All information that exists today can be stored on special devices called a hard drive or hard drive. Their choice is large, and the capacity allows you to store thousands of photos, movies, games, documents and other files necessary for the user. However, like any complex device, a hard drive can fail, which will require troubleshooting and subsequent corrections.
External hard drive repair
External drives have gained popularity due to their compactness - a person can carry a huge amount of information with them. Such devices are reliable, but they are not immune to breakdowns. If the failure is not associated with mechanical damage, then you can repair the external hard drive yourself.
Repairing a hard drive after a fall or other physical impacts is difficult to do at home.
- The block will need to be opened magnetic heads, which can only be carried out in a clean, sterile room. Any dust is dangerous for the magnetic insides of the device.
- Repairing mechanical damage requires specific knowledge and tools to find the broken element and replace it. The most rational solution is to contact service center.
A little easier to deal with software glitches, which, according to statistics, bother users of external hard drives even more often than defects resulting from physical influences. This is due to frequent cases of incorrect shutdown.
We begin diagnostics and repairs by checking the serviceability of the USB cable that connects the drive to a PC, TV, etc. You can connect the cable to another device and see if it is working.
If a laptop or PC detects a connected external hard drive, but working with it is accompanied by freezes, crashes, and errors, then it’s a good idea to check it for viruses, some of which are quite capable of disrupting the operation of the hard drive.
Next step – formatting. Be sure to do the full one, not the quick one. There are a lot of programs for this procedure: Acronis Disk Director, HDD Low Level Format, etc.
Formatting can be started via command line, Disk Management, or My Computer.
The main thing is to select a file in the settings NTFS system.
If the computer sees the external hard drive, but it is impossible to extract information from it, then it is a good idea to determine which part of it is severely damaged and which files can be extracted and restored. Programs are suitable for this Recuva, Partition Recovery and others. By launching one of them, you will see a list of files that can be returned, and “broken” information can simply be deleted, returning the hard drive to its previous performance.
DIY laptop hard drive repair
First of all, let's pay attention to extraneous sounds in the operation of the hard drive when turning on the laptop. This may be clicking, tapping, accompanied by slowing down and freezing. There are many reasons: from simple dirt and dust to damage to the drive, jamming or misalignment of the spindle.
If the laptop no longer sees the hard drive, then you can try to determine the cause of the problem and fix it yourself. To do this, there are instructions, taking into account which you must follow each point sequentially:
- Remove the hard drive from the laptop case.
- Next, unscrew the controller board - you will need a star screwdriver. Please remember that this will void your warranty. In some HDD models, the elements are located on the outside and can be seen without additional actions.
- We carefully inspect the board for damage. Often, due to overheating, swelling or carbon deposits form on microcircuits. You can also use a magnifying glass and inspect the soldering joints of the connectors: even one leg that falls off can seriously disrupt the operation of the entire device. If you find such signs, then you can calm down - the repair will not be delayed. It is enough to find on the Internet the article number or name of the board that is suitable for your hard drive. Then buy it and replace it.
- Do not forget that dust on the contacts can also cause the hard drive to fail or interfere with the flow of signals coming from motherboard and vice versa. Blow or clean the inputs and cables of the hard drive. To clean the electrical board, a regular eraser, alcohol and cotton swabs are suitable. Try not to flood the contacts - otherwise the disk will stop working altogether.
- When positive result When cleaning cables and the controller board, it is recommended to defragment the hard drive and registry.
Do-it-yourself hard drive repair video
There are quite a lot of videos on the Internet that clearly demonstrate several ways to troubleshoot a hard drive. They are mainly associated with disassembling the hard drive case and cleaning the board elements. This is explained by the fact that almost 90% of cases of hard drive failures occur due to oxidation of electrical contacts.
Identify areas that require eliminating oxide and dirt not difficult. Such contact paths appear darkened. To begin, carefully go over the eraser until a light shine appears. Be sure to clean the group of contacts going to the drive (usually there are 3 of them). Next, take alcohol and an old toothbrush - with their help we additionally wash the contact paths.
