Do they repair hard drives? Self-repair of laptop hard drive. Detection of defects and recovery of the hard drive

Date of publication: 03/14/2017 15:30

An external hard drive is a very convenient and useful device for modern man. It gained its popularity due to its compactness, ease of transportation and spaciousness. But breakdowns also occur with it, and some of them can be fixed on your own. This generally does not apply to mechanical damage. If the hard drive fails after being dropped or has been subjected to other physical impacts, its repair may be somewhat more complicated. Here we will talk about how to repair a hard drive yourself.

1. Firstly, mechanical repairs will require certain knowledge, skills and availability special tools. The most effective solution For this problem, you will need to contact a specialist at a computer service;
2. Secondly, there is a block of magnetic heads inside the drive; it can only be opened in a sterile room. Any speck of dust can damage the insides of the disk.

Regarding software faults, here there is already a better chance of coping with the problem on your own. Many people do not pay attention to the correct completion of work with external hard drive, and this is one of the most common reasons for software failures.

Hard drive diagnostics

It should start by checking the cable through which the drive was connected to a computer or other equipment during its last successful use: laptop, TV, etc. This will not solve the problem, but will only clarify that the problem is in the drive.

We listen carefully to the sounds that are heard while the disk is operating. If there are clicks, creaks, knocks, etc., this indicates possible violations.

Next, we check the hard drive for errors and freezes - this is determined immediately by its behavior. If this is the case, we check the hard drive for viruses, but they most likely exist and are quite capable of having a detrimental effect on its operation. In this case, format the disk immediately. To do this, you can use special programs, such as:

• Paragon partition manager;
• EASEUS;
• Aomei partition assistant;
• Acronis disk director.

Or start formatting using standard features PC. When choosing file system select NTFS system- this is important. If external hard the disk is in the field of view of the computer, and the information located inside it, it is necessary to determine which part of it has suffered the most severe damage. Most likely, some of the files can be recovered. For this procedure, use the PartitionRecovery or Recuva program. After running one of the programs, files that can be restored will appear, but damaged ones should be deleted - this will help restore the disk to its former performance.

The same algorithm of actions may well be suitable for self-repair internal storage, because their operating principle is almost identical. If all of the above methods did not help, do not rush to delve into the problem without knowing all the intricacies

Hello, dear friends!

Many articles have been written about the problems that our computer gives us. I decided to highlight problem with hard drives, or rather - how to solve this problem. I mean purely the mechanical part of this question, that is, that moment when suddenly, during operation, your HDD begins to make some heartbreaking sounds, such as squeaking, grinding, “Morse code” or clanging. What to do in this case? Read the article and your problem will be resolved with your help. So!

Why do strange sounds occur in the HDD?

When your hard drive starts making “uterine” sounds (squeaking, clanging, grinding), it’s very, very sad: it’s simply unbearable to work in such conditions! Why do strange sounds occur in the HDD? Possible answers: sea: ranging from the notorious “expired service life” to possible severe fragmentation. One way or another, one should not lose sight of such an aspect as a purely mechanical problem, that is - your HDD is clogged with dust, and in addition - on it contacts have oxidized. Believe it or not, it is mechanical problems that are most often ignored by the so-called “forum gurus.” (From the author: “forum gurus” are such a “high caste” of computer know-it-alls that give stupid advice, for example, how to kill a video card and processor using an overclocking algorithm. Or how to fix a video card in... an OVEN! Well, now you understand, What kind of creatures are these - “forum gurus”)?

Let's start the renovation

Well? Ready to work? Then let's begin.

