Hard Disk Failure Is Imminent
When your computer detects imminent hard disk failure, you might receive one of the following error messages:
- Hard disk failure is imminent. Please backup your hard disk and have it replaced.
- Please back up your data and replace your hard disk drive. A failure may be imminent and cause unpredictable fail.
These error messages indicate your hard disk will be dead soon and you are likely to lose the files and programs on it. Hardware failure might be triggered by many factors, such as physical damage, bad sectors, file system errors, and so on. In this post, we will illustrate how to fix Hard disk failure is imminent step by step for you.
How to Fix Hard Disk Failure Is Imminent?
Move 1: Back up Your Data on the Problematic Disk
To prevent data loss caused by hard disk failure, you can do as the error message suggests – back up your data first. To keep your data safe, MiniTool ShadowMaker is a good choice for you.
This free PC backup software is designed to provide data protection and disaster recovery solutions for Windows users. It supports file backup, system backup, partition backup, and disk backup. Here’s how to create a backup with this tool:
Step 1. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and go to the Backup page.
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Step 2. To back up the whole disk, you need to click on SOURCE > Disk and Partitions > tick the problematic disk. To back up only important files, go to SOURCE > Folders and Files > check the files you want to protect.
Step 3. As for a destination path, click on DESTINATION to choose an external hard drive or a USB flash drive.
Step 4. Click on Back Up Now to start the backup at once.
Move 2: Run CHKDSK
To check the status of your hard drive, you can utilize an inbuilt Windows utility called DISK Check. This tool can scan and fix hard drive errors, bad sectors, file system errors, and more. Here’s how to fix hard disk failure is imminent in Dell/HP/ASUS/Lenovo:
Step 1. Open File Explorer and go to This PC to find the disk with the Hard disk failure is imminent error message.
Step 2. Right-click on it to choose Properties > go to the Tools tab > hit Check > hit Scan and repair drive to start the process.
Move 3: Replace the Hard Drive
Most of the time, the problematic hard drive cannot be repaired as expected, so you have to replace it. Even if the bad sectors on the hard drive are repaired, it is not recommended to store important data on it. To replace the hard drive on your computer, you can refer to the guide below:
- How to Upgrade to Larger Hard Drive Without Data Loss?
- How to Replace Laptop Hard Drive and Reinstall Operating System?
- A Guide on Replacing the Hard Drive in Dell Computers
Final Words
This post sheds light on how to fix imminent hard disk failure and how to back up your data with MiniTool ShadowMaker. Once your hard disk is dead, you can replace the hard drive and recover the data on it. Hope you can benefit from it!