Internal drives and computer crashes

Computer crashes often occur suddenly and with little, if any, warning. The random nature with which a crash can strike makes things frustrating. One moment your PC is fine, the next it’s down and your important files with it.

Most crashes are not as random as they seem, however. There are usually warning signs. Most of these warning signs are minor issues that the average user would just brush aside as an annoyance, but these issues hint at a larger problem that can grow and eventually crash your computer. Awareness and knowledge can help identify and solve problems before they turn a computer into a paperweight. Here are a few of the issues to look for and what to do if you if you encounter them.

Slow running programs and/or corrupted files

A classic sign of a growing problem is random corruption errors. Files that always worked suddenly don’t or only work on occasion. While several issues could cause this problem, like a virus or malware, a failing hard drive could just as likely be the culprit. Many, if not most, computer professionals will recommend that you run an error checking program, such as CHKDSK, in order to check for errors. If your data is important, DO NOT DO IT!! These programs are a data recovery nightmare. These programs are meant for repairing hard drive errors, not file or data errors. If the file or a portion of the files is considered corrupt by the program, it fixes the error to help the hard drive work better. This can potentially make the important file unrecoverable, even for professionals. If you find that programs are taking a long time to load, that files don’t always open, or that the drive has become louder while working, then your hard drive could be nearing the end of its life. Backup your data immediately.

Boot Loop/Blue Screen/Black Screen

A sure sign that something has gone wrong with your hard drive is an occasional error when booting your computer. Errors can take the form of “boot device not found,” a Windows or Apple logo that never moves on, a spinning hourglass, or a blue or black screen. The computer may fail to boot, but it might work later or even immediately. This is a sign that something is wrong with your hard drive or that your operating system (usually Windows or Mac OS) on the hard drive has somehow been corrupted. Replacing the drive and/or re-installing the OS is usually the only fix. However, DO NOT re-install your OS without getting your important data recovered first. With Macs, you will lose all folder structure and file names and chances of getting working data are very slim. With Windows, there is a slim chance for folder structure and file names and much of the data will no longer work. If the data is important or priceless, it is still worth the effort