1. Unplug your computer.
2. Remove the wall system unit and take a Phillips screwdriver of the required size: you will unscrew your hard drive.
3. Be sure to disconnect the hard drive inputs to avoid breaking the wires.
4. After carefully removing the fasteners (well, bolts or screws), remove the hard drive.
5. Turn it over.
6. Do you see: on one of its sides there is such a metal cover? It is attached to the plastic base of the general hard drive housing using bolts or screws. But there is one point: the slots! What are splines? These are the slots in the bolts or screws into which you insert the “tip” (“nose”, point) of the screwdriver. It's clear? So: there are ordinary cross-shaped slots, and there are also slots for a special hex key. A bolt that has such a slot is very difficult to unscrew, although you can try if you wish. But still, I recommend buying a set of special miniature hex keys - such a set costs a penny, but the benefits are a lot! In general, you understand me. We continue to disassemble the hard drive.

Making a diagnosis

When you have unscrewed all the bolts, very carefully lift the cover: what do you see? And you should see the following: a contact path that is covered with some dark “crap”. This “crap” is the source of the problem! Due to the fact that the contacts are oxidized, the flow of signals that goes to your HDD and back is disrupted. As a result, your oxidized hard drive begins to slow down wildly and rattle (creak, clang and squeak). This also increases the rotational load on the discs that spin inside the hard drive. All this together leads to the fact that your disk simply dies, but not from old age, but from illness. What should you do? Right: clean rusty oxides and dirt!

Search for oxidation of contacts and soldering hard drive

Let's start treatment

Take pure medical alcohol, a cotton swab and a regular school eraser.

1. Use an eraser to carefully remove the oxides: just wipe the areas where you see dark spots or rust.
2. Next, dip the stick in alcohol and wipe the contacts you just cleaned. Don't be too zealous, otherwise you'll flood your contacts.
3. After that, look again: have you deleted everything? If yes, then collect the disk into a pile and insert it back into the computer. Before the start, be sure to cross yourself: you never know! Just kidding: turn on your computer: nothing else rattles and nothing will rattle for the next six months. But that's not all: do a complete defragmentation of the HDD and registry. After this, be sure to restart the system again. That's it now!

In this article we will look at the types of hard drive failures and malfunctions and advise what to do in various situations. Looking ahead, we will say that some errors can be corrected on your own, in other cases you need the help of qualified specialists or replacing the HDD.

Note. Recovery deleted files and repair are different concepts. HDD repair does not provide for the return of data to the storage device, while data recovery is not always possible due to a breakdown of the hard drive or partial or complete damage to its surface.

Checking the status of the hard drive using SMART

In modern hard drives Built-in SMART self-diagnosis system. It helps to identify problems and predict hard drive failure - thus preventing data loss in a timely manner. Through SMART you can find out the percentage of HDD wear, as well as check the current parameters and device performance.

In order to check state of hard disk,

1. Install a SMART test program (for example, Hitachi Drive Fitness Test, CrystalDiskInfo or HDD Health, see).
2. Run the program and wait while the hard drive characteristics are calculated.
3. Study the indicators, comparing the current and critical indicators. If an error is found, look at the table to see what it means.

A separate advantage of SMART diagnostics is that you can quickly and fairly accurately determine the condition of a hard drive, both newly purchased and used. However, keep in mind that SMART can make mistakes, even if according to statistics everything is OK.

If the mistakes are fatal, do backup copy important data and replace the HDD. Parting with money is an unpleasant procedure, but it is better to do it on time, and not after the collapse of the hard drive with all that it entails.

Fixing hard drive read errors

If there are errors on the hard drive, its performance deteriorates. Characteristic symptoms:

1. The hard drive makes strange sounds (for example, loud rustling of heads, squeaks, clicks)
2. Operating system performance is significantly reduced
3. "Brakes" and "freezes" when opening files on the hard drive
4. Files, folders suddenly disappear, HDD partitions are displayed as unallocated space (RAW).

The simplest reading errors are corrected system utility.

Some bad blocks can be “cured” yourself, two wonderful programs will help with this - and.

Are recovery methods different? external hard disk from the internal one?

