| If your hard drive is having any of these | | | | freezes or hang ups |
| seven symptoms then you must take immediate | | | | |
| action to backup your files... | | | | You are working along just fine, and then |
| | | | suddenly everything comes to a halt. The |
| "I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of | | | | program freezes up on you. Your mouse and |
| them." ~ Isaac Asimov | | | | keyboard seem to stop responding. The only |
| | | | solution is to reboot. |
| Like the late, great Mr. Asimov said, we | | | | |
| shouldn't worry about computers taking over | | | | Sign 5 - Error message: hard drive is not |
| but be more concerned when they fail us and | | | | formatted |
| take all our important files with them. A | | | | |
| computer's hard drive is the central storage | | | | This a fun message that you will get when you |
| within the system and its failure will bring | | | | start up your machine. You maybe able to |
| all practical functions to a complete halt. | | | | restart and get it to boot into Windows a few |
| | | | more times but this error is "fur-sure" sign |
| If your PC is experiencing any of the | | | | that you drive is very close to death. And by |
| following signs of impeding doom then you | | | | the way don't try to format the drive! You |
| must run (not walk) and grab CDs to burn | | | | will lose all your data. |
| backups of all your essential data. | | | | |
| | | | Sign 6 - Error message: boot drive or device |
| Sign 1 - You hear high-pitched whining, loud | | | | not found or drive cannot be accessed |
| clicking or grinding noises coming from the | | | | |
| drive | | | | This is another favorite of mine. You can |
| | | | check the CD/DVD trays or the floppy drive to |
| A normally operating drive will make a smooth | | | | make sure no stray disks are stuck inside. |
| "whirling" sound as is spins up or down. But | | | | You can also check the BIOS to make sure the |
| if a drive has a grinding or clicking sounds | | | | system is booting from the hard drive first. |
| (the Read/Write heads scraping too close to | | | | If all these tests are no-good, then the |
| the magnetic platters), then your drive is | | | | drive is a goner. |
| sick and is on the way out. | | | | |
| | | | Sign 7 - Errors: Operating system not found |
| Sign 2 - You see the infamous "Blue Screen of | | | | or Missing Operating System |
| Death", repeatedly | | | | |
| | | | This is a bad one. Even the Microsoft |
| BSODs (Blue Screens of Death) are actually | | | | technical support knowledgebase has only got |
| called "Stop" errors and they only appear | | | | a few causes for this error message. |
| when your Windows system is experiencing | | | | Basically your PC can no longer detect the |
| severe software or hardware issues. Often | | | | hard drive or the drive is too severely |
| BSODs can cured with a careful "Repair | | | | damaged to read (DOA). |
| Install" of the Windows operating system or | | | | |
| by removal of a bad device driver. But if | | | | What to do if your drive has any of these |
| these software fast fixes don't seem stick, | | | | symptoms: |
| then your hard drive is usually on its last | | | | |
| legs | | | | 1) First, listen up, if possible, BACKUP YOUR |
| | | | FILES NOW! |
| Sign 3 - Your computer keeps re-booting on | | | | |
| its own | | | | 2) Create a boot disk and run Windows |
| | | | Scandisk and set it to automatically fix |
| I admit, I have only seen this problem a few | | | | errors. If it finds more than a few bad |
| times in my 18+ year career and in all | | | | sectors then see the point above |
| instances it was due to hardware issues. Once | | | | |
| it was a dust covered motherboard, and | | | | 3) If possible download and use a hard drive |
| another time an overheating processor. But | | | | diagnostic program. All the major hard drive |
| all the other times it was due to bad drives. | | | | manufacturers have free utilities on their |
| | | | websites. Repair what you can and see point |
| Sign 4 - Your system keeps having frequent | | | | 1. |