Sometimes hard drives on computers start to produce different errors. In this case, you need to check the hard disk. In the framework of this article, we will consider the issues due to which this process may arise, as well as what software tools exist for diagnosing this problem.
Causes of Errors
The file systems used in the Windows family of OSs are quite imperfect, which in many cases gives rise to various errors on the hard drives that force the hard drive to be checked.
This does not mean that everything is in order on other systems. Such problems can be everywhere. But in other systems, their main reason is that the hard drive "begins to crumble."
Errors are especially critical for a root or system disk, so use a different section of the hard drive to store important information. Do not forget to periodically back up the data that may be needed in the future and which may not be restored when this information store fails.
Consider the basic programs for checking the hard drive.
Chkdsk
This application is built into Windows. It can be launched both from the graphical interface and from the command line. To do this, from the context menu for checking the hard drive, select “Properties” - “Service” - “Run Scan”. In the window that appears, select the parameters of the operation, and then click on the "Run" button.
When you try to check the system drive, a warning window appears that the moment of its implementation will be delayed until the next start of the computer. This is due to the fact that the section being checked is used by the OS. When the computer restarts, before it starts, this program will be launched automatically on the command line.
In addition to the graphical interface, you can use the command line to launch this program, in which chkdsk c: / f / r is entered from the administrator. This command is an alternative graphical shell; its behavior is exactly the same as in the previous version.
Checking the hard drive with unbootable Windows
In this case, the check must be performed either using a boot disk with this OS, or using a special Windows PE disk.
To do this, boot into the console / recovery environment, in which to enter the above command.
Powerhell
This application can be hidden from public view in the menu, so you can use the search bar. The console utility, enter the command Repair-Volume —DriveLetter Drive_Letter. A program is used to check the hard disk for errors. After the application process is completed, it will be reported that no errors were found (NoErrorsFound) or a report will be presented.
Using TestDisk
Despite the fact that Windows users are accustomed to the fact that a good program should cost some amount of money, there are many applications related to free or OpenSource that can cope with their tasks no worse than their expensive counterparts. One of these programs, with which you can check the hard disk for bad sectors and errors, is TestDisk. With its help, you can carry out not only diagnostics, but also restore the boot sector, find partitions that were lost, and also resolve a number of other problems that arose due to the manifestation of some errors on the hard drive.
The concept of bad sectors
The hard drive structure is created by the manufacturer. With insufficient careful handling, its surface degrades, resulting in the appearance of broken sectors. As a result of this, part of the information becomes inaccessible for writing, as well as for reading. To detect them, you must use special applications, one of which was mentioned in the previous section of the article.
Victoria
One of the programs for checking a hard disk for bad sectors is Victoria, which is very popular among Windows users.
It can be launched both in graphical mode and on the command line. Versions up to 4.47 were intended for 32-bit systems, and starting from 4.47 - for 64-bit systems.
To carry out verification in this program, select the section in the right field, the verification of which must be carried out. On the SMART tab located above the left field, click the Get SMART button on the right. This is a "native" check for the disk. Therefore, if BAD appears next to this virtual button, you need to think about buying a new hard drive and disposing of the existing one.
For further verification, go to the Tests tab, set the switch to Ignore, close all running applications and disconnect from the global network. After that, we launch by clicking on the Start button. While this application is running, you don’t need to try to use a computer, you need to wait for the verification process to complete.
This program uses the “Response Time” parameter to check hard disk sectors, which is displayed to the user in the form of multi-colored indicators. If there are a large number of them (except for gray ones), you need to think about the fact that the hard drive requires replacement.
Victoria belongs to the programs for checking hard disk sectors, but with its help you can format the hard drive, eliminate its failures, block bad sectors.
HDAT 2
This application is an analogue of the previous one, but supports a larger number of hard drive models. To start working with this program, you need to write it to a USB flash drive and make it bootable. Then download it and start testing. The program, like other analogues, does not treat bad sectors, but tries to replace them with “healthy” ones from the reserve area. This application has several modes of operation, in which you can only test, and you can also block bad sectors.
Crystaldiskmark
In addition to the main applications with the English interface, the characteristics of which are given above, there are programs for checking the hard drive in Russian. The utility, made in the section header, is designed to test the performance of hard drives. For this reason, the OS may experience slow operation.
The test is carried out on a specific hard drive when you select the required size of the test file within 50-1000 MB and the number of runs (1-9). After testing, information on the average speed of writing and reading to / from the hard drive of the previously selected file, as well as blocks having sizes of 4 and 512 kB, will be presented.
This program is free. It, in addition to classic hard drives, supports working with SSD-drives.
When you click on the "Seq Q32T1" button, random read or write testing with a block size of 512 kB is started.
If you click on "Seq", the sequential write and read test starts at a block size of 1 megabyte.
A similar test with a 4 kB block is performed by clicking on “4K”.
This program works in any OS of the Windows family.
CrystalDiskInfo
This program is designed to check the hard drive. In addition, with its help you can check flash drives, as well as SSD-drives. It also has an interface in different languages, among which there is Russian.
When it is used, various graphs are built, which can be compared with each other using the built-in functions. When using this application, you can view disk information, including volume, serial number, firmware version, model, interface used, rotation speed and mode for data transfer.
The program itself determines the size of the cache, how many times the computer turned on when using the selected hard drive, and how long it was in working condition.
The most important parameters are issued immediately after starting this application. They include SMART, determining the temperature of the disk and its general condition, in which the hard drive wear, the number of read errors, erasing and some other indicators are specified.
HD Tune Pro
This is another of the programs to check the hard drive. It is Russified, so its use is not particularly difficult. With its help, you can search for errors, test and monitor hard drives. When searching for errors, the disk on which this process will be carried out is selected.
The search for errors takes a sufficiently long time period. In the case of healthy sectors, all cells in the middle field will be green. This can be checked on the tab "Health". The status of the main parameters of the hard disk will be marked as “OK”.
In the case of bad sectors, not only green, but also red ones will appear on the cell field. If they are detected, even in small quantities, it is better to get rid of the disk, because over time their number will increase.
Ashampoo HDD Control 2
This program is paid. With its help, you can get information about the state of the hard drive. Intended program for checking hard disk sectors using SMART. With its help, with the support of these functions by the hard drive, you can adjust its noise level and manage power consumption. Also, when using this application, you can recover data deleted from the disk. In addition, you can perform disk defragmentation, as well as search online for the results of testing a specific model of hard drives.
HDD Scan
This program does not require installation on a computer. With its help, you can get SMART information, manage noise coming from the disk, start and stop the spindle motor, and check the surface of the hard drive in three different modes.
When checking in SMART mode, information is presented in both readable and graphic mode. In the latter case, the same gamut of colors is used as in other similar programs:
- Green is the norm.
- Red is a critical condition.
- Yellow - deviation from the norm.
In the Surface Tests section, you can set verification options. It can be carried out in the order of verification, reading sectors or writing zeros in them. If this option was selected (Erase), all data is destroyed.
Finally
There are many programs that check the hard disk. Some of them are designed only to search for bad sectors, while others can search for other errors, as well as monitor the hard drive. Using certain applications, you can scan, defragment, restore lost data. At the same time, it is possible to use both paid and free programs. It is impossible to state unequivocally that the former are better than the latter, therefore everyone should choose the application they use themselves. The article lists only some of them that are among the most popular.