Answer. Definitely not. The hardware of the devices is identical, the only difference is in the form factor for storing information - that is, roughly speaking, in the box in which the disk's hardware is packaged. An external drive is more susceptible to physical damage and other risk factors. But they are more mobile and offer the user a convenient connection via eSata or another interface for connecting to a PC. Thus, this manual How to restore a hard drive will be useful for both owners of “traditional” drives and external ones.

The hard drive was in the laptop, the system in which stopped loading. Why am I going to format it - but! It was not there, as an “External” disk (I stuffed it into the case from an external “Transend” 500 GB) it is only visible as local disk"G" and "F" without any information. All attempts to call properties lead to Windows 8.1 freezing on the laptop - it is not visible in Disk Management, HDD Low Level Format too. Tell me, if the hard drive doesn’t work, how can I bring it back to life with my own hands?

Answer. Try to partition the hard drive again (Partiton Magic to help), it is advisable to perform low-level formatting of the HDD, see information on the topic. By the way, in addition to HDD Low Level Format, there are many alternative utilities for formatting. It would be a good idea to check the working condition of the disk; to do this, check the SMART indicators and scan the disk using HDD Regenerator or Victoria HDD.

What to do if your hard drive clicks? That is, it works, but sometimes it makes characteristic sounds - that is, clicks. At some points it freezes and operating system freezes and then dies along with the disk.

Answer. In rare cases, the problem is associated with broken power contacts and sata/ide connectors connected to motherboard. Therefore, the first thing we recommend is to turn off the PC and check the connection to the hard drive. Second, be sure to back up the data on the disk, since clicking sounds are an unhealthy symptom, indicating that the HDD has problems, and a crash can be expected at any time. Third, to diagnose the disk condition, use specialized programs– HDD Regenerator, Victoria HDD Doctor, etc.

If the hard drive clicks and is not detected, the situation is more dire (good luck). In this case, the mechanics are already worn out, and you will not be able to restore the HDD; only replacing the hard drive with a new one will help.

How to increase speed hard disk? I have an OS Windows Vista.

Answer. Users of Windows Vista and higher operating systems are indignant about slow work disk subsystem. In practice, copying files is noticeably slower than in XP. Why is my hard drive slow? One of the reasons lies on the surface and can be easily eliminated. The fact is that by default in Windows the maximum performance of the hard drive is disabled. Therefore, we urgently take measures:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + Pause Break, “Device Manager” link).
2. In the list of devices, find the disk device and in context menu select “Properties”.
3. Select the “Policies” tab and activate the “Enable enhanced performance” option.
4. To speed up your hard drive, restart your computer.

I reinstalled the system and I have it on a PCE SSD, but suddenly another 4TB hard drive stopped being detected? Then I went into computer management, then into disk management, it shows a capacity of 3.7 TB and 3.7 TB is free, that is, the disk turns out to be 100 percent empty and there is 2TV of information! Please tell me what can be done?

Answer. Perhaps the problem is related to a file system table failure; in such a situation, you can recommend the TestDisk utility to recover a partition that is not detected by the system, but contains important information.

I have an HP 620 laptop. Everything was fine, but I started to close the windows and the computer froze. I thought it would go away, 15 minutes passed - nothing, there was no reaction to anything. Even a software shutdown could not reset.

I physically turned it off with a button, turned it on again and the message appeared on the black screen of the laptop: non-system disk or disk error replace and strike any key when ready. After this, the system does not see the hard drive. But when the laptop is turned on, it spins, that is, everything is ok with power.

About 2 years ago I updated the BIOS from the official website. Maybe this is why the hard drive won't open? But before that I worked hard, always good. What could it be? Help please, this is the hard drive I have - Toshiba HDD2E67 320GB.

Answer. If the problem was related to the BIOS, the OS would not boot. Or, at least, a factory reset could solve something.

Try to start looking for the reason on the surface: the hard drive does not work because it has failed. This could happen for a variety of reasons (eg. physical damage or wear - which is less likely). If it is possible to check a similar hard drive on the same laptop, do so.

