Hard disks are delicate devices that can be damaged very easily if they aren’t handled with care.
Errors like this can have a logical or a physical cause, and repeated repair attempts can make things worse. If the files matter, see how hard drive recovery works, starting with a free diagnosis.
Some of the most serious problems they can develop are a burned circuit board, corruption, or clicking noises (a sign that complete failure may be imminent).
But can a hard disk with any of these faults be repaired? That’s what we’ll look at in this article.
What causes hard disk problems?
Hard disks are mechanical devices and, like any mechanical device, they can fail without warning.
Some hard disk failures are entirely avoidable, but many others come down to chance.
Here are some of the most common causes:
Mechanical damage
Unlike solid-state drives (SSDs) or USB flash drives, which have no moving parts, every traditional hard disk has an extremely fragile component called the read/write head.
The head looks like a tiny record-player needle. It converts the magnetic field on the platter into an electrical signal to read data and converts an electrical signal into a magnetic field to write data to the disk.
Because the gap between the head and the platter, where the data is actually stored, is only a few nanometers, even the slightest misalignment can (and usually does) cause a catastrophic head crash.
In addition, traditional hard drives have a breather filter that equalizes the air pressure between the inside of the drive and the outside environment.
This filter must keep out every dust particle, because even the smallest speck can cause a head crash if the head hits it.
A head crash is also often caused by a sudden impact, such as when a laptop is dropped or tossed down instead of being set down gently.
Manufacturing defects
All reputable hard drive manufacturers test their products thoroughly before they reach consumers.
But even with modern testing methods, some defective drives still slip through.
Most manufacturing defects show up during the first year of use, so you should never trust critical data to a brand-new hard disk alone.
In fact, it’s best not to rely on any hard disk at all unless you keep up-to-date backups somewhere else.
Overheating
Most hard drives are designed to operate between 5 °C and 50 °C, and some newer models can handle up to 60 °C.
Although overheating doesn’t usually cause a critical failure, it can lead to data corruption and read errors.
That’s why it’s essential to keep your PC or laptop well ventilated, especially in the summer months.
In extreme cases, heat can even cause the circuit board that controls the whole hard disk to fail, and then no recovery software can help: the disk needs a lab.
Electronic failure
Every hard disk contains a large number of sensitive electronic components.
A power surge or a sudden power cut can literally fry these components and leave the hard disk completely dead.
A good surge protector or UPS is by far the best way to protect your disk against this kind of failure.
File corruption
File corruption happens when unintended changes are made to the data while it is being written.
File corruption can be caused by overheating, but it can also be caused deliberately by malware.
Can a hard disk be repaired?
It really depends on the extent of the damage, whether logical or physical. However, trying to repair a hard disk on your own is very risky.
Some software requires technical knowledge and experience to work properly, and if it’s used incorrectly it can cause irreversible damage.
With physical damage, a lack of experience in handling the drive and the computer’s components can be fatal for your data.
So if your hard drive needs repairing, go to a specialist service rather than risk fixing it yourself.
How do I know if my hard disk needs repairing?
Before trying to repair your hard disk, you should first make sure the disk itself is causing the problem.
Confirm the fault
First, make sure your drive really has failed. To do this, rule out the other things that can stop a drive from being recognized.
If the disk makes a constant, loud clicking noise, it is seriously damaged: turn it off right away and don’t keep trying to use it.
Check the connections
Sometimes it isn’t the drive that has failed, but the cables that connect it to the computer’s motherboard.
So before trying anything else, make sure the data and power cables are firmly connected at both ends.
Do a visual check
Sometimes the problem isn’t in the disk mechanism, but in the printed circuit board that controls it (on the underside of the drive).
If a power surge or a component failure damages this board, the drive stops working, even though the platters and data may still be intact.
So look for signs of damage, such as burn or scorch marks. If you find them, the board is the likely culprit. It can often be repaired in a lab, but simply swapping the board rarely works, because modern drives store unique calibration data on the board’s ROM chip.
Check whether the disk is recognized
If the hard disk is detected but the operating system asks you to format it when you try to open it, this may indicate file system corruption or several bad sectors.
