The hard drive in your computer stores your operating system, applications, and important files, and if it malfunctions, you can lose access to this valuable data. Recognizing signs that your hard drive is failing allows you to have a professional transfer the files to a new drive so that you can continue to use the device. Below are several indications that your hard drive is no longer working properly.

How Can You Spot a Malfunctioning Hard Drive?

1. Frequent Freezing

When using your computer, the applications and programs that you run should work seamlessly and allow you to complete tasks. However, if they routinely freeze or the entire computer crashes and restarts, this often indicates a problem with the hard drive. Windows® PCs are also notorious for getting the infamous "blue screen of death," in which the entire computer screen turns blue and white text appears that provides an error code and explains that the machine is restarting. In this case, the hard drive is often to blame, as it cannot load your programs or operating system properly.

2. Corrupted Files

If your files suddenly disappear or refuse to open, they may be corrupted by a bad hard drive. This occurs when the device overwrites the information, merging files together and preventing them from working properly. In other cases, files and folders may take an extremely long time to open. This may indicate that the hard drive requires repeated attempts to read the data in the folder or file before accessing it.

3. Strange Sounds

If you have a modern PC, you should only hear a small fan whirring while the computer is running. This helps cool down the components and release heat generated by the central processing unit. However, if you have a hard disk drive (HDD) in the system, this spins a physical disk inside a case to read data. When it starts to fail, you may hear clicking or grinding sounds, which indicates that the components moving the disk are faulty.

4. SMART Alert

A Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) system is built into Windows and allows the operating system to check for potential hardware failures. To use this, open the command prompt and type "wmic" into the black box that appears. Press enter, and then type "diskdrive get status" and press enter. If the status is fine, you'll get a "Status OK" message. If there are issues, you'll see either "Unknown," "Bad," or "Caution." If you get these notifications, replace the hard drive promptly.

If your hard drive is showing signs of failing, contact Cory's Affordable Computer Repair & Services in Ormond Beach, FL. They can transfer your data to a new hard drive and install it to ensure the PC works and functions properly. This family-owned computer repair company is known for their trustworthy service, whether you need virus removal or regular maintenance. Visit the website for a list of services, and call (386) 202-2461 to schedule an appointment.