Many people try to fix all problems with their own hands, even if they are not experts in a particular field. If we're talking about When repairing a laptop hard drive with your own hands, you need to understand that all information from the disk will be deleted. Therefore, you should resort to independent repairs only if the information is duplicated or there is no need for it. Repair may be required in the following cases:

• there are traces of dents and impacts;
• pancakes do not unwind;
• Disk heads click loudly;
• The disk rotates noisily.

How to check the hard drive on a laptop

If your hard drive, or HDD as it is also called, is making strange noises, be it clunking, grinding, or anything else, this could indicate a serious problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. There can be many reasons for strange noises - weak fragmentation, expiration of the disk, and so on.

It is very bad if the BIOS (BOIS) does not recognize the hard drive on the laptop. You can check this by clicking on the frame with a description of the equipment that appears on the screen during the initial boot.

But there's nothing wrong with that. To fix the problem, you need to clear the disk of information. You can use a boot CD that contains the Diskedit program. The computer should work after a reboot.

How to repair a disk head

If the hard drive on your laptop is broken and the head needs to be repaired, the first thing you need to do is find a donor. The donor is a new drive that is installed in place of the broken one. It must match the hard drive model and be in working order.

The most important thing is to know how to remove the hard drive from a laptop correctly. You need to unscrew the screws on it, but the problem is that not all models have them. After this, you need to remove the cover from the disk, but do this very carefully, since there is a disk spacer on it, which must not be damaged under any circumstances. First the magnet is removed, and only then the screws are unscrewed.

When the magnet is removed you will see the VCM coil. The heads are located immediately behind it - removing them will not be difficult. It is enough to twist the disks from side to side, as they can stick to the surface of the magnet. To prevent the heads from sticking together, you need to insert some material between them. This could be a piece of fabric or paper. In place removed heads you will need to install new ones. This must be done using tweezers and always wearing rubber gloves.

When the heads are installed, you need to replace the magnet, close the lid, tighten the bolts and insert the disk into the laptop. If the data is displayed after a reboot, then everything was done correctly.

Damage to the disc surface

If the hard drive on your laptop gets hot or makes strange sounds, it means the surface is damaged. It occurs when the laptop is dropped or the disk is scratched. Impact damage damages the magnet heads and should be replaced immediately. In this case, it will be impossible to restore the information recorded on the disc.

What to do if the information on the disk is damaged

If the hard drive on a laptop has failed and the information has been damaged, in this case the failure can be diagnosed by the following signs:

• the computer does not see the disk;
• it is not possible to view the amount of information on the disk;
• During operation, the hard drive makes strange sounds.

This malfunction is the result of a breakdown disk program or failure of one of the heads. In the latter case, damaged information can be restored only in individual cases, or you can try to reduce the storage capacity. If all the heads are in order, there is no need to reduce the disk volume. Here you need to overwrite service information using special programs for hard drive.

How to repair a hard drive if it is not readable correctly

Errors of this kind can be detected using special diagnostic software. The reasons for a hard drive failure on a laptop may be the following:

• channels transmitting data do not work well;
• the disk surface has failed;
• control components are not working correctly.

In this case, it is better to entrust the recovery of the hard drive on a laptop to professionals. You will not be able to carry out repairs on your own.

The hard drive (HDD) is designed to store information on a laptop and, unfortunately, is one of the most vulnerable components of a computer. In this article we will provide brief instructions How to troubleshoot basic hard drive problems with your own hands. At the beginning of work, it is recommended, if possible, to make a duplicate of the information stored on the disk. There is a high probability that after repair, information from the hard drive will be deleted without a trace.

Diagnostics and causes of laptop hard drive failure

The HDD is a small platform on which a magnet, a package of disks, a rotating positioner frame, and a head that reads information from the disk are located. The disks rotate at an average speed of 720 rpm, and even higher when installing applications. Of course, intensive work can lead to wear and tear of HDD components.

