I suspect something is wrong with one of my hard drives because almost anything that tries to access it freezes or crashes, including File Explorer, Command Prompt, disk-wiping software, and antivirus scanners. I mainly want to determine whether the drive can still be used or wiped, rather than recover the files. What is the safest way to diagnose it and, if possible, erase or replace it?
4 Answers
Try starting the computer from a live Linux USB instead of booting from the affected installation. From there, you may be able to check the disk and copy anything important. If the data matters, make an image as soon as possible with a recovery-focused tool such as ddrescue; ordinary cloning or repeated scans can place additional stress on a failing disk.
For simply wiping the disk, the most reliable approach is to connect it to a known-good computer or boot from an operating-system installation or live utility USB, then erase the disk from outside the installed system. However, a drive that clicks, grinds, or causes access attempts to freeze is not dependable; replacing it is usually the practical solution.
Check the drive’s SMART health information using the manufacturer’s diagnostic utility or a tool such as CrystalDiskInfo. You can also inspect SMART status from the firmware settings on some computers. If the drive reports errors or makes unusual noises, replace it rather than trusting it with important data.
This sounds much more like a failing hard drive than a virus. When every program that accesses the disk hangs, the drive itself may be timing out or developing unreadable sectors. If it is making occasional clicking or grinding noises, that is an especially strong warning sign that the hardware is dying.
I’m using Windows, and I have noticed occasional clicking or grinding. I’m not very concerned about the data; I mainly want to know whether the drive can still function.
If the drive is connected through a USB enclosure, the enclosure or adapter could also be faulty. You can test it by removing the drive from the casing and connecting it directly to the computer, if the hardware supports that.