Bad sectors can also make the PC freeze or slow down.
Another sign is when the hard disk shows up in the operating system but can’t be accessed.
Finally, when the problem is in the system disk, the PC may simply fail to start. If the system asks you to format the drive at any point, don’t do it if you want to recover your data.
What should I do if my hard disk is corrupted?
Your hard disk is corrupted, so now what? You have two options:
- Use data recovery software;
- Get help from a professional data recovery service.
Data recovery software can sometimes find fragments of a file in other sectors of the hard disk and rebuild it.
However, recovering data on your own always carries a significant risk. If you decide to use these tools, run them on a copy or image of the drive, not on the original.
To avoid further damage to the disk, we recommend the following:
- Make a sector-by-sector image of the drive that contains the corrupted file(s);
- Once you’ve recovered your corrupted data, you can try file repair tools on the copies;
- Don’t use the operating system’s volume repair tools (such as CHKDSK or FSCK) on the disk. These built-in tools usually cause more damage and can make the data unrecoverable.
Remember that the safest option is to contact a professional data recovery service.
How do you repair a burned hard disk?
First of all, you should know what not to do with a burned disk so you don’t make things worse:
- Don’t put the hard disk in the fridge or freezer;
- Don’t try to take apart or open the hard disk yourself;
- Don’t keep powering on a burned hard drive to force it to start;
- Avoid amateur tips and data recovery software. They can lead to permanent data loss.
If you’re not sure the disk is really burned (no burning smell and no visible marks on the board), you can do a single, careful test:
- Connect the hard disk to another computer that is working properly;
- If it’s an external disk, connect it to the other computer through a USB port;
- If it’s an internal hard disk, remove it from the computer, put it in an external enclosure or USB adapter and connect it to the other computer through a USB port;
- If you can access the data, copy it straight away to another storage device to reduce the risk of losing it;
- Then safely eject and disconnect the drive. If it isn’t recognized, makes noises or gives off a burning smell, turn it off and don’t try again.
If the disk shows signs of burning or the test fails, contact a data recovery company to recover your data safely. In these cases, only lab specialists can solve the problem.
How do I repair a clicking hard disk?
Unless you’re an experienced technician with the right knowledge and equipment, you shouldn’t try to repair your hard disk yourself. This usually leads to further damage and even permanent data loss.
That said, a clicking hard disk is sometimes caused by a minor problem that a few quick checks can solve.
One thing you can check is the power supply. The outlet or power source may be overloaded and unable to deliver enough power.
You can also try replacing the power cable, as it may be faulty.
Beyond these simple power checks, leave your hard disk in the hands of a professional. A hard disk has very sensitive internal components that are easily damaged by the wrong tools or a dirty environment.
Remember: your data is at risk the moment the platters or the heads are exposed to dust and debris. A hard disk should only ever be opened in a cleanroom.
How to repair an external disk’s connector
When the damage is to the connector of an external hard drive, the repair requires technical knowledge of electronics. Unless you have that knowledge, you’ll need a specialist service.
How much does it cost to repair a hard disk?
The cost of repairing a hard disk can vary a lot, depending on factors such as:
- The condition of the device and how it has been handled;
- The availability of parts and components;
- The extent of the damage;
- The complexity of the repair.
That’s why there’s no way to give an average price before the hard disk has been assessed.
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Conclusion
A hard disk is an electromechanical device that, like any other, can fail and suffer various kinds of damage, whether from lack of proper care or from manufacturing defects.
Whatever the reason your hard disk is damaged, trying to repair it yourself isn’t the best course of action, as we’ve explained throughout this article.
To avoid further damage to the drive and recover your data safely, turn to a professional recovery service like Bot’s.
With more than two decades of experience in data recovery, we do everything we can to recover your files and documents, with highly trained specialists, professional tools and a Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanroom where the drive is handled in a particle-controlled environment.
What’s more, our standard diagnosis is free and takes up to 48 hours.
And you don’t have to leave home: we offer free collection of your device (islands not included).
Do you have any questions about the data recovery process? Get in touch with us on our social networks: we offer 24/7 support.
Join our customers and count on our 96% success rate: start your recovery with us now.