The main reasons indicating a hard drive failure:

• The HDD makes clicking noises when operating. This is the most common malfunction and indicates mechanical damage to the hard drive components. There can be a lot of reasons: dust, foreign objects, wear of the read head, damaged disk surface due to an impact. Often such a malfunction occurs in the first three years after purchasing a laptop. To determine the problem you need to disassemble the computer
• The hard drive makes an intermittent hum when operating. This characteristic, repeating sound indicates wear on the disk read/write head.
• BIOS does not see the hard drive. The cause of this problem may be operational errors and due to mechanical damage

It is possible that the disk may not be located by the system or may work with errors even though it is fully operational. When disassembling the laptop, you should check that the drive jumpers are installed correctly and that the cable connecting the HDD to the motherboard is in good condition. These small and easily corrected nuances can cause disk failure.

Preparing the hard drive for repair

The advantage of all laptops is the ease of access and replacement of all computer components, so even those who are not particularly “friendly” with technology can remove the hard drive and prepare it for repair.

This rule applies to replacing the hard drive. We will not give a plan for removing the HDD from a laptop; there is a sufficient amount of such information on the Internet and they differ depending on the laptop manufacturer. The greatest difficulties can arise in HP Pavilion laptops, where you need to remove the keyboard to get to the hard drive.

Note: Removing hard drive components, such as the circuit board or cover, yourself will void your computer's warranty.

DIY laptop hard drive repair

Oxidation of contacts

Contact oxidation is the most common cause of hard drive failure. This problem is easily fixable and does not require special skills or time to eliminate:

• We take out the hard drive and unscrew the external hard drive board.
• We find the data transfer interface contacts on the board; they are usually located on the side of the board and are arranged in two rows.
• 
  
• We inspect the contacts for damage, darkening of oxides, carbon deposits
• Using a regular office eraser, with light friction we get rid of carbon deposits and oxides on the contacts
• We treat the contacts with cotton wool moistened with an alcohol solution

• Bad disk head

  If you hear an intermittent monotonous hum or crackling sound from the hard drive, then there is a high probability of a breakdown of the hard drive's reading head. When the head is faulty, it is impossible to repair it; you will have to replace it with a new one; such a part is called a donor. The donor must be from the same company as the part being replaced. Remember that replacement must be carried out using gloves to prevent dust from getting on the disk components.

  

  Replacing the disk head is carried out in several stages:

• Remove the hard drive from the computer and use a Phillips screwdriver to open the hard drive cover. Opening must be done carefully, being careful not to catch the magnet and the gasket.
• To remove the heads, you need to sequentially remove the magnet and stops, rotating the disk behind the spindle axis, remove the heads, then unscrew them and remove them. This operation we also do it with a donor disk, after removing the head from it, we put it on the faulty disk
• Reassembling the disk in reverse order

• Faulty disk surface

  The surface of the disk (the block of magnetic plates) is very vulnerable, as it is constantly in contact with the moving head. Due to a faulty head or mechanical shocks to the laptop body, scratches and dents may form on the surface of the disk, which lead to unpleasant sound during operation, as well as loss of information from the disk. It is often worth replacing the disk head so that there are no more problems with the surface.

  

• Damage to information on the drive

  In case of software errors or damage to the magnetic plate unit, the necessary information may be deleted from the disk. And if, if a block of plates is damaged, only part of the information can be restored, and even then special services, then accidentally deleted information from the computer can still be restored if the disk sectors on which it was located were not overwritten.

  To restore information, there are many specialized utilities, such as: R-Studio, Undelete Plus, HDD Regenerator and others. Programs of this kind are easy to use: you just need to install them on your computer, scan the disk space and restore the detected files.

  Do-it-yourself hard drive repair is a labor-intensive procedure that should be performed by technicians, not amateurs. It is also worth remembering that in the event of mechanical damage, the information on the disk will almost certainly be permanently deleted after troubleshooting the HDD.