Check for errors on the hard disk. Hard disk check for errors, Windows 7

Often the unstable operation of the computer is associated with errors in the HDD file system. To cope with this problem, it is necessary to check the errors on the hard disk. Among other things, it would be nice to know about the status of the hard drive, if during the work of the PC it makes strange sounds, such as clicks or grinding. If information about the hard drive damage is received in advance, you can save all user data before the device fails.

Victoria

First of all, you need a specialized program. One of the best and most reliable is Victoria. With it, on any operating system, you can check the hard disk for errors. Windows 7 whether you have installed, XP or 8, "Victoria" will work stably under each.

The application is absolutely free and can be downloaded from the developer's site. In this case, it is distributed in two versions. The first is the standard binary packages to run in the OS. The second is the ISO image to run without the need to boot the operating system. This is convenient when Windows refuses to work due to HDD errors.

If the HDD has a capacity of about 700 GB, it will take at least one or two hours to check the hard disk for errors. Windows 7 will perform this procedure with built-in tools much faster. However, the quality of testing and the amount of data obtained with the help of "Victoria" will be incommensurably higher.

Testing

First, download the application. It is supplied in the archive. Extract it to any empty directory and double click on the executable file. If the work is done in Windows 7 or 8, you need to right-click on the exe file, and then select "run with administrator rights" in the context menu .

Checking the hard disk for errors should begin with several preparatory steps. After starting the program, go to the "Standart" tab. In the right part of it you can see all the drives that are in the computer. Select the HDD that you want to test. Then click on the "Passport" button. If there is no trouble, the name and model of the hard disk will be displayed at the bottom of the window.

After that, go to the tab named "SMART" and click on the inscription "GetSMART". If the status next to the button changes, then everything is done right. Usually in this area the word "GOOD" is displayed, however, "BAD" may appear. Both in the first and in the second case, the sensor data is read correctly.

Possible mistakes

It happens that the HDD controller works in AHCI mode. In this case, you will not be able to read the SMART attributes, because the hard disk can not be checked for errors. The program will send the message "Error reading SMART" to the log. Also next to the button that is responsible for reading the data from the sensors, "Non ATA" will be displayed, and the area under the text will be highlighted in red.

To allow "Victoria" to work with the hard disk, you need to change the BIOS settings. To enter them, press the "DEL" button several times while the very first messages appear on the screen when the computer boots. The way to run the BIOS setup utility may be different for different motherboard models. If the "DEL" key does not lead to a positive result, it is worth to familiarize yourself with information that is easy to find on the developer's website.

After logging on to the BIOS, go to Config (which can be Advanced) - Serial ATA - Controller Mode, and then change the setting to Compatibility. Remember that after the hard drive has been verified, the settings should be restored to their original state.

Continuation of verification

After correctly reading SMART information, go to the tab "Test" and click on the "Start". After that, the error check on the hard disk will begin. In the main area of the program, rectangles that were previously monochrome will be painted in different colors. On the right, the total number of sectors sorted by access time will be written.

The main attention should be paid to the numbers near the blue and red marks. They are marked by dead or broken sectors. That is, those that can not be accessed, or it takes a very long time to read them. Thus, when you access them, the computer hangs.

Recovery

To try to recover bad sectors, the hard disk check should be started again, but now you need to set the switch from the bottom right to the "remap" position. The program will mark "badges" as non-working, by entering their addresses in a special area on the HDD.

Be carefull! If bad sectors start to appear on the hard disk, the drive will likely continue to "crash" after recovery. It is advisable to replace it or at least make a backup copy of all important data by copying them outside the HDD.

Built-in tools

The built-in OS tools can also be used to check the hard disk for errors. Windows 8 allows you to run it in a few clicks.

• First open the explorer by clicking on the "My Computer" icon.
• Then right-click on any section and select "Properties."
• Go to the tab named "Service", and in it, click on the inscription "Perform verification."

• A window will appear on the screen, in which it is desirable to put both possible checkboxes.
• Click the "Start" button.

• The HDD can not always be checked by the built-in operating system tools during its operation. In this case, Windows will ask the user if it is worth doing the procedure after the reboot. Simply click on the "Schedule scan" label, and then restart the computer.
• The report lines will appear on the screen while the hard disk is being scanned for errors. Windows 7, the program in which it is running, uses the same testing tools as in the graphical mode, but the information about the process produces incomparably more. In this case, you can see which files are recovered and what errors are found.

Checking the hard disk for errors through the command line

The command line is a powerful tool that is used by many system administrators when solving various system problems. Its main advantage - the launch of testing, even when the graphical shell refuses to run. In doing so, you should use the "safe mode with command-line support" by pressing the F8 key while Windows is loading, but before the logo is displayed on the screen.

If the standard mode is working properly, follow these steps to start the test:

1. Press the "Windows + R" combination on the computer keyboard.
2. Type "cmd.exe" in the entry line of the window that opens and click "OK."
3. A command prompt appears on the screen. To run the test, write "chkdskX: / f / r" into it. Instead of the letter "X", click the one that is used in the operating system to indicate the section that requires testing.
4. After the OS is entered, it can not be impossible to perform the procedure without having to restart the PC. When the message appears, just press the "Y" key and restart the computer. After that, the error check on the hard disk will start automatically.

Remember: when performing an HDD check, you should wait for it to finish completely. The process must be disabled only by means built into the program. If you can not stop the procedure, do not try to interrupt it by turning off the computer or pressing "RESET". These actions can lead to additional errors and data corruption on the hard drive. The most dangerous is the impossibility of recovering information after an incorrect completion of work.