Solved how to tell a HDD has failed?

good evening people.

I am using Y410p, running Windows 8.1.

I was downloading files using P2P,
then I get some error related to disk.
but my whole system works perfectly, no affection on the performance.
so, I decide to reboot.

here, the problem comes.

first, I got the 'Automatic Repair' during boot,
then it reboots.
this time, with BSOD stating UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME.
then it reboots again.
just black screen. nothing more.

---

I did experienced this before.

what I do;
1. shut down
2. edit BIOS to boot using 'Legacy'
3. I boot using Windows 7 USB
4. I choose 'Custom Install'
5. I formatted the 'D' drive
6. reboot
7. manage to boot into Windows 8.1

I tried to re-do these steps, no avail
• stuck at 'Setup is starting' screen (waiting for 2 hours and nothing happens)

I tried using the OneKey Recovery, no avail.
the screen just turn black and nothing happens.

---

so;
• how do I manage this? (I really hope that no disk formatting will be involved)
• what is actually happening to my laptop? impending disk failure?
• if this is benign, it is preventable? I really don't like suprises... (I am in the middle of finals by the way)

thanks in advance guys!

good evening

I am using Y410p.

these are the symptoms;
1. Automatic Repair boot loop (then the screen turn black)
2. when I tried to enter Windows 8.1 Safe Mode (Shift+F8, while booting using Legacy), I got the "Check cable connection! PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM" error message
3. I used DISKPART from Windows 7 USB Install Media, the HDD where Windows 8.1 is installed only showing Disk0 (DISKPART only shows disks? not partitions?)
4. I heard a soft, high-pitched sound
5. I tried using the OneKey Recovery. the screen just turn black
6. I tried installing Windows 7 but get stuck at "Setup is starting" screen
7. sometimes, I managed to get pass the "Setup is starting" screen. but the partition where Windows is installed shows empty (the partition space is 880GB, and the free space showed also 880GB)

so, is my HDD failing?

You can download the Seatools bootable ISO image here:
SeaTools for DOS | Seagate

Regardless of the brand of your drive, Seatools will tell you if it's healthy. Start with the short test, and if it passes that, try the long version.

Good advice drteeth, this link adds some other options too

12 Free Hard Drive Testing Software Tools

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

thanks guys for replying.

unfortunately,
SeaTools doesn't even detect any HDD.

I have checked the internals.
well and good.

so, what is next move recommended?

Does the drive show up through any means at this point? Does it even begin to boot? If a drive is really failing, the more you use it, the worse it gets. I hope you have no data that you need from this drive... It's possible that Seatools *might* not see a healthy drive, but if, for example, your graduate thesis is on the drive and nowhere else, you should stop trying to make it work and instead clone the drive to a new disk (or find someone to do it for you).

My feeling is that the hard drive is failing, or possibly has already failed, but then again, you never know.

BIOS does detect the HDD.
but, whenever I used diskpart from command prompt at boot, it seems non-responsive.
plus, whenever I boot using legacy mode, I got the "Check cable connection! PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM"
why these happen?

HDD failure?
oh my...
I haven't braced myself for it.

I would guess that bios sees the controller (circuit board) part of the drive, whereas the failure has occurred within the drive itself. But it's just a guess.

Other than viruses and malware, failed hard drives are pretty much the most common thing to go wrong with computers. I've had 4 of them go on me over the years, and I only caught it in time to get my data off the drive on one of those occasions.

ok.
I gonna take that HDD out,
and try to do a disk check from my friend's laptop.

is there any other thing that I should do?

my friend is using Windows 7.

the partition which contains Windows 8.1 is showed as RAW.
(only the C: is RAW, but the D: is NTFS)

so, I did chkdsk /f, but nothing happens.
still shown as RAW.

currently, I am using EaseUS Drive Recovery Wizard.
I choose the "Complete Recovery" directed to the RAW partition only.
8 hours left.

am I on the right track?

I used HDDScan for SMART test.


everything is well and good,
except "Current Pending Errors Count; Value: 100; Worst: 100"


what does this means?

Hi iUnique,

My local computer parts store sells Western Digital Black 1tb drives for under $100...
The thing is, although you may be able to map the bad sectors on your drive using chkdsk, I would consider this unit extremely unreliable at this point. It could possibly be stable, but odds are that will continue to develop more errors, and will in all likelyhood fail completely at some point in the near future. My advise is to get your data off the disk if you can, and buy a new drive.

HDD Sentinel for DOS show the HDD has 63% health, about 30 weak sectors.

so, I am going to use diskpart clean the HDD,
and try reinstall Windows.

I will buy a new HDD just in case.

will report back after next week.

Good Luck! Since you're getting a new drive anyway, I'd strongly recommend copying the data from the old to the new asap. I look forward to hearing how it works out.

I'm back!

backing up data, done.

so, I did cleaned the disk, using the diskpart.
then, I checked it back using HDD Sentinel, showing 61 weak sectors, which I think it did increased.

the disk is failing, right?
(I just want to confirm)

Yes, it is failing. If it keeps running like a disk that failed for me, the number of bad sectors will increase at an increasing rate.

Good job on saving your data! You should check if your old drive was still under warranty - if so, you can RMA it and get a replacement for the cost of shipping. Or even better, see if you can get the retailer who sold you the original drive to RMA it for you. It worked for me once!