How to Repair Common Hard Drive Errors

It feels good to help someone in need, even if their specific need is to have their computer fixed when it is broken.  To that end, part of the goal of this blog is to help people get their computers working again with as little work and cost as possible.

Today, I am going to explain how to repair errors on your hard drive using tools included with your PC.  Although it may take a little time, this simple measure is easy to do and costs nothing.  In fact, it is one of the first things I will do when attempting to repair a client's computer.

Sometimes problems with computers can source from any number of other things besides the hard drive, but the chances of your hard drive having errors are increased if you experience any of the following:

• You frequently start up and shut down the computer
• You are prone to shutting down the computer improperly
• The computers's power is frequently disrupted
• The computer case is frequently shaken or vibrated
• Your computer is old (8+ years or older)

If any of the above statements are true of your PC, it is worth doing a scan to check your hard drive for errors and repair them if necessary.  Even if it doesn't fix the true source of the problem, it will eliminate one thing from the troubleshooting list and possibly fix other issues as well.

Now, how do you check your hard drive for errors and fix them if they are present?  The answer lies in a simple piece of software included with Windows itself called "Check Disk."  It automatically scans your hard drive for errors and attempts to repair them if they are found.

To access Check Disk:

• Windows 7/Vista - Click the Start Icon, click on Computer, right-click on the hard drive you want to check for errors, click Properties, click on the Tools tab, and finally click Check Now under error checking.
•  Windows XP - Double-click on My Computer, right-click on the hard drive you want to check for errors, click Properties, click on the Tools tab, and finally click Check Now under error checking.
• In both cases, click the boxes that say Automatically fix file system errors and Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Select the hard drive you suspect has errors, and run an Error-checking scan

 The program will ask you if you would like to do a scan upon the next boot up of your computer.  Go ahead and click Schedule disk check and restart your computer.

Once your PC reboots, it should automatically scan your hard drive for errors and fix them if any are found.  This is going to be a long process, so you may want to start it at some point when you will be away from the computer for a while, such as when you leave for work in the morning, or right before going to sleep for the night.

Schedule a disk check and restart your PC

After Check Disk finishes the scan, your hard drive should be error free.  Assuming hard drive errors are indeed the culprit of your computer issues, it should now be fixed and the problem solved.  If your hard drive has bad sectors and Check Disk is unable to repair them, it is a good time to back up your important data and look for a new hard drive.  Too many bad sectors indicates a total failure of the hard drive is not too far away, and all your data will be lost with it.

Allow the Check Disk program to fix your hard drive's errors

Speaking of total hard drive failure, if your computer has suddenly started making more clicking or whirling noises and refuses to load Windows or specific programs, your hard drive may already be past the point of no return.  You could try doing a Check Disk scan by connecting it to another computer and booting from a different hard drive, but it's doubtful that the scan will be completed (usually it will just freeze up once it reaches a certain point).  If you absolutely need the data on that hard drive, a data recovery specialist will need to take a look at it to see what can be recovered.  Hopefully you backed up your important data so that risk is avoided.  Otherwise, chalk up the loss and get a new hard drive... making sure to make backups this time!

In conclusion, Check Disk is an extremely useful, simple program which can help you fix common errors on your hard drive.  Such errors can cause problems with the way your computer functions, and Check Disk can remedy that--in most cases.  If you've read my series on common computer issues, hard drive errors are perhaps the most common problem my clients have.  With this article, you can fix those errors at home without having to shell out big bucks at the computer repair shop.

And as always, if you have an issue that larger than just hard drive errors, or if you prefer someone with experience to figure it all out for you, feel free to contact me for assistance.  No problem is too small for PC Tech Repair Alternative to handle.

The Most Common Computer Problems, Part 3: Hardware Issues

It's been over a year since I have updated this blog, and what a year it has been!  I have been busy getting married and starting a family, and haven't had much time for writing informative and useful posts.  However, now that things are a bit more settled (for the time being, at least), I can start helping my readers figure out their PC problems once again.  It's good to be back.

Since it has been a year, feel free to review Part I & Part II of this series, which deals with hard drive errors and viruses/malware, respectively.

The end of this series deals with more of the physical aspects of computers failing, the hardware.

The hardware of your computer are all the physical parts that are combined together to make your computer function.  Some of the most common pieces of computer hardware include the CPU (a.k.a. processor, central processing unit), the memory (a.k.a. RAM, random access memory), the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, the power supply, and many others.

All of these pieces of hardware serve a specific purpose, and a failure of one or more of these parts may lead to error messages, crashes, and sometimes even keep the computer from starting up.

Hardware problems can be a bit trickier to diagnose compared to problems like malware, which are usually evident right from boot up.  Some issues could possibly stem from more than one part, making a diagnosis difficult at times.  For example, if someone brings me a computer that only displays a black screen upon start up, it could be faulty or misplaced RAM, a bad video card, a failing power supply, or perhaps even the entire motherboard is toast (not likely, but still a possibility).
  

