I love NL.

Nice 1 op

flex04:


There are a lot of factors that can affect the lifespan of a hard drive; thankfully most hard drives give signs of impending failure before they eventually fail. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency shares 6 signs of a failing hard drive to look out for.

Corrupted Files

If your files are frequently being corrupted, it’s a sign that your hard drive might be failing. Of course, corrupted files can also be caused by other factors like overclocking SATA bus, driver issues, viruses, sudden power failure etc., however if the incidence of file corruption is overly frequent, a failing hard drive is more likely the cause. It is advisable to immediately backup your data and diagnose the hard drive for problems.

Slow Response Time and Transfer Rates

Whenever a hard drive is failing, its performance typically reduces significantly causing slow response time and transfer rates. This reduced performance is so bad that it might take several minutes to send a small audio file, or it takes a ridiculous amount of time to open simple programs like Windows Explorer. Slow response time and transfer rates can also be caused by other factors like system load, fragmentation, infections etc., so it may or may not be indicative of hard drive failure. Nevertheless, if it persists it could lead to hard drive failure. It is therefore advisable to backup your data as a precaution.

Accumulating Bad Sectors

Hard drives typically store data in tiny clusters and whenever these clusters get corrupted or damaged that part of the hard disk is no longer functional and thus referred to as a bad sector. These bad sectors can cause serious damage to your data and when you run into them, and bad sectors alongside frequent freezing of your device is definitely a bad sign. It should be a strong reminder to backup your data as soon as possible.

Strange Noises and Extreme Heat

Mechanical hard drives tend to make noise while functioning because of several moving parts inside it. However, when your hard drive starts to make odd clicking and grinding noises, it’s mostly likely caused by physical damage or deterioration of the hard drive. It might be a damaged header, failed motor etc. Whatever it might be, these strange noises indicate that it is time to backup your data as soon as possible.

S.M.A.R.T

S.M.A.R.T is a Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology that helps to analyze current hard drive state and predict hard drive failures. Most modern hard drive support this technology, be sure your hard drive is one of them and try using this technology to predict possible hard drive failure especially when your hard drive starts acting abnormally.

Other Signs Include…

Some other possible signs of impending hard drive failure are: frequent but irregular crashes especially when booting up Windows; frequent and cryptic error messages when performing activities like moving files etc.; disappearing files and folders; disappearing data and disk errors; and scrambled and changed folder and file names.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/6-signs-failing-hard-drive/

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

is it the same with MacBook?

DJMCOTTY:
is it the same with MacBook?

Yes, it is. Use paragon app to check the state of your drives.

Yeah.. very correct..

very informative

What if the hard disk space keeps reducing on it's own

RealHaute:


Yes, it is. Use paragon app to check the state of your drives.

How can one check the state of a drive on Windows

haryomikun:


How can one check the state of a drive on Windows

I don't know much about windows but you can google "disk utility software".

BackToLife:
HELP!!! How do I recover my vital files, my harddrive is dead, systems don't see it again, at all. How do I recover my vital files? Pls, don't tell me there's no solution. This is Nairaland.com there's got to be. Thanks op, this post is so timely, why I love NL.

Download any of the following, they all have their peculiarities sha.

1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
2. Recuva
3. Undelete 360
4. Puran File Recovery

Things you'd need;
- Read instructions carefully
- Another memory space to transfer recovered files to
- Power supply throughout the entire duration of the process

RealHaute:


I don't know much about windows but you can google "disk utility software".

Thanks boss

Nice one OP. The problem is that some other issues may cause some of these symptoms. My guy learnt the hard way last week when his hard drive suddenly packed up.

Niyijac:


Download any of the following, they all have their peculiarities sha.

1. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard
2. Recuva
3. Undelete 360
4. Puran File Recovery

Things you'd need;
- Read instructions carefully
- Another memory space to transfer recovered files to
- Power supply throughout the entire duration of the process

Thanks for your response. But these only work if the PC can still see the external hard drive. My external hard disk is now undectectable to my system. Any other idea on what to do? My eternal external hard drive does NOT respond any more.

BackToLife:

Thanks for your response. But these only work if the PC can still see the external hard drive. My external hard disk is now undectectable to my system. Any other idea on what to do? My eternal external hard drive does NOT respond any more.

Those applications are powerful enough to view whatever file on the hard drive. Even if your system cannot detect the hard drive

If you want to recover data from your hard drive, you need to try a hard drive data recovery tool.