Disk boot failure with a funny noise from my HDD on every startup!

markymau5

Reputable
Apr 6, 2014
17
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4,510
Hey everyone!

Second post here. Right now I'm preparing to switch to a new $800 rig. My current PC is a miserable piece of crap. But it has all my games, movies and music. So I value it. At least the HDD.

My SATA3 runs at 7200RPM, it's a Barracuda 500GB. And as of last weekend, it's gone crazy.

Whenever I boot up, it makes this whirring noise then a sort of Daft-Punk-like KRRRRR from Contact, then whirrs again and goes KRRRR. It doesn't stop.

So after the BIOS greet, it goes black and says:

DISK BOOT FAILURE. INSERT DISK AND PRESS ENTER.

All cables plugged in right, and it does work once every 20 bootups, but Windows 8 (Dev Preview) freezes at loading screen and Windows 7 (Ultimate) works super slow. Like Pentium 4 and 256MB DDR2 slow if it works at all.

What do I do?!!

I want all my saves and games, my movies and music- I can't just start fresh!

Help will be appreciated!
 
Solution
There is no guarantee that all the files will be retrievable. I have recently used Testdisk to retrieve files after a format. When the HDD is physically failing, there will be sectors that can no longer be accessed, regardless of what program you use. In this case, professional data recovery companies (that actually dismantle the HDD and replace failing parts) can help. They do cost a pretty penny, though, but they clone your HDD to a new one platter by platter.

You can use a dock to mount the HDD externally, same warning applies: only do that when you're ready to give it a try to recover the files, not keep it mounted/connected with the HDD powered up all the time.
Remove the HDD from the system and give it a rest, the more you'll try to access it the more damaged it will get.
Purchase a new HDD and reinstall OS.
Purchase an external HDD dock or enclosure and insert the old HDD in it. Try to access the old HDD on your PC (or another system) and retrieve the files.
 

markymau5

Reputable
Apr 6, 2014
17
0
4,510


Thank you.

Do I really have to unplug it? Or can I just not switch on the PC or even supply power to it?

Thank you for the solution. Just a couple more queries, you're saying I should make this into a temporary external HDD with a dock and plug it in? Won't it just whirr again in the dock? And can I recover everything? (Provided it doesn't go crazy?) Even my game installs?
 
There is no guarantee that all the files will be retrievable. I have recently used Testdisk to retrieve files after a format. When the HDD is physically failing, there will be sectors that can no longer be accessed, regardless of what program you use. In this case, professional data recovery companies (that actually dismantle the HDD and replace failing parts) can help. They do cost a pretty penny, though, but they clone your HDD to a new one platter by platter.

You can use a dock to mount the HDD externally, same warning applies: only do that when you're ready to give it a try to recover the files, not keep it mounted/connected with the HDD powered up all the time.
 
Solution