Question Hard Drive Toast?

[Morsecode]

So last night I was downloading a game patch that would last an hour or longer, so I stepped out for an hour and came back to a black screen saying windows (10) was missing, press ctrl + alt + delete to restart.

Sometimes I could see my hard drive in the boot priority and sometimes I can’t, no matter what it would seem like I have no hard drive.
I tried using a windows install cd to refresh everything, but I can’t even find my hard drive to install onto. Also tried USB, but I just get a blinking underscore on the top left of a black screen.
Window’s automatic repair would either go black for a few minutes then brings me to the advanced options screen where every option does not do anything OR I would get the BSOD and restart.

I’ve tried switching SATA cables and power, any other ideas, or should I just buy a new hard drive. I don’t mind losing all my data, just want to use my computer again.


Feel free to ask for any additional info, thank you

 

[prince_xaine]

Are you using a tower or laptop?

 

[Morsecode]

Are you using a tower or laptop?

Tower

 

[ConanLock]

Can you see any visible damage on the hard drive? Blown/burnt parts etc

 

[Morsecode]

Can you see any visible damage on the hard drive? Blown/burnt parts etc

Nope, looks completely normal/dusty

 

[ConanLock]

What about when you shake it... Any noises?
Also, when you turn the PC on can you hear the HDD spinning, or even feel it if you touch the top?

 

[Morsecode]

What about when you shake it... Any noises?
Also, when you turn the PC on can you hear the HDD spinning, or even feel it if you touch the top?

I can’t hear anything over the fans but, I’m feeling the hard drive and I’m pretty sure it’s spinning and no noises when I shake.

 

[prince_xaine]

What I would do, is purchase a Solid State Drive (don't use another HDD for OS) which will increase desktop performance (windows explorer, launching programs, etc.) and reduce boot time (from about 40 seconds to 10 seconds) and then you can add a HDD later. (or test to see if the old one works then) It's a win win situation. Minimum 120 GB SSD, but I'd recommend a 500 GB model. Samsung, Kingston, Western Digital are great options.

 

[Morsecode]

What I would do, is purchase a Solid State Drive (don't use another HDD for OS) which will increase desktop performance (windows explorer, launching programs, etc.) and reduce boot time (from about 40 seconds to 10 seconds) and then you can add a HDD later. (or test to see if the old one works then) It's a win win situation. Minimum 120 GB SSD, but I'd recommend a 500 GB model. Samsung, Kingston, Western Digital are great options.

Not a bad suggestion, I might as well now, always wanted to get one

 

[AllanGH]

Don't waste your time and money on anything smaller than 500GB....over 1TB is even better if you plan on significant software installations, along with user data files.

 

[Morsecode]

Don't waste your time and money on anything smaller than 500GB....over 1TB is even better if you plan on significant software installations, along with user data files.

I was just about to buy a 256gb SSD 🙊 since I only play like one game and mostly use my pc for the web

 

[ConanLock]

For you then 256 might be ok

 

[AllanGH]

I was just about to buy a 256gb SSD since I only play like one game and mostly use my pc for the web

At least do yourself the favor of getting a high quality drive, then.

 

[Morsecode]

At least do yourself the favor of getting a high quality drive, then.

I was going to get the Samsung 860 Evo

 

[mdd1963]

Even the Corsair MX500 in 500 GB is only $69....; I'd honestly not look at anything smaller to save only $12-18...

 

[prince_xaine]

You don't need a large SSD, Hard Drives are way cheaper per GB and have great sequential speeds for loading games. Get a 250 GB Samsung 860 Evo and a 1 TB HDD (1 TB HDD is like $30 on eBay). I buy them in bulk from there and haven't had issues.

 

[Justin9000]

Your HDD is failing, i would suggest to do what the other guys say. Buy an SSD and a pretty decent one too so that you wont have any problems in the future.

 

[AllanGH]

I was going to get the Samsung 860 Evo

Definitely a drive worth spending money on.