Hard Drive Dying? PLEASE HELP!

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  1. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #11

    Damage is actually minimal- and the damaged block may not even be in use.
    What does HD Tune's Health tab say?

    HDD's automatically reallocate damaged blocks from a pool of spares.

    That said, if you have no backup, that's essential. Note that disk imaging will only succeed if all the used area can be read (no CRC errors).

    If that's your system disk, believe it is failing, and you want the best chance of recovery stop writing to it. I.e. don't use it as a system disk.

    You can boot your PC from a live boot disk, or for disk imaging purposes for example, the boot disk you can create using Macrium Reflect (free/paid). That way you will only be reading that disk.

    Naturally you would prepare any boot medium on another PC as you would stop using this one.

    tenforums members recommend the routine and regular use of disk imaging so you can deal with such emergencies in a relatively stress-free manner.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 696
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Your replies are much, much appreciated!

    I'm trying to do backups now, but I just have so much to do...!

    I checked in HDTune and it says under the "Health" tab in green text that "Health Status: OK"

    Is there something I can do with "SeaTools for Windows" that I've already got installed?

    EDIT:
    There are a couple lines of text that are highlighted in yellow in HDTune under the "Health" tab.

    - - - Updated - - -

    RolandJS said:
    "...Backup all your data ASAP..." The forks in the road: either an Intelligent Copy Cloning operation or an Intelligent Copy full image of your data partition; or, at the very least, TeraCopy everything important to you as to TXT, DOC, etc etc etc onto external media of your choosing - I prefer external USB HDDs myself. I'm not certain if the HDD in question will last through an Intelligent Copy full image of the entire HDD or not, I can't see the diagnostic screenshots. You can use any number of free or fee backup/restore programs available. Just because I use Macrium Reflect and Image for Windows does not mean you have to -- use whatever feels reliable to you.
    Thanks for your reply!

    I've also actually got Teracopy Pro installed

    - - - Updated - - -

    Okay, I just used "SeaTools for Windows" using "Short Drive Self Test" and it says "FAIL" and it only made it to the 10% point...
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #13

    You first priority remains, as was stated before, to make sure you have a backup of your data- which you should have been doing anyway.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 696
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Thank you!

    I've been trying to backup as many files as I can but my folders and files are scattered all over the place on this hard drive...

    I'm using Teracopy to copy files to an external USB HDD now.

    Is there a built in app in Windows 10 Pro that'll copy over my Documents/Desktop Files/Downloads folders to an external USB HDD?

    I don't want to reboot this PC in case it doesn't boot...
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    windows 10
       #15

    NiceAndShy said:
    Is there a built in app in Windows 10 Pro that'll copy over my Documents/Desktop Files/Downloads folders to an external USB HDD?
    Not if they're scattered in folders that are not 'user folders'

    You can find all your user folders in one place usually: C:\Users\[Your username].

    this location holds desktop / downloads/ documents / images etc..
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 696
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #16

    Thank you!
    The Seagate app "SeaTools for Windows" says it may be able to repair the damaged block, but it also says it may destroy the drive...

    I'm currently backing up my files, but other than backing up, is there anything else I can do to improve my situation?

    I thought by deleting files/uninstalling apps I may be giving the HDD a slightly longer lifespan?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #17

    Do not write to your drive until you have backed up everything.

    When you have done that, download, install and run Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) - right on its GUI it will give you a projected lifetime.

    Then consider attempting a disk image of at least your C: partition - preferably all Windows partitions created when Windows was installed- M Reflect offers one button selection for that- if you wish to try to rescue your Windows installation which I assume is on that disk. However, if any part of the data is affected by disk degradation, imaging will fail. (CRC error).

    Without such an image you will be clean installing to a new disk in due course.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 696
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #18

    Thanks!

    I'm currently looking at which internal HDD to buy and replace this one and there aren't any PC stores in my area so I'm going to have to wait at least a few days for an internal HDD to replace this damaged Seagate 2TB HDD.

    I also need to work on backing up the folders and files on this Seagate 2TB HDD...

    Is there anything I can do to make this HDD keep working a bit longer? Would deleting files help?

    Thank you!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5,299
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
       #19

    Not using the HDD will help last longer.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,656
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #20

    NiceAndShy said:
    Is there anything I can do to make this HDD keep working a bit longer? Would deleting files help?
    No. Get the backups done, and don't do anything else.
      My Computers


 

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