How can i exactly tell if a Hdd is dead?

[nanowatt]

The problem is this.I had a laptop in custody and i did the routine cleaning,windows,repairing....etc and one i was done it was working fine.I prove to the customer that the laptop is fine gave it to him and for 2 days it was fine he used it without any problems.Now he is telling me that is not working so i go and inspect it.The hdd is making some kind of noise and the error is this "A disk read error occurred".How can the hdd be dead when i myself installed the windows and all the shit?He even used it without any problems an the next day it was dead at fist he told me that it will stop working after 20-30 mins or display a white screen.

I will replace the man's Hdd if that is the problem

[Guest]

Vivard on ultimate boot cd is a good test.

[NotCthulhu]

1. is it an older drive?

2. did he move the laptop around a lot while the drive was reading or writing?

[nanowatt]

1. is it an older drive?

2. did he move the laptop around a lot while the drive was reading or writing?

Yea the latop is kida old about the second thing well idk didn't ask

[c3p0]

Maybe that clumsy guy dropped it while turned on. Could cause some invisible damage. 

[NotCthulhu]

Yea the latop is kida old about the second thing well idk didn't ask

Well try the drive in a different computer.

[ohJey]

Check the SMART readings

[GrandBandit]

Depending on how old the computer is a lot of them have built in hardware diagnostics. You can toy around, or just google the specific model and find out real quick. Otherwise do you have your own (PC Doctor, etc) if you are doing these repairs often? Like @ohJey said, check the SMART readings because those are very indicative of a failing drive. It's possible he could have dropped it or shifted it too much, but we never blame the customer in the business unless it's blatantly obvious (speculation will give you no return business.) Cheers!

[brokencross]

1. is it an older drive?

2. did he move the laptop around a lot while the drive was reading or writing?

Moving the laptop doesn't harm it. Most laptops lock down the hdd when it senses sudden movements.

[JoshuaMo]

The problem is this.I had a laptop in custody and i did the routine cleaning,windows,repairing....etc and one i was done it was working fine.I prove to the customer that the laptop is fine gave it to him and for 2 days it was fine he used it without any problems.Now he is telling me that is not working so i go and inspect it.The hdd is making some kind of noise and the error is this "A disk read error occurred".How can the hdd be dead when i myself installed the windows and all the shit?He even used it without any problems an the next day it was dead at fist he told me that it will stop working after 20-30 mins or display a white screen.

I will replace the man's Hdd if that is the problem

I would say he did something to break the HDD like, dropped it or shook the computer around. Or it could have legitimately spontaneously just stopped working...

[nanowatt]

Depending on how old the computer is a lot of them have built in hardware diagnostics. You can toy around, or just google the specific model and find out real quick. Otherwise do you have your own (PC Doctor, etc) if you are doing these repairs often? Like @ohJey said, check the SMART readings because those are very indicative of a failing drive. It's possible he could have dropped it or shifted it too much, but we never blame the customer in the business unless it's blatantly obvious (speculation will give you no return business.) Cheers!

It's still sad because i gave him the latop in good conditions....is not about the money just the fact