Windows won't boot!

[Keyser Malik]

Hi, guys! My HDD won't bootup. It shows me "windows is loading files" then goes to windows repair even on safemode! that happend after I heard something like struggling heads sound inside the hdd for 2~3 seconds then windows was responding strangely and slow so I decided to force shutdown! (it was a stupid move)

Then I decided to use windows installation cd to use cmd and make chkdsk C: .. The checking gave me a lot of "file record segment is unreadable" (I always run chkdsk and I never face that message before) so I decided to stop the process.

I have checked my data via cmd using notepad files browsing method and all of my data are still there and all partitions are accessible! I bought a new HDD and I'm ready to clone it But I am afraid to try to clone it as that may cause more damage, right? I think I have to fix the old hdd first.

Now, the question is: What does "file record segment is unreadable" mean and what usually cause it? How can I fix that!! Is my data corrupted? Uh I'm so confused and troubled!
Another things to know

*I did S.M.A.R.T using cmd and it stated that status is OK!

*There's no any clicking sound when I power up that HDD.

 

Sorry for my English and please help me.

 

[Electronics Wizardy]

Restore your bacups?

 

Seems like a bad hdd or corrupted os.

 

[JakeNTech]

If you have access to another PC then take the drive out and see if that pc will recognise it windows file explore, then have a look at crystal disk info to see what the SMART status is telling you. If nothing in file explorer then it's corrupt and you will need to reinstall windows as its corrupt. The fact that it's still booting says that the drive works. Try another pc and see where you get from that.

[Keyser Malik]

7 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Restore your bacups?

 

Seems like a bad hdd or corrupted os.

 

 

6 minutes ago, fixitnow said:

If you have access to another PC then take the drive out and see if that pc will recognise it windows file explore, then have a look at crystal disk info to see what the SMART status is telling you. If nothing in file explorer then it's corrupt and you will need to reinstall windows as its corrupt. The fact that it's still booting says that the drive works. Try another pc and see where you get from that.

Thanks for your swift reply. Unfortunately I got no restore point! I'll install windows on my new HDD so I can check my old one. But let's assume that OS is corrupted, is there any way to fix it? I don't want to install a fresh copy as I don't want to lose my programs data and settings.

[Electronics Wizardy]

6 minutes ago, Keyser Malik said:

 

Thanks for your swift reply. Unfortunately I got no restore point! I'll install windows on my new HDD so I can check my old one. But let's assume that OS is corrupted, is there any way to fix it? I don't want to install a fresh copy as I don't want to lose my programs data and settings.

you restore your backups? thats why we have them right?

 

You can normally copy files off, but programs will be a pain, and you can get a image with ddrescue, but it might not work right if there are problems with the drive.

[JakeNTech]

Not really, its the same as getting a virus, too far gone. You could take it too a data recovery specialist but its not worth the cost unless the files on it are very very important. You might be able to use something off here(https://www.lifewire.com/free-data-recovery-software-tools-2622893) to recover your data but as far as windows goes it's hit and miss with free tools. For the best chance of recovery don't write anything to that drive, unplug it while you install anther copy of windows just incase, i would also recommend that the only drive you have plugged in is the installer and the target hdd/ssd anyway. In the future have a second drive that you do a drive clone to once a month that can be unplugged, so a sata drive that sits in your rig unplugged until you need it, if your main os drive dies plug in the clone and off you go, if you do that though make sure you are actually using a drive cloner not just copying the files as the doesn't help. I would also have another drive just for personal files so that if windows gets destroyed I still have all my files.

[bcguru9384]

i would replace the hdd drive motor as your disc is failing to reach minimum spin rate

then transfer data or continue using hdd

[JakeNTech]

6 minutes ago, bcguru9384 said:

i would replace the hdd drive motor as your disc is failing to reach minimum spin rate

then transfer data or continue using hdd

That would probably kill the drive…..

[Keyser Malik]

25 minutes ago, bcguru9384 said:

i would replace the hdd drive motor as your disc is failing to reach minimum spin rate

then transfer data or continue using hdd

I don't know why did you point out to the motor but i think it has something to do with my problem as there are two things I forgot to mention. My HDD is unusually quiet like it's spinning slowly and it sometimes restart itself as if it loses the power after I turn it on. Maybe its board is damaged?

[JakeNTech]

1 hour ago, Keyser Malik said:

I don't know why did you point out to the motor but i think it has something to do with my problem as there are two things I forgot to mention. My HDD is unusually quiet like it's spinning slowly and it sometimes restart itself as if it loses the power after I turn it on. Maybe its board is damaged?

It might be a power delivery issue from the pcb. It might also be the head is stuck in the disk which would make it slow down and corrupt.  It would also explain the noises you heard coming from the drive. You could open it up and have a look.  

[bcguru9384]

the bearings in motor about only thing in hdd to make grinding noise

if bearings has attained a flat spot it will not spin thus generating friction

friction means more amps needed to spin motor plus extra heat buildup

heat will weaken the permanent magnets on the motor which again means 

higher current(amps) to get drive to proper rpm

so if motor is failing then you could easily mistake as a power supply problem

 

get a good multimeter with 10 amp dc current read, 1 power extension cable (as you will be cutting the red and orange wires)

with those wires cut twist 1 color back together the other put blk multimeter lead on other color closest to psu with red lead going to wire closest to hdd

now power on pc and see what amps are drawn

repeat for each power wire and also for ground 

high amps means plenty of juice so not be supply problem

low amps bad capacitors or weak chokes or crapping out transformer

if voltages are high or low yucky voltage regulators

 

2 types bearings commonly used in these motors 

ball and cyclinder

neither likes flat spots