Various hardware compoents of a PC (Image credit: Damien van Holten)

In situations like that, the old adage "K.I.S.S." can help tremendously.  "K.I.S.S." literally means "Keep It Simple, Stupid."  As with many things, problems with computers are often the cause of the simplest thing going wrong.  Perhaps in the situation described above, the real problem was the monitor's video cable was not actually hooked up to the PC, which can also cause a black screen.  Starting with the most obvious solutions first can eliminate a long and frustrating (and potentially expensive) troubleshooting session.  Gradually work from the easiest possible solution, making your way up to the most difficult one by one.  More often than not, the problem will stop after the first couple of checks.

Generally speaking, the most common hardware problem I have encountered myself is a faulty memory module.  I, myself, have had random crashes, blue screens and reduced performance because of a faulty stick of RAM.  After ruling out all other possible problems, a simple Windows 7 memory check confirmed that one of my RAM modules was faulty.  After removing it, my computer worked flawlessly again... albeit with 2GB less RAM.

RAM often malfunctions over time (Image credit: devilll0991)

  I have since replaced it with another 4GB so no worries there.  But I'm not the only one that's had this problem... many friends and clients have brought me their PCs, complaining of random crashing and errors.  After checking the usual suspects (hard drive errors, malware, and simple fixes), the RAM is almost always to blame.  Pop in a new stick and their PCs are ready to go again, just like before.

This is not to say that all hardware problems are as easy to diagnose as this, however.  Many times hardware issues are vendor specific.  I once had a client whose laptop hadn't started up in over a year, although the power was clearly on and the computer seemed to work, just with no display.  After a thorough internet search, it turns out her specific laptop had an issue with the video card popping out of its slot over time from the computer being turned on and off.  Heat from the computer being on makes computer hardware expand just a little, and cooling does just the opposite.  Over time, this process had moved the video card just enough to lose signal to the motherboard.  After properly reinserting the video card into the slot, the computer ran normally again, even after a year of not working.

Another client of mine had a computer that would literally restart itself at random times for no reason.  This one really had me stumped, and I must have replaced every part on this computer thinking it would be the key to fixing the restarting problem.  After trying just about everything with no success, I started to think about the symptoms.  It appeared as though someone was walking by randomly and pressing the power button on the PC, but of course there wasn't.  Then, it dawned on me: the power button!  Sure enough, once I wired a new power button on to this PC, it started working just fine... no more random restarts.  From this case, I learned that not all problems are necessarily from the internal parts of a computer.  Even the smallest piece of plastic attached to the case can cause major issues at times.

So in summary, hardware issues are a relatively common computer problem and can be difficult to diagnose at times.  Using a "K.I.S.S." approach to finding and fixing hardware problems is generally the easiest and most efficient way to figure out which piece of hardware is causing the trouble.  Keep in mind that sometimes even the most simple of parts, such as a fan or a switch, can cause big issues.


This concludes the three part series on the most common computer problems.  Hopefully, this information will be of use to computer users trying to solve their own computer issues.  If you are having a problem that you can't figure out on your own, feel free to contact me and get some advice.  Or have me fix it if you live locally... my rates are very competitive.

At PCTRA, we keep this from happening. (Image credit: karindalziel)

Good luck, and come back soon for more simple and useful computer repair knowledge!  

The Most Common Computer Problems, Part 2: Viruses And Malware

In the last article, I discussed hard drive errors and how they commonly cause issues for many computer users.  Today, I am going to reveal the second most common computer problem my clients are faced with: Viruses and malware.

Before discussing the problems associated with viruses/malware, it would help to know the definition of each one in computer terms.  We'll first define what a "virus" is.

From Microsoft:

"A computer virus is a small software program that spreads from computer to computer and interferes with computer operation.  A computer virus may corrupt or delete data on a computer, use an e-mail program to spread the virus to other computers, or even delete everything on the hard disk."

Viruses and malware are destructive (image credit: Victor Habbick)

Computer viruses are easily the most prevalent form of malicious software today.  According to Symantec, a company who produces a popular anti-virus product, in 2008 there were over one million viruses in circulation.  And that number is still increasing by the day.  Some viruses are generally harmless, while others are downright destructive to PCs.  While one virus's only function may be to infect a single computer, many others contain code to attempt to spread itself to other computers over a network of PCs or over the internet.  Generally, viruses are acquired by opening suspicious e-mail attachments or downloading illegal software, although even legitimate products can contain a virus as well.  Once a computer is infected, the virus usually tries to avoid detection and removal by various means.  The sheer amount of viruses in circulation today, combined with their affinity to removal avoidance makes viruses one of the most common (and sometimes difficult) problems to deal with.


On the other hand, there is another form of malicious software that has been dubbed "malware."  Technically, viruses are included in the term malware, but there are many pieces of software that are intent on causing disruption without being a virus.

