HDD-issues with starting games - task manager shows process running, game doesn't launch

[Somethinroundhere]

Hello there!
As the title says, when starting games from my HDD, these games show up as a process in the task manager but they don't launch at all (- in that very case, the main issue appears with WoW, NBA 2k15 sometimes has the same issue).
Everything else will run smoothly, not having any problems. No BSODs, errors or such appearing for usual.

The resource usage of the process doesn't change at all and it will need a long time (-roughly 3 minutes) until the process is actually shut down if ending it.
Basically these games 'freeze' even before actually starting.

I guess these might be relevant:
HDD: 1000GB Seagate Barracuda ST310003 ST31000340NS @7200RPM
OS: Windows 7 Home Professional

Anyone has an idea what's up with that whole situation? Looking forward to any answers 😉

 

[Mattios]

Is it just those two games? Is the PC new?

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there Somethinroundhere,

It may be a good idea to back up the most important data that is stored on the drive until you sort this issue out.
You need to test the drive with brand specific testing software. The results will show you the overall health status of the drive.
If the results show that the drive is fine though, you can try reinstalling the game and see whether the issue persists. Do you have problems launching all the games or just these two?

D_Know_WD

 

[Somethinroundhere]

Is it just those two games? Is the PC new?

Only these two games, yes - the PC is roughly one year old (April 2014, if I recall correctly)

Hi there Somethinroundhere,

It may be a good idea to back up the most important data that is stored on the drive until you sort this issue out.
You need to test the drive with brand specific testing software. The results will show you the overall health status of the drive.
If the results show that the drive is fine though, you can try reinstalling the game and see whether the issue persists. Do you have problems launching all the games or just these two?

D_Know_WD

The issue here is that the brand's software doesn't detect the HDD - Seagate has "SeaTools" up on their website for these checks but it doesn't seem to find my drive at all.

I did reinstall both games already, after it appeared for a few days in a row - that didn't help alot. Also, yes it does only appear on these two games (as in my main post, one does only sometimes - around 2 times in 10 launches - have the problem).

 

[D_Know_WD]

It is strange that the software can't recognize the HDD. Anyway, you need to test the drive somehow. So, you can try testing it with a third party testing software. I can't really recommend you a specific one.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

 

[Somethinroundhere]

It is strange that the software can't recognize the HDD. Anyway, you need to test the drive somehow. So, you can try testing it with a third party testing software. I can't really recommend you a specific one.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

Checked it with two different programs, one being CheckDrive and the other HDTune - neither of both detected any errors which is quite confusing.

The disk has had troubles with opening files and folders aswell as these games and only ~400 GB out of 1 TB is used.
(Troubles as in being very slow - at times it does have troubles, it takes roughly half a minute to even open the folder)
Receiving a message after these scans which tells me the "Drive is working perfectly" and that there are "No problems" is hard to believe.

It's quite a weird thing because I would expect the disk to either always have problems with running smoothly or not at all.

 

[D_Know_WD]

As you have already backed the most important data, you can do one last test with the check disk option of Windows. It is strange indeed, that all of this sound like a HDD issue but the tools show that it is fine. If you just borrow a drive from somebody and try it on your computer, you will be a hundred percent sure whether the HDD is causing the issues or something else in your system.

How to check your HDD: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/check-your-hard-disk-for-errors

D_Know_WD

 

[Somethinroundhere]

As you have already backed the most important data, you can do one last test with the check disk option of Windows. It is strange indeed, that all of this sound like a HDD issue but the tools show that it is fine. If you just borrow a drive from somebody and try it on your computer, you will be a hundred percent sure whether the HDD is causing the issues or something else in your system.

How to check your HDD: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/check-your-hard-disk-for-errors

D_Know_WD

Okay eh...well, the HDD check doesn't start. As soon as I click on 'start' in that checking window, it simply closes down an doesn't do anything.

Trying to run it via the chkdsk command gave me the error that the drive type is "RAW" - also I've been receiving several SMART errors during the last hours.
From what I found on google, that pretty much says my drive is dead - or at least deadly injured.


Edit:
Hah, the irony. No more need for help, I suppose - just when I sent that post, my HDD died.
Thanks alot for your efforts and taking time to help out 😉

 

[D_Know_WD]

I hope you had enough time to back up the important stuff that was on the HDD.

D_KnowW_D

 

[Somethinroundhere]

I hope you had enough time to back up the important stuff that was on the HDD.

D_KnowW_D

Yep, everything I need is backed up - could have been worse it seems ^_^