Now you need to protect the board elements from further oxidation. In principle, you can even cover silicone grease. It does not allow current to pass through, but protects against corrosion. However, it is best to treat contacts with special aerosol products. For example, Kontakt 60. For office or home use For a laptop, we recommend that you perform similar cleaning of the hard drive boards at least once a year.
If the described tips and methods for repairing a hard drive with your own hands did not help solve the problem, then the best option will contact a specialized center. The main thing is not to get carried away with troubleshooting yourself and under no circumstances listen to recommendations on various forums about what heating the hard drive or leaving it in microwave oven. This will only damage the device and waste your time.
If you are the owner personal computer, then you will not be at all surprised by the information that all content is saved by you personally on a special device, which is integral part PC. This special device is called a hard drive or hard drive. Retail establishments offer a variety of hard drive models, differing in various parameters, including capacity. Unfortunately, this too technical device capable of failure.
How to make repairs hard drive.
In some cases, fortunately, it is quite possible to repair it. The repair process is most often entrusted to specialists, but, in addition, you can repair the hard drive at home on your own. This will prevent serious financial waste and will enrich you, the user, with new technical knowledge that will help improve your user level.
Carrying out repair work
Repairing a hard drive with your own hands at home involves carrying out certain actions, thanks to which it is possible to successfully restore the functionality of the hard drive. After such manipulations, in most cases it is possible to successfully read all the information that was previously stored on it.
If you are actively interested in finding information on how to repair a hard drive, we recommend that you decide which specific hard drive needs repair. Nowadays, many users actively use portable hard disks. Along with them, it may be extremely necessary to restore those hard drives that are embedded in a laptop or system unit.
External drive repair
External storage allows you to carry and always have an incredibly large amount of useful information. If a person does not need such large volumes, then, of course, he will not purchase portable hard drives, but will use a flash drive.
Employees of specialized computer retail establishments confidently confirm that recently many modern people have been purchasing external hard drives. Of course, due to active use, such devices may experience technical problems, as a result of which they refuse to function in the future.
ADVICE. Of course, you shouldn’t throw away portable drives right away; you can carry out restoration, thanks to which the hard drive can get a second life.
I would like to immediately warn you that failure of the hard drive may be due to mechanical damage or a software failure. If you accidentally dropped a hard drive and a heavy object fell on it, then the breakdown is clearly related to damage to individual parts. You can repair such a hard drive at home only in cases where all the necessary components are available. necessary tools and you have a sufficient amount of specific technical knowledge. In most such cases, you still have to contact service centers. Our technicians can easily identify damaged parts and replace them.
We will look at how to restore the functionality of a portable drive at home if the main reason is software glitch. By the way, based on statistics, most often it is because of a software failure that hard drives refuse to function. Sometimes the hard drive owner himself can provoke such a problem when he ignores the rules for safely shutting down the device.
Initially, you need to check the integrity of the cable through which the hard drive is connected to the USB connector. To do this, you can try to connect another working device through it. If it also refuses to work, then the problem is in this cable. All that remains is to simply replace this cable and continue to use the hard drive as before.
Even a problematic hard drive can be detected after connection, but continue to work with major problems:
- often freezes;
- seriously slows down;
- flies out;
- provokes all sorts of errors.
In these cases, it is useful to check the drive for viruses. Of course, when checking the hard drive of the database antivirus program must be current, with all necessary latest updates.
The correct operation of the hard drive can be restored by formatting it. It is only important to take into account that the process of such formatting should be complete, and not quick. Formatting can be done by using additional programs, which are easy to find on the network, and you can also use the internal resources of the operating system.
Sometimes you can witness that the hard drive is detected and seen by the computer, but every attempt to extract information ends in complete failure. In this case, you should not rush to format, it is best to use a certain software try to identify damaged sectors and ensure their recovery.
Good helpers in solving such a technical problem are programs such as Recuva or Partition Recovery. You can find other decent software analogues on the Internet.
