Difference between revisions of "Repair Bad Sectors"
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| − | Bad sectors are sections of your computer's hard drive that have been damaged, and have lost the ability to save and store your data.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_sector</ref> If your computer makes grinding noises when using the hard drive, that's a good sign that your hard drive has bad sectors. When you repair a bad sector, your computer will replace the bad sectors with good sectors and ignore the bad sectors. The methods for repairing bad sectors are different, depending on what version of Windows you're using. | + | Bad sectors are sections of your computer's hard drive that have been damaged, and have lost the ability to save and store your data.<ref name="rf16861">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_sector</ref> If your computer makes grinding noises when using the hard drive, that's a good sign that your hard drive has bad sectors. When you repair a bad sector, your computer will replace the bad sectors with good sectors and ignore the bad sectors. The methods for repairing bad sectors are different, depending on what version of Windows you're using. |
| − | [[Category:System Maintenance and Repair]] | + | [[Category: System Maintenance and Repair]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
The larger your hard drive, the more sectors there are to check, and the longer this process will take. Start this process when you won't need your computer for a while, such as overnight. | The larger your hard drive, the more sectors there are to check, and the longer this process will take. Start this process when you won't need your computer for a while, such as overnight. | ||
=== Windows XP === | === Windows XP === | ||
| − | #Close all of your open programs and files. Windows XP can't scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.<ref>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265</ref> | + | #Close all of your open programs and files. Windows XP can't scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.<ref name="rf16862">http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265</ref> |
#* Windows XP uses a system utility called Chkdsk to scan for and fix bad sectors. | #* Windows XP uses a system utility called Chkdsk to scan for and fix bad sectors. | ||
#Open My Computer. Double-click My Computer to open it. | #Open My Computer. Double-click My Computer to open it. | ||
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#* If the check disk process failed to fix the bad sectors, your hard drive may be failing and you may want to backup your drive to a new one. [[http://www.wikihow.com/Back-up-a-Computer Click here]] for help on backing up your hard drive. | #* If the check disk process failed to fix the bad sectors, your hard drive may be failing and you may want to backup your drive to a new one. [[http://www.wikihow.com/Back-up-a-Computer Click here]] for help on backing up your hard drive. | ||
=== Windows 7 === | === Windows 7 === | ||
| − | #Close all of your open programs and files. Windows 7 can't scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.<ref>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Check-a-drive-for-errors</ref> | + | #Close all of your open programs and files. Windows 7 can't scan or fix a bad sector if that sector is being used by an open program or file.<ref name="rf16863">http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Check-a-drive-for-errors</ref> |
#Open Computer. Click {{button|Start}}, and then click {{button|Computer}}. | #Open Computer. Click {{button|Start}}, and then click {{button|Computer}}. | ||
#Choose a hard drive to check for bad sectors. Right-click the hard drive you want to scan, and then click {{button|Properties}}. | #Choose a hard drive to check for bad sectors. Right-click the hard drive you want to scan, and then click {{button|Properties}}. | ||
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#* If the check disk process failed to fix the bad sectors, your hard drive may be failing and you may want to backup your drive to a new one. [[http://www.wikihow.com/Back-up-a-Computer Click here]] for help on backing up your hard drive. | #* If the check disk process failed to fix the bad sectors, your hard drive may be failing and you may want to backup your drive to a new one. [[http://www.wikihow.com/Back-up-a-Computer Click here]] for help on backing up your hard drive. | ||
=== Windows 8/10 === | === Windows 8/10 === | ||
| − | #Move the mouse cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer, and then click Search.<ref>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/improve-performance-optimizing-hard-drive</ref> | + | #Move the mouse cursor to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer, and then click Search.<ref name="rf16864">http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/improve-performance-optimizing-hard-drive</ref> |
#* If you're using the touch interface, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then touch Search. | #* If you're using the touch interface, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then touch Search. | ||
#* For these steps to work, you will probably need an admin account and password. | #* For these steps to work, you will probably need an admin account and password. | ||
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#Under Error checking, click or touch {{button|Check}}. | #Under Error checking, click or touch {{button|Check}}. | ||
#* You may be asked for an admin password. Enter your admin password. If you don't have one, contact the person who has the admin account. | #* You may be asked for an admin password. Enter your admin password. If you don't have one, contact the person who has the admin account. | ||
| − | #Review the scan results. The error checking scan will tell you either that there are errors or there aren't errors. You can still repair the drive, even if there are no errors, but you don't need to.<ref>http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-8-new-disk-error-checking-feature/</ref> | + | #Review the scan results. The error checking scan will tell you either that there are errors or there aren't errors. You can still repair the drive, even if there are no errors, but you don't need to.<ref name="rf16865">http://www.groovypost.com/howto/windows-8-new-disk-error-checking-feature/</ref> |
#Click {{button|Scan and repair drive}}. | #Click {{button|Scan and repair drive}}. | ||
#Choose when to repair the file system. In the Restart your computer to repair file system errors dialog box, click {{button|Schedule on next restart}} to repair your hard drive the next time you start the computer. Click {{button|Restart}} to repair the hard drive now. | #Choose when to repair the file system. In the Restart your computer to repair file system errors dialog box, click {{button|Schedule on next restart}} to repair your hard drive the next time you start the computer. Click {{button|Restart}} to repair the hard drive now. | ||
#Wait for Windows to scan and repair the hard drive sectors. Do not try to use your computer or interrupt the sector scan while it's happening. | #Wait for Windows to scan and repair the hard drive sectors. Do not try to use your computer or interrupt the sector scan while it's happening. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
