Type cmd.exe and run as Administrator (this is important else you’ll be denied access).

Press the Windows button or launch the Start menu.

Scan and fix the Hard Disk (C:) using CHKDSK (same applies to other storage devices) Some Hard Disk repair techniques you could consider are (refer to ):ġ. Once they’re secure, you need to fix the Hard Disk. When you start encountering this error, the first thing you should do is to backup your important files to an external storage device so you don’t lose anything dear. What do you advise I do once I start getting this error?

Heavy fragmentation: A heavily fragmented Hard Disk makes read-writes much more tedious.

Loose cable: If the Hard Disk is not well seated, this could cause it to get disconnected (abruptly) during read/writes and this is bad for a storage device.

Insufficient storage: Actively using your Hard Disk while its always in the red (deleting just a few files to create the space you need) isn’t a really good idea.

Physical damage: If a Hard Disk falls hard or encounters fluid, it’ll be more prone to developing problems.

Virus/ Malware: These could corrupt the Partition Tables.

Age (usage): You should’t expect a Hard Disk to be the same after 4 years of heavy usage.

Factors that could cause a Hard Disk to degrade are: With use (read-write), your Hard Disk is bound to experience wear and tear. What could have caused my Hard Disk to develop a fault?

In BIOS, navigate to the System Diagnostics tab.

Keep tapping F10 on boot till you enter BIOS.

How do I confirm that my Hard Disk is indeed faulty?

The fault might not be serious enough to make it totally unusable but its a fault nonetheless and something that could get out of hand if not attended to…and quickly. In this case (SMART Hard Disk error), your Hard Disk appears to be faulty. Those who have damaged batteries will be well familiar with the Primary Battery Test Failed error. If any is faulty, you’ll get a notification. Whenever you boot up your PC, a hardware check is first run to ensure that all essential components are in order.

The PC often starts up normally and everything seems to be fine again but that Enter button (Continue Startup) is one option you don’t want to get too used to in a situation like this because one day, that door will shut. To ensure not data loss, please backup the content immediately and run the Hard Disk Test in System Diagnosticsįortunately, it gives you an option to Continue Startup by tapping the Enter button *sigh of relief*. The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure. Imagine booting up your PC and being greeted with this error:

How to run diagnostics on hp laptop