Malware is usually designed to collect information without user consent, although this is not always the case.  Malware can take the form of software, or it can be in the form of a "script" on a website.  Sometimes malware can even be a little bit of code injected into perfectly legitimate software.  Whatever the case, the intent of malware is generally to steal sensitive information, disrupt the normal functions of a computer, and/or to just annoy the computer user.  As is with viruses, malware is generally spread through the internet or e-mail.  Along with viruses, some common forms of malware include spyware, adware, trojans and rootkits.  Each have a specific function, but all of them are intrusive and disruptive.

AV software protects your PC (image credit: Victor Habbick)

With so many viruses and malware active today, an plethora of companies have developed software to combat this growing threat.  Anti-virus and anti-spyware companies release updates on a daily basis to detect and remove the latest batch of malware hitting the internet.  A large number of software solutions are now including code that tries to preemptively search for new viruses without actually being in the software database.  This means that some anti-virus software can actually detect and remove certain malware before it is even "officially" discovered by software technicians.

So with such advanced detection techniques and a multitude of various anti-virus/anti-malware products, why are viruses and malware such a common issue with most of the people who hire me to fix their computer?

The answer is simple.  Most people don't actively update and maintain their AV software until there is a problem, and by that time it may be too late.  

Many of my clients have had AV software pre-installed on their computer when they purchased it.  As such, they assume that will be all the protection they need.  In reality, most AV software will only detect and remove the latest threats for a few months and then require a subscription renewal (which costs more money) before it will update itself to catch the newer malicious software.  Understandably, most people ignore the warning to renew their subscription (who wants to spend $30 on a "virtual" product?) and then contract a newer virus that won't be detected or removed.  With no defense to deal with, the virus is easily able to duplicate itself, interfere with normal computer function and spread itself to other computers.  Once a computer is infected, it is generally far more difficult to remove than it is to stop it from ever infecting the computer in the first place--or preventative maintenance.

What is the solution to all this?  Multiple layers of protection combined with a basic understanding of how to avoid potential malware risks is usually all it takes to stay malware-free.  Having more than one piece of anti-virus/anti-malware software is essential, as no single application can protect against every threat--despite what the AV software companies want you to believe.  Learning how to browse the web safely is a difficult undertaking, especially among those who are prone to be "click-happy," meaning they click on almost any link that sounds interesting, appealing or enticing.  However, practicing safe habits while surfing the web is the easiest way to prevent viruses and malware from infecting your computer.

Keep your PC secure (image credit: jscreationzs)

In a future article, I will share some of my personal recommendations for anti-virus/anti-malware programs and show you how to remove malicious software from a computer that has already been infected.  I will also demonstrate how to safely surf the web and keep viruses/malware at bay.

I hope you enjoyed this part of the series of the most common computer problems.

Read Part 3: Hardware Issues

The Most Common Computer Problems, Part 1: Hard Drive Errors

Over the years, I've had a multitude of clients with almost every type of computer problem imaginable.  Some of the problems were hardware issues.  Others problems were due to the user just not understanding the software or operating system.  Sometimes, the problem would very strange--for instance, one client brought me a netbook which would not work unless certain keys were pushed down before starting it up.

Still, looking back at all the computer problems I have encountered, the majority of them have been caused by three main issues that I am going to discuss today and in future articles.  If you are having computer problems, chances are they are being caused by one (or more) of these issues.

Issue #1: Hard Drive Errors  

Of all the computer problems I've had to fix, I'd say this is by far the most common (and easier) problems to deal with.

Inside the hard drive

Hard drives are the information storage depot for your computer.  As such, many critical files are held on the hard drive... everything from the programs that you use, photos and videos you create or download, and even the operating system itself.


Hard drives are very sensitive pieces of computer technology.  The computer reads and writes all the information it needs to store on the hard drive by using very small moving parts that sort of resemble a vinyl record being played on a record player.  A "needle" (or read/write head) moves across the "record" (or platter) portion of the hard drive in order to read or write data to and from the computer.  Whenever this process is interrupted, a hard drive error can occur.

There are quite a few reasons why a hard drive might develop errors.  Many people shut down their computer improperly by not waiting for the operating system to finish its operations before turning off the power.  A power outage may have a similar effect.  A faulty power supply (a completely different issue) may cause the computer to spontaneously turn on and off.  Perhaps the computer froze up and made it impossible to shut it down properly.  All of these issues can cause damage to the files on your hard drive.  And all of them have the potential to damage critical operating system files which are key to having the computer work properly.  Symptoms of this include slow or incomplete loading of the operating system, reduced performance, random crashes, data loss or all of the above.

Hard drive errors can cause frustration with your computer

The first thing I usually do (if possible) when a client gives me a computer to fix is check the hard drive for errors.  As a rough estimate, I'd say 65% of the computer problems I have faced have been fixed by simply repairing hard drive errors.  In a later post, I will show you how you can fix these errors yourself if you are having computer problems.  Even if your problem comes from a different source, fixing hard drive errors is a simple way of removing one potential issue from the list, which will help narrow down the search for what is really the problem.


I hope you will come back and visit my blog for part two of this three part series.  Next up: Viruses and Malware

Read Part 2: Viruses and Malware