Hard drives don't last forever. Depending on the amount of computer usage, the average hard drive lasts between 3-5 years, and while som...
Hard drives don't last forever. Depending on the amount of computer usage, the average hard drive lasts between 3-5 years, and while some can last 10+ years, this is fairly uncommon.
It’s important to know when a hard drive may be failing. Whether it’s an internal hard drive in your desktop or PC or an external hard drive you use for backing up your data, planning for failure ensures you can replace the hard drive and back up your information properly – without losing it. But how do you know when your hard drive is failing? Find out now.
- Strange Noises From Your PC Or Hard Drive
This is a sure sign of hard drive trouble. Disk-based hard drives, unlike solid-state drives (SSDs), have moving physical components, so they typically do make some noise during operation, usually, a slight humming, whirring, or whining sound.
In fact, if you click a folder or file to open it and it takes a long time, and your disk is silent, this could indicate that the hard drive is having trouble locating the file, and it may be failing.
In addition, sounds like clicking and grinding are not normal and could indicate a problem with the physical components of the hard drive. Loud, occasional clicks, or grinding sounds may indicate that your drive is about to fail – so back up your data and stop using it right away.
- Repeated Program Crashes Or Disk Errors
If it seems like your computer programs are crashing randomly and are not working properly, the issue could be related to your hard drive – though it can also be related to other components like the RAM or CPU, in some cases. You may need to take the laptop or desktop into a computer shop to have it diagnosed and repaired.
However, if you also experience disk errors, such as the hard drive being unable to locate a file or finding that files are scrambled or folder and file names have been changed, this is an indicator that your hard drive may be failing.
- Frequent Error Messages When Performing Day-To-Day Tasks
You may notice error messages when you attempt to do normal, day-to-day tasks like renaming a file, moving a folder, or copying a file from an internal to an external hard drive. This is not normal and could indicate an issue with your hard drive.
- Extremely Long Loading Times & Poor Performance
Modern disk-based hard drives will never take more than a few seconds to access your data and should offer great performance, though they are slower than SSDs.
If your computer used to be much faster, and you’re now noticing that your programs have extremely long loading times or that your laptop or desktop simply feels very sluggish, this could indicate an issue with your hard drive.
What Should I Do If My Hard Drive Is Failing?
You should back up your data immediately, and get a replacement hard drive from a PC shop. At GTR Computers, we can sell you a hard drive and install it into your laptop or desktop, ensuring that your computer will be back in operation quickly. Contact us if you have any questions and get the assistance you need in Cape Town right away.
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