Handling a severely corrupted HDD requires careful steps to recover data safely.
Handling a severely corrupted HDD requires careful steps to recover data safely.
I've been operating my computer for about a month without major problems. I recently replaced my old laptop from 2009-2010, which I used until 2022. The screen broke and it got hit hard, but I managed to recover the HDD. After connecting it to my new PC, Windows took a long time to load. Now the disk appears as five separate drives, which has reduced to one after reconnecting over the past week. This is causing Explorer to crash and Disk Management to hesitate. I suspect the drive might be failing, but I’m not sure if there’s physical damage. What should I do? I’d rather not inspect it closely, but if necessary, I might check.
Did you transfer the disk to the new PC or are you still relying on the damaged laptop? You can access the disk through your fresh Windows setup unless it’s no longer functioning.
I installed it on my new PC and believe Windows remains active. The File Explorer took over after about half an hour. All other functions are normal, but disk-related tools feel sluggish. I’m not concerned about the files; my main goal is to add more storage space.
The laptop HDDs are extremely slow, yet they've been used a lot over time. Start by booting into your PC and then checking if you can run programs like CrystaldiskMark on the laptop's storage. If you don't need to access the drive, it's not essential to boot into it.
Testdisk reports it's a "bad SUN partition." The meaning isn't clear.
Before bedtime tonight, switch off the computer and unplug the drive. In the morning, restart it with the drive removed. Spend about an hour before bed using the computer, then turn it off again, reconnect the drive, restart, and run your favorite app while you sleep. After waking up on day two, review the outcomes.