Windows 10: Possible Hard Drive failure?

Hello,


I recently came home to an extremely sluggish PC running windows 10. Managed to get to start>power menu and opted for 'restart and update'.


54% through the update and the PC reset and then didn't boot, just went to a black screen with an intermittently flashing underscore in the top left corner. Eventually the screen turned orange with white stripes. I reset and it slowly loaded from the blue window, finished the update and booted into windows.


Freaked out and ran a few programs:

- updated Malware Antibytes and scanned.

- quick scan with AVG

- manually uninstalled some uneeded programs

- Analysed drive and no defrag required - runs weekly

- Ran chkdsk and all ok


PC worked fine for a few days - was able to game, watch netflix, browse web no issues


Yesterday came home to extremely sluggish PC again, couldn't even get to task manager, windows+ control+shift+B refreshed screen but took ages to beep. Eventually turned off and reset on the tower.


PC wouldn't boot. Got a SMART status bad, back up and replace error. Pressed F1 and selected HD and wouldn't boot. Black screen flashing underscore then sometimes to orange screen. Once got to boot manager but not every time. After three resets (SMART error>F1> boot menu> boot fails, got to the troubleshoot menu. Tried system restore which started and run for a while but eventually threw an error. Was next going to try repair boot menu so reset a few more times to re-access menu (annoying, why not F8???). This time I had no smart errors. On the third reset it slooooowly booted into windows.


Black desktop, everything very slow at first but working. Backed up some files to ext HDD. Opened CMD: wmic diskdrive get status which said status ok.


Things still working but slow. Do you think this is definitely the hard drive failing?


Let me know if you need any specs


Thanks

:)

 

Seagate External Hard Drive

Hi Barbara,

Hardware failure or corruption within your system files are some of the possible reasons why you are experiencing an issue with accessing your external hard drive. For us to provide an accurate solution, we would need you to answer the following questions:

• Which build, version and edition of Windows 10?
• Are you experiencing the same issue when you are trying to access the external hard drive using another PC?
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

In the meantime, we suggest running the automated troubleshooter for hardware. Follow these steps to do so:

• Open the Control Panel.
• Using the search box at the upper right corner of the window, type troubleshooting.
  
• From the search results, click on Troubleshooting.
• Click on Hardware and Sound and then choose Hardware and Devices.
• Once done, restart your computer and then check if the same issue persists.

We are looking forward to your response.

 

Overclock your hard drive!!!

Heres a much easier hack that I realized quite a few years ago that really does work!

REQUIREMENTS:

• Hard drive with molex power connection.
• PSU with more than 1 strand that has molex plugs on it.
• Wire strippers, soldering iron if you're fancy, electrical tape if you're not.

STEPS:

• Take the strand of connectors from your PSU, and decide which one will be the donator for this overclocking adventure.
• Cut the yellow and orange cables, then twist them together.
• Find the power connector you've chosen as the overclocking connector, and release the orange cable from the connector. Now use your preferred method to bind them together, then place it back together.
• Plug in a drive and feel the speed!

Congratulations! You've just overclocked your hard drive!

 

Hard drive/ OS issue

a guy suggested :

• shutdown
• unhooked HDD
• restarted
• yay !!
• reconnected HDD
• restarted
• yay !!

also , try method 3
http://windowsreport.com/drive-windows-installed-locked/