Is my hard drive failing?

PH3N0M · Apr 10, 2009, 03:32 PM

Periodically, I've been hearing one of my hard drives make a noise and it sounds as if it's losing power because I can hear the platter when it winds down. Is there some sort of test I can run to figure out which drive it is or is that normal? I'm guessing it's not.

Wavelabs · Apr 10, 2009, 04:29 PM

There is something in the BIOS called - S.M.A.R.T.
If your bios has it, most do.
Turn it on, It will notify you if your drive is failing.
it checks the drive periodically through S.M.A.R.T.

Here is a link that may help you alot.
S.M.A.R.T. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Another way also, is to go to Start and then RUN,
then type CMD.
This will bring up the command window.

If you have a long line of text such as:Example.
C:\>Users\Vista>

Just type in from of it --> cd\

And it should bring you to this only:

C:\>

Then type: CHKDSK /F

Here is what it should look like.

C:\>chkdsk /f

Press enter, this will diagnose your HDD in 5 levels.
This will take some time, so please be very patient as it takes a while.

If you get any errors you will know about it.

In the end of the check disk you will see this:
This is just an example:

Code:

Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.
Cleaning up minor inconsistencies on the drive.
Cleaning up 318 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 318 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 318 unused security descriptors.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
Free space verification is complete.

14996645 KB total disk space.
10187752 KB in 88054 files.
     30784 KB in 5774 indexes.
           0 KB in bad sectors.
   164341 KB in use by the system.
     65536 KB occupied by the log file.
  4613768 KB available on disk.

     4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
3749161 total allocation units on disk.
1153442 allocation units available on disk.

CHKDSK stands for Check Disk.
Here is nmore information about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chkdsk

If you hear rapid clicking sounds coming from your drive,
thats a sure fire way of knowing your drive is going dead.

If the drive is winding up and down,
change the Power Cable and the Data Cable being connected to the drive.
It could be a faulty wiring of one or both wires.
Get new ones, not used.

You might want to check the Freeware Tools in this forum,
Located here.
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hardware...-freeware.html

Also, there are other dianostic HDD tools out there, but be very aware,
that many are fakes and have viruses in them.

Have one of the experienced guys here point a good one out for you.
as they know best, its what they do.

Hope I helped you, as many have helped me.

Judas · Apr 10, 2009, 04:49 PM

add /p to the command for a thorough checking

Apr 10, 2009, 03:32 PM	#1
PH3N0M The Master of Sarcasm Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The U.S. of A Posts: 348 Rep Power: 37 System Specs	Is my hard drive failing? Periodically, I've been hearing one of my hard drives make a noise and it sounds as if it's losing power because I can hear the platter when it winds down. Is there some sort of test I can run to figure out which drive it is or is that normal? I'm guessing it's not. __________________

Apr 10, 2009, 04:29 PM	#2
Wavelabs HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 52 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Is my hard drive failing? There is something in the BIOS called - S.M.A.R.T. If your bios has it, most do. Turn it on, It will notify you if your drive is failing. it checks the drive periodically through S.M.A.R.T. Here is a link that may help you alot. S.M.A.R.T. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Another way also, is to go to Start and then RUN, then type CMD. This will bring up the command window. If you have a long line of text such as:Example. C:\>Users\Vista> Just type in from of it --> cd\ And it should bring you to this only: C:\> Then type: CHKDSK /F Here is what it should look like. C:\>chkdsk /f Press enter, this will diagnose your HDD in 5 levels. This will take some time, so please be very patient as it takes a while. If you get any errors you will know about it. In the end of the check disk you will see this: This is just an example: Code: Checking file system on C: The type of the file system is NTFS. A disk check has been scheduled. Windows will now check the disk. Cleaning up minor inconsistencies on the drive. Cleaning up 318 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9. Cleaning up 318 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9. Cleaning up 318 unused security descriptors. CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)... File data verification completed. CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)... Free space verification is complete. 14996645 KB total disk space. 10187752 KB in 88054 files. 30784 KB in 5774 indexes. 0 KB in bad sectors. 164341 KB in use by the system. 65536 KB occupied by the log file. 4613768 KB available on disk. 4096 bytes in each allocation unit. 3749161 total allocation units on disk. 1153442 allocation units available on disk. CHKDSK stands for Check Disk. Here is nmore information about it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chkdsk If you hear rapid clicking sounds coming from your drive, thats a sure fire way of knowing your drive is going dead. If the drive is winding up and down, change the Power Cable and the Data Cable being connected to the drive. It could be a faulty wiring of one or both wires. Get new ones, not used. You might want to check the Freeware Tools in this forum, Located here. http://www.hardwareheaven.com/hardware...-freeware.html Also, there are other dianostic HDD tools out there, but be very aware, that many are fakes and have viruses in them. Have one of the experienced guys here point a good one out for you. as they know best, its what they do. Hope I helped you, as many have helped me. __________________ Pro-Tools v8 / Reason v4.1 / CubaseSX v4 / Wavelabs v6.1 / M-Audio 1814 / GT-66 MIC / TC Electronic Triple C / DBX Gate Event 20-20 Powered / Genelec 1030A / Pioneer EFX-1000 / Avalon VT-737sp Mic-Pre / Aphex Aural Exciter 104-C2 Last edited by Wavelabs; Apr 10, 2009 at 04:47 PM.