Hard Drive Problems :(

[SuperXanther]

Greetings,

My damn hard drive is playing up (if you didn't notice from the title). Basically, whenever my computer is on there is a random chance of the hard drive making a noise as if it is restarting and then, for around half a minute, my computer will become unresponsive. The HDD activity LED stays off during this time. In my opinion, I think the HDD is kicking the bucket but the usual grinding/loud clicking noise that usually signs a dying hard drive isn't there. As I said, the HDD makes a sound then sounds like it's restaring itself and unresponsiveness follows - no crashes as of yet. I did a disk error check using the Windows 7 tool and it has made it even worse. It said that quite a few files were corrupted and had to be deleted.

This is most common when I turn on my computer and I log in. I literally have no idea of what could be the cause but it has begun to worry me deeply as I may have to buy another HDD of relative quality to replace it (£44) and I is poor.

Break it to me simple, how much time do I have left?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Sounds like an issue with the head parking mechanism. Run Seatools for Windows to check the drive health. Run the Short drive self test (DST) and Long generic. Drive brand is irrelevant, it works on all brands whether they're mechanical or SSD. If it fails either test, try connecting the drive to a different motherboard SATA header or reseat the cable at both ends. IF it still fails, replace the cable or just try a different cable. If that nets no solutions and it still fails, replace the drive.

Be warned, the long generic usually takes a good long while to run, so don't expect results in five minutes. The short DST should complete fairly soon, and if it doesn't complete within ten minutes or freezes up, there is likely an issue with the drive.

Seatools for Windows: http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/item/seatools-win-master/

 

[SuperXanther]

Thanks HDD master, I'll try that out now!

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, good luck. Let me know how it goes.

 

[SuperXanther]

My drive passed the S.M.A.R.T Test and the Long Generic but not the Short DST. Should I try relocating the sata cable?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, try relocating the SATA cable or replacing it if that doesn't work. IF it still fails, replace the drive. 99% of the time when a mechanical drive makes unusual noises, it's dying.

 

[SuperXanther]

I think reseating the SATA cable has seemed to work. I only just did it today and the driver has been installed but has not been applied (restart required) but since reseating the cable, it hasn't restarted...yet.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Hopefully that's all it was.