Hard Disk – Secondary Storage Device
A hard disk or hard drive is a magnetic storage device that can store large amounts of data whether it can be any data like OS or any applications, documents, pictures, videos, or any files. The hard disk drive(HDD) is usually located in the computer as an internal drive with various storage sizes. If you need excess storage space means, you can opt for external hard drives and the data can be readable and writable.
How it differs from a primary storage device?
It is one of the secondary storage devices that stores a large amount of data compared to primary storage devices like ROM. Only the read option is available in primary storage devices where in the hard drive it is possible to do both read and write. As it doesn’t have direct access to the Central Processing Unit, it is listed under a secondary storage device. Compared to primary storage devices it is slower. Anyhow, the system needs both primary and secondary storage devices for effective storage purposes.
Types of Hard Drives and How to choose?
Hard drives differ based on size, technology, and usage. There are two types of hard drives based on the technology needs. They are Solid State Drive(SSD) and Hard Disk Drives (HDD). The processing time is slower in HDD compared to SSD. The cost-wise SSD is more expensive than the cost of HDD. Based on the usage it differs between internal and external hard drives where internal drives are attached inside the system by default whereas external drives can be connected with the help of a USB cable. The hard drives are available in various sizes from gigabytes to terabytes.
We can choose the hard drive based on the following factors.
- Size of the hard drive
- Specifications
- Price
Some of the popular hard drives are Seagate BarraCuda, Western Digital Blue Desktop, Toshiba X300, WD VelociRaptor, Seagate Firecuda Desktop, and more.
Hard Disk Problems
Virus or Malware attacks
There are so many malicious programs that are affecting the system. They usually happen during the data transfer from the already affected computer or laptop to the external hard drives. Then they used the external hard drives as a transporting medium and affect not only that external hard drive but also the newly connected devices. The malware is spreading easily during the transmission along with the legal data without the knowledge of users.
Solution for Virus attacks
The best solution to safeguard both your PC and your hard drive is by installing the necessary anti-virus software on your PC and doing updates often. Also, update the Operating system to avoid the spreading of viruses through the linked network.
Hard drive not detected
This type of hard disk issue occurs when you power on the system. The reason for the problem may be due to a fault in the internal cable connection or with the hard drive. If there is any physical damage like water damage or a broken hard drive tends to show this type of error.
Solution for undetected Hard drive
To overcome this hard disk issue just turn it off and remove the battery from your system. Additionally, unplug all of its connected input and output devices before restarting the system. After some time has passed, turn it on and connect the battery. If it is due to physical damage, then it is better to check with the experts to solve it.
Data Corrupted
When a computer abruptly shuts down, system data frequently become corrupted, rendering your hard disk and thus your computer inaccessible. This may be due to malware, shutting down the system without closing all the opened files properly.
Solution for Corrupted files
To avoid this before switching off the system, follow the proper closing of files and check for any malicious program before installing it.
Incorrect Parameter
When you connect an external hard disk to the computer, you will get this type of error message “The parameter is incorrect”. We can’t go further to open the drive and access the data in the drive. This error occurs due to physical damage in the port or with the connected hard drive or due to inappropriate files.
Solution for Incorrect Parameter Error
To avoid this error message, verify the device’s functionality and the USB port for any damage. Reconnect the external hard drive to test the connection after thoroughly cleaning it to remove any dust particles. If the issue is with the device or the port means the method will suit to overcome this error.
If the error appears due to the incompatible file system means, formatting the hard drive is the solution for this issue. Formatting can be done by ourselves. Once the hard drive is connected, go to ‘My Computer’ do right click on the hard drive, and click the ‘Format’ option to clean all the data in the hard drive.
Failed to boot the system
The internal hard drive’s failure can potentially prevent your machine from booting because it also stores the operating system and software. In this scenario, users encounter a variety of prompts when the system fails to boot. It occurs when the BIOS settings are altered or when crucial system files are missing. This computer issue might also arise from a corrupted partition where the operating system was installed.
Solution for booting process failure
It is possible to overcome this issue by using BIOS keys like F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL as your computer boots up. BIOS key F9 will reset all by default. After the reset, close and restart the computer.
Showing Error message
Error Code 0142 is a severe hard disk error as it indicates that the boot or system files have not been loaded by the disk. The majority of the time, a corrupted sector or a firmware-related problem is the cause of a hard disk error. Additionally, it’s possible that you unintentionally destroyed a crucial system file, making some OS components unavailable.
Solution for the error message
To resolve this error do restart the system or do a fresh start. For the Fresh start option, go to windows settings, go to windows defender security settings, then go to device performance and health, and select the fresh start option. This option is recently added to windows 8 and windows 10.
Storage full
Undoubtedly, one of the most frequent issues with hard disks is this one. Your disk may become full if you’ve accumulated a lot of data on it. Your system would run slowly and your hard disk would become corrupt or malfunction as a result. the buildup of numerous undesirable images, videos, and other data. It’s also possible that you installed a lot of undesirable programs. The disk’s fragmentation may also be caused by repeated partitioning.
Solution
To overcome this issue, delete the unwanted files or the apps that you feel are no longer in use. The fragmentation of a disk is caused by continuing to segment it or joining several components. The lost space can be reclaimed with the help of a disk fragmenting tool.
Overheat
When the system is used for more time, it causes hard drive damage due to overheating. The reason behind this damage is the problem with the CPU fan. When the system is overused, it makes the hard drive fan spin slower than usual and makes a sound while booting the device. Later, because of overheating tends to damage the hard drive.
Solution for Overheat
The solution for this issue is to check for the proper installation of the CPU fan to provide proper cooling to the hard drive. Also, applications are available to check the temperature of the hard drive. You can use that application to get notifications about your hard drive temperature.
The following are some of the apps available to check the temperature of the hard drive.
- CrystalDiskInfo
- Core Temp
- HWiNFO
- HWMonitor
- Macs Fan Control
- SpeedFan
- Open Hardware Monitor
For Hard drive data recovery issues – About CBL Data Recovery Singapore
Also, Read- How to retrieve deleted WhatsApp messages?
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