Repair of internal drives
If technical problem occurred not with a portable hard drive, but with a built-in hard drive, then you will have to perform other actions aimed at restoring its functionality. Frequently occurring specific sounds that are reproduced especially actively when the computer equipment is turned on can indicate problems that arise. Constant freezes and excessively slow operation of your laptop or computer can also confirm your fears.
It is impossible to immediately determine the reason that provoked such a technical failure. This could even be a simple penetration of dust or dirt, as well as damage to wires or jamming of the spindle. So, if you decide to repair the laptop hard drive yourself, then you need to strictly follow the algorithm we have proposed.
First, you will need to remove the hard drive and, accordingly, unscrew the bolts securing it. Unfortunately, such actions of yours completely void the warranty, so weigh the degree of risk, and only then continue to perform the actions. If the warranty period has expired, you have nothing to fear.
Now unscrew the controller board. Armed with a magnifying glass, visually carefully inspect the board. Pay attention to the adhesions. Even one fallen off leg can provoke incorrect operation the entire device. And also the identification of specific carbon deposits or swelling of the microcircuits indicates that this particular board has failed and needs to be replaced. It is enough to go to a specialized store and purchase exactly the same new board, and then install it, eliminating the old one that is out of order.
If a visual inspection reveals traces of dust or dirt, you will have to undergo a “general” but very careful “cleaning”. Arm yourself with cotton swabs, alcohol and an ordinary eraser, and use them to carefully remove all dust. You should not be hasty when performing such manipulations, since any sudden movement can disrupt contacts and, accordingly, provoke an even greater failure.
If you find traces of oxidation, which are accompanied by dark shades in appearance, you can try to eliminate them too. Initially, cotton swabs and alcohol, as well as an eraser, will also help you. Gently brush areas where signs of oxidation are visible until they lighten. However, after such cleaning has been carried out, it is recommended to protect these areas from possible re-risks of oxidation.
Of course, you will have to visit the store and purchase either silicone lubricant or special aerosol products. However, your money will not be thrown away in vain; all contacts will be under confident protection.
After completing these steps, return the hard drive to its original place, secure it and turn on the PC. Even after making sure that the hard drive is working perfectly, we still recommend defragmenting it and the registry too.
If after all these steps you still have not managed to restore the hard drive to working order, then contact a service center. May be, experienced craftsmen will be able to eliminate mechanical damage and restore the successful functioning of the hard drive.
Date of publication: 03/14/2017 15:30
External HDD is a very convenient and useful device for a modern person. 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.
- Firstly, mechanical repairs will require certain knowledge, skills and the availability of special tools. The most effective solution to this problem would be to contact a specialist at a computer service;
- 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.
As for software malfunctions, there is already a better chance of dealing 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.
Diagnosis of hard disk
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 the NTFS system - this is important. If the external hard drive is in view of the computer, and the information located inside it, you need to determine which part of it has been damaged the most. 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 of the internal drive, because the principle of operation 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 get to work? Then let's begin.
- Unplug your computer.
- Remove the wall system unit and take a Phillips screwdriver of the required size: you will unscrew your hard drive.
- Be sure to disconnect the hard drive inputs to avoid breaking the wires.
- After carefully removing the fasteners (well, bolts or screws), remove the hard drive.
- Turn it over.
- Do you see: on one of its sides there is such a metal lid? 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 and from your HDD 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 of the hard drive
Let's start treatment
Take pure medical alcohol, a cotton swab and a regular school eraser.
- Use an eraser to carefully remove the oxides: just wipe the areas where you see dark spots or rust.
- Next, dip the stick in alcohol and wipe the contacts you just cleaned. Don't be too zealous, otherwise you'll flood your contacts.
- 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!
Many people try to fix all problems with their own hands, even if they are not experts in a particular field. If we are talking about repairing a laptop hard drive with your own hands, you need to understand that all information from the disk will be deleted. Therefore resort to self-repair only necessary 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. New ones will need to be installed in place of the removed heads. 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 fails and the information is 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 only be restored by in some cases or try reducing the media capacity. If all the heads are in order, there is no need to reduce the disk size. Here you need to overwrite the 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.
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