Windows detected a hard disk problem

[Idiosyncrasy]

I'm trying to resolve some issues that my mother-in-law's laptop has been having.  Upon startup, before getting to the boot sequence, I'm seeing a black screen that says:

"SMART Hard Disk Error

The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure.  To ensure no data loss, please backup the content immediately and run the Hard Disk Test in System Diagnostics.

Hard Disk 1 (301)

F2   System Diagnostics
ENTER - Continue Startup"

I continued startup and the operating system was mostly stable.  However, there was a popup that said:

"Windows detected a hard disk problem. Back up your files immediately to prevent information loss, and then contact computer manufacturer to determine if you need to repair or replace the disk." Then it gives me options to backup, or ask again later.

Looking up a couple things and thinking about it, it sounds like a physical problem rather than a virtual problem.  It said to back everything up and avoid using the computer before determining if it could be repaired or if it should be replaced, but she has the recovery disks and all that.

So I went to the hard drive properties and started a disk check - said it couldn't run while it's in use.  I had it start the disk check before booting and restarted the computer.  It's currently going through CHDSK, but things aren't looking good.

CHDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 5)
As of this post, while only 6% complete, file record segments are unreadable from segments 172,680 through 172,700 and counting out of 258,308 file records.

Does this mean she needs a new hard drive?  If so many segments are unreadable so early in the disk check, it doesn't sound like a reformat would help much.  If I get a new hard drive, will it be easy to get everything going using the recovery disks that were created from her PC?

[victimthrax]

I'm not even reading this until you put it in the right forum

[Idiosyncrasy]

I'm not even reading this until you put it in the right forum

It's about a hard drive problem, not a specific windows problem, and not specifically Microsoft related.  Or so I assume.  That's where I need your help.

T&T
"Computer hardware and software technology, including operating systems, applications, networking, hardware, CPU's, disk drives, and other geeky things. Viruses and Artificial Life discussions.

Came from Redmund
"Discuss Internet Explorer, the Start button, Windows 7, Windows 95, Bill Gate's pants, and other specifically Microsoft related things."

[god]

I would start by not powering the drive on at all, and especially not running disk check. SMART is freaking amazing at giving detailed information. Sometimes it warns about future physical failures before hand.

If you need shit off the drive I can walk you through some recovery methods, and let me tell you nothing is more enthralling than sweating over a physical hardrive failure with thousands of dollars worth of information on it.

I'd love to get a more detailed idea of what actually went wrong with the drive, can you post a SMART log?

(on a side note, this IS the right place for this post)

[Idiosyncrasy]

Hmm, well it's doing the disk check right now, so I guess I should have checked here first.  Is there a way I can abort it and get into a SMART log, or would that be wise?

The information on the drive isn't that important.  The only real loss would be Photoshop because we lost the disk for it.

[victimthrax]

I'm not even reading this until you put it in the right forum

It's about a hard drive problem, not a specific windows problem, and not specifically Microsoft related.  Or so I assume.  That's where I need your help.

T&T
"Computer hardware and software technology, including operating systems, applications, networking, hardware, CPU's, disk drives, and other geeky things. Viruses and Artificial Life discussions.

Came from Redmund
"Discuss Internet Explorer, the Start button, Windows 7, Windows 95, Bill Gate's pants, and other specifically Microsoft related things."

didn't read

[god]

Where did you get the SMART log originally? Was it the SMART log from POST? Depending on the method you use to recover the data you may need to have a clean partition. Stopping it now will leave the partition dirty (not the good kind) and you unable to run certain programs on it. Would you care to attempt a data recovery on it?

You can boot into a live linux CD that doesn't power on the hardrive until you ask it to and run SMART and post the log so I can look (read: masturbate to) it.

[-SpectraL]

You could patiently have Scandisk isolate the bad sectors in Safe Mode, leaving only the good sectors for the OS to use, but further bad sectors are most probably imminent. Hard drives are only good for a limited number of thousands of hours. Are you absolutely certain the hard drive parameters have not been incorrectly detected/saved in CMOS?

[RustyShackleford]

Do you own a hammer? If your in a tight squeeze a brick or rock will do. First you want to make sure the computer is plugged in. Then take your hammer and rock and smash the fucking shit out of the drive. Counterintuitively, this will actually help you retrieve data off it by shaking some of the data loose. The problem is likely that the carbs have gotten gummed up. If a few good knocks don't do the trick you can try spraying some starter fluid directly onto teh cpu. If it still doesn't work then completely dismantle the drive and soak it in acetone. Then put it all back together and you will be good to go. No need to back anything up. Because it is a physical drive and all magnetic nothing will get lost. In facrt this should be done occasionally even if you don't have any noticeable signs of problems. Cleaning the carbs of your computer is just regular maintinence. If you don't do it then viruses will accumulate which will not only negatively impact your computer performance, but can also make you sick. Even if you get your vaccines like any responsible citizen computers can harbor viruses that you are not protected against. Some even that the CDC is unaware of. Also try to avoid getting semen or other bodily fluids onto your computer as pc's and some older mac computers are susceptible to STD's and Windows 8 and 8.1 computers are also suspected in playing a role in transmitting the ebola virus. If you think that your computer does have some sort of infection don't panic, but absolutely use the hammer/rock method as soon as possible. Not only is it irresponsible to wait before treaating the cause, but the sooner you act the lower your chances of losing data or having to put down your computer. Should you need to put down your computer it is important not to have direct contact with any bits or bytes as these can help spread disease. If you are unaware of or lack the proper gear simply contact the local authorities and they will assist you. Do not underestimate the threat and assume that a computer virus is no big deal. Although the US has been able to combat the ebola virus, if you are nigger then consider your data done for - though please quarantine yourself for the greater good.

[stdio.h]

Yeah, would be helpful to have the SMART log, but it sounds like bad sectors, probably caused by a failing head. Time to replace the HDD.

[Idiosyncrasy]

The SMART log I posted showed up right away when I turned on the computer, before even getting to the windows screen. If I can find a SMART log after the check is finished (still looking bad and unreadable), I'll post it up.

I'm not sure about the CMOS part. That's a little over my head.

I do have a couple hard drives from past laptops that have gone bad (laptops went bad, not hard drives). If it is just HDD failure, would I be able to pop one of these in and use the recovery disk to reformat it? Would she be able to see my pr0ns?

[god]

POST is power on self test. CMOS is basically POST.

What hardware do you use? Is this a laptop or a desktop? Pardon my ignorance but is SMART checking in POST common these days? I remember only the higher end brands having it. What a dandy feature!

[-SpectraL]

CMOS is the bios settings which control devices at the lowest level. One of these settings controls how the system sees the hard disk... how many heads and sectors and its size. If the hard disk is not correctly auto-detected there, the disk may still function, but the OS and disk utilities will falsely show bad sectors. You can auto-detect and save proper hard drive settings by pressing F1 repeatedly the moment the system powers on. Sometimes it's F10, depending on the computer model. You should also have SMART off and disabled there.

[god]

CMOS is a misnomer for non volatile memory (memory that stays backed up when power is removed) back in the stone ages we used to use  complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor SRAM. In the end we are talking about Nonvolatile BIOS memory. Yours includes a SMART test.

A loose cable, or BIOS setting mismatch could cause this issue but is unlikely.

I don't have the time, but I bet a  data recovery thread would be a good idea. We could also get into the security of secure deletion, and forensics.

Computer forensics is interesting.