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Repair Corrupt HDD | How to Repair a Corrupted Hard Drive?

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Hard drive corruption is not new; it has been an issue since the inception of hard drives. You may notice corruption manifesting in several ways, such as unusual error messages, poor performance, files, and folders becoming inaccessible or disappearing, not booting up or even clicking noises.

The good news is we can fix the logical corruption issues, This article lists effective solutions in detail that can repair corrupted hard drives, Try them, and fix corrupted hard drives.

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Hard drives have evolved significantly over time. Modern drives have become more robust and reliable thanks to advancements in technology, but the risk of corruption is always present due to various factors, such as:
  • Power Issues: Faulty, inconsistent power supply or sudden power loss can damage the internal circuits and lead to incomplete writes.
  • File System Errors: Improper shutdowns can leave incomplete files and corrupt the file system structure. Bad sectors in HDD can develop where critical system files are located in this sector resulting in corrupt hard drives.
  • Software Issues: Oudated drivers can cause the system to miscommunicate with the hard drive, leading to data corruption. When the system files are corrupted, they can disrupt the file operations and potentially corrupt files stored on the drive.
  • Malware and Virus: if the device is infected with a virus or malware, it can corrupt the file indexes and damage files, encrypt data, or corrupt the file system, leading to data corruption or loss.
  • Physical Damage: Improper handling and excess heat can damage the internal components which can lead to data corruption. Additionally, Older hard drives are more prone to failure as their mechanical parts wear down over time which can lead to errors or complete failure.
Apart from physical damage, you can fix logically corrupt hard drives yourself. Stop Using the Drive and read the upcoming sections to learn how to repair a corrupted drive without formatting.

How to Fix a Corrupted Hard Disk?

Caution: If your hard drive has critical data, We suggest you backup or recover them before trying to repair the drive.

Method 1: Fix Corrupted Hard Drive Command Prompt

Use Windows built-in commands to detect and repair logical errors like file system corruption Additionally, they can fix bad sectors, here is how to fix a corrupted drive
1: CHKDSK
  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  • Type: chkdsk /f /r X: (replace X with the drive letter) and press Enter

use the chkdsk command to fix the corrupt HDD

The scan may take some time depending on the drive size. Once the scan is completed you can restart the device and try accessing the hard drive data.
2: SFC
Run the System File Checker command when there is an issue with the system files causing hard drive corruption, Here is how to fix a corrupt drive using SFC command :
  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  • Type: sfc /scannow and hit Enter

type sfc command to fix corrupt hard drive issues

  • Restart your system after the scan completes.

Method 2: Update or Reinstall Drivers

Corrupt or outdated disk drivers can prevent the OS from communicating with the drive. Ensure you have the drivers updated for proper functionality without risking data loss and fix compatibility issues.
  • Open Device Manager.
  • Expand Disk Drives and right-click and select Update driver.
update disk drivers on your device
Restart your computer to ensure changes take effect.

Method 3: Scan using Antivirus

Viruses and malware can corrupt file systems, make drives inaccessible, or turn a hard drive into RAW format. We advise using an updated third-party antivirus or the Windows Security tool and performing a full scan to eliminate viruses.
On Windows Security:
Open Windows Security > Virus and Threat Protection > Scan Options > Full Scan
Run full scan on the hard drive to remove virus and malware

Method 4: Change the Drive Letter

Changing the corrupt drive letter can sometimes help resolve hard drive inaccessibility and make the drive accessible again. Here’s how it works:
  • Open Disk Management and locate the drive.
  • Right-click on the drive and select Change Drive Letter and Paths.
choose change drive letter option
  • Click on Change, then choose a new letter from the dropdown menu click OK, and confirm changes
select a letter to your hard drive

Method 5: Rebuild MBR

MBR corruption prevents the OS from booting or recognizing the drive. Rebuilding the MBR restores boot and access functionality. You will have to Boot into recovery mode using an installation disk, open the Command prompt, and follow the below-mentioned steps:
  • Type:
    bootrec /fixmbr
    bootrec /fixboot
    bootrec /rebuildbcd
Restart the system and check if the drive is accessible.

Method 6: Reformat Hard Drive

If none of the troubleshooting methods work, then Reformatting is the last resort, Reformatting a drive can help address issues related to file system corruption by erasing existing data and recreating the file system, which can restore functionality. This will correct the
logical errors by restoring a clean slate.
Remember: backup all the important data before formatting the drive
  • Open Disk Management > Select the drive > Right-click and choose Format.
  • Select the File System and allocate a new drive letter (if required)
  • Choose either Quick Format or Full Format and click on OK to Format

Choose the file system and click on OK to format the corrupt hard drive

Tips to Prevent Hard Drive Corruption

  • Avoid Power Surges and Power Outages: Unsatable power sources can damage the hard drive and file writing operations leading to corruption.
  • Proper usage: Avoid Exposing your drive to extreme heat or cold conditions to avoid mechanical damage to the hard drive.
  • Monitor Disk health: Monitor the hard drives performance and noises, if you notice any unusual issues, perform a disk check to restore the corrupt hard drives.
  • Antivirus Scan: Pefrom antivirus scan on hard drives to avoid malware and viruses infecting and corrupting your hard drive
  • Backup: Take a backup of all the important files and folders to any other external hard drive or cloud storage to safeguard the files at all times. By doing so your data will be safe even during the hard drive failure.
  • OS Update: Always keep the OS updated as it fixes the bugs and helps in smooth operations

Restore Corrupt Hard Drive Data

In case you have lost all the data to hard drive corruption or you wish to recover data from the corrupt driver rather than repair it. You will need an efficient data recovery tool to get data off the corrupt drive.
5 Steps to Recover Data From a Corrupt Hard Drive Click Here

Conclusion

To conclude, the methods mentioned earlier can fix corrupt hard drives effectively, once the repair is completed evaluate your drive conditions and use it. If you notice the hard drive corruption symptoms again, you will have to consider a replacement for the drive.
For physically damaged hard drives, you will need to take the hard drive to a professional data recovery service to repair or recover the data.

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