I've noticed that my hard drive is becoming inaccessible after even minor issues since I switched to Linux from Windows. Just a couple of weeks ago, everything seemed fine on Windows. There were small signs of trouble, like occasional need for repairs, but it didn't seem like a big deal back then. Now, every time there's a little hiccup in the system, I can't access my files at all. The only temporary fix has been to delete and recreate the partition, which isn't really practical. I understand that Linux might be more transparent about drive issues, which is a good thing when it comes to protecting data, but I'm in a tight spot financially and can't afford a new drive right now. Is there any way to make my current setup usable like it was on Windows (at least for gaming) without having to reinstall Windows? Also, could this be due to the btrfs file system? I've heard that aspect of Linux is particularly sensitive. Would switching to a Windows file system help?
5 Answers
Sometimes, drive issues can progress pretty quickly. It's possible that the file system's condition has worsened more than what you realized, especially since you've switched to a new OS that’s more sensitive to those kinds of problems.
Honestly, it sounds like the drive is just failing. It's probably nothing to do with the operating systems. They're just exposing the underlying hardware issues more clearly now than before.
It really depends on whether you're using an SSD or a traditional hard drive (HDD). If it's an HDD, you should back up your data immediately because, honestly, once drives start showing these kinds of issues, it could fail any day now. Just like how you noticed things worked fine on Windows, that could just be the drive masking its problems for a while. If it's an SSD, it might hold up a bit longer, but don't take any risks if you have important files.
You should open the 'Disks' app on Linux and check the SMART data for your drive. That could give you insights into its health. If you see anything concerning, you might need to take action. Also running the command 'sudo smartctl -a /dev/sdb2' can provide more detailed results. If the SMART status shows 'failing,' you know it’s time to worry.
I saw my drive's status as "This device appears to be working as expected" but after running the command, I got results that indicated my disk is failing. I shared the output online and folks confirmed it looked bad.
If you're looking for a smoother experience, you might want to try using the ext4 file system instead of btrfs. ext4 can often handle issues a bit more silently like some older Windows setups do. Alternatively, if you know there are bad sectors, consider creating partitions that avoid those areas. It could make your usage more manageable.
How would I go about identifying these bad sectors? That's something I'm not familiar with.
It's an HDD. I don't store anything valuable on it, but I'd like to keep using it for games until it goes out completely, just like when I was on Windows.