• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
TechTidBit – Tips and advice for small business computing – Tech Experts™ – Monroe Michigan

TechTidBit - Tips and advice for small business computing - Tech Experts™ - Monroe Michigan

Brought to you by Tech Experts™

Three Sure-Tell Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing

June 30, 2015

Under ideal conditions, the average stationary hard drive lasts five to ten years. With the growing use of external drives and laptops that are toted around frequently and exposed to damaging elements, that life span shrinks to between three and five years.

Consequently, it is important to watch for indications that your hard drive is failing, so you can back up all of your valued files and data. Here are three signs that it’s time to act:

Slowed Operation and Freezes
You should immediately back up the contents of your hard drive when you notice that freezes and display of the blue screen become the norm.

It is even more imperative to do so, if these problems continue in Safe Mode or after a fresh installation of your operating system because that’s an indication that hard drive failure is imminent.

Corrupted Data
When it becomes problematic to save or open your computer’s files and you start getting error messages about corrupted data, you should know that your hard drive is failing.

As a hard drive’s functionality gradually wanes, this is a common problem, so act fast to ensure your business and personal data stays intact and safe.

Presence of Bad Sectors
If your hard drive has bad sectors, or areas incapable of maintaining data integrity, you may not immediately notice the problem.

The presence of such sectors is a grave problem and tells that your hard drive is in its final strides.

To check your hard drive for bad sectors, run a disk check with the options to automatically fix the problem and attempt recovery of files.

Filed Under: Backups, Hard Drives Tagged With: Hard Drives, hardware

Primary Sidebar

Browse past issues

  • 2025 Issues
  • 2024 Issues
  • 2023 issues
  • 2022 Issues
  • 2021 Issues
  • 2020 Issues
  • 2019 Issues
  • 2018 Issues
  • 2017 Issues
  • 2016 Issues
  • 2015 Issues
  • 2014 Issues
  • 2013 Issues
  • 2012 Issues
  • 2011 Issues
  • 2010 Issues
  • 2009 Issues
  • 2008 Issues
  • 2007 Issues
  • 2006 Issues

More to See

Ransomware: Why Paying Up Could Destroy Your Business

June 17, 2025

What Is A Password Spraying Attack?

June 17, 2025

Windows 10 Is Retiring – Here’s What Your Business Needs to Know

June 17, 2025

Is Your Cloud Setup Still The Right Fit for Your Business?

May 19, 2025

Tags

Antivirus backups Cloud Computing Cloud Storage COVID-19 cyberattacks cybersecurity Data Management Disaster Planning Disaster Recovery E-Mail Facebook Firewalls Google Hard Drives Internet Laptops Maintenance Malware Managed Services Marketing Microsoft Network online security Passwords password security Phishing planning Productivity Ransomware remote work Security Servers smart phones Social Media Tech Tips Upgrading Viruses vulnerabilities Websites Windows Windows 7 Windows 10 Windows Updates work from home

Copyright © 2025 Tech Experts™ · Tech Experts™ is a registered trademark of Tech Support Inc.