AvocadoTech

I'm unable to launch windows without it crashing off my primary HDD so I think it is dying. I can boot into Linux Mint from a USB drive and I was wondering if its possible to figure check the health on my HDD through linux on my USB drive. I'm unable to mount the HDD with Linux mint so I'm thinking what I'm trying to do isn't possible. If it is possible could someone please explain how to do it? Sorry, I'm new to this sort of thing.

I have a mediocre laptop that I've been using for gaming and lately Windows has been starting to freeze up where all windows related apps stop responding such as the task bar and everything starts running very slowly and freezing and unfreezing. The power button doesn't work so every time it happens I have to force restart. It used to do this every now and then but now it does it every time I start up the laptop and it probably lasts about 5 minutes before freezing up. The reason I think its the hard drive is because my laptop's hard drive is pretty awful to begin with and it takes about 15 minutes to start up. So is my hard drive dying or is it something else? If it is my hard drive I plan to replace my current Western Digital 500GB 2.5" SATA III (WD5000LPCX) with a Seagate BarraCuda 1TB 2.5" SATA III. Is this a good replacement if I'm looking for an upgrade without buying an SSD?

I have a Logitech M510, my barely-a-gaming-laptop's-keyboard, a black mouse pad, and SkullCandy Smokin' Buds 2 earbuds.