How to Fix Hard Drive Crash in Windows 10 [Full Guide]

What causes a hard drive to crash?

A hard drive crash can be a nightmare, especially if it holds important files or memories. Understanding what causes a hard drive to crash can help you take steps to prevent it. Here are the most common reasons behind hard drive failure:

1. Physical damage

Dropping your laptop or external drive, power surges, or even liquid spills can damage internal components like the read/write heads or platters. Once physical damage occurs, the drive may make clicking or grinding noises and become unreadable.

2. Overheating

Hard drives generate heat, and if your system doesn’t have proper ventilation or cooling, overheating can warp internal components. Continuous high temperatures reduce the drive’s lifespan and can lead to sudden failure.

3. File system corruption

Improper system shutdowns, software crashes, or bad sectors can corrupt the file system, making the drive appear “dead” or unreadable, even though the hardware itself is fine.

4. Bad sectors

A bad sector is a section of the drive that no longer stores data reliably. As more sectors fail, the drive becomes less usable until it eventually crashes.

5. Human error

Accidentally deleting system files, reformatting the drive, or mishandling hardware during upgrades can lead to data loss or drive failure.

How to fix hard drive crash in Windows 10

The sections below explore effective strategies to prevent hard drive failures and outline practical solutions for dealing with frequent system crashes caused by hard drive issues.

Way 1. Fix hard drive crash in Windows 10 via AOMEI Partition Assistant

AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a reliable solution for tackling hard drive failure problems. Among its standout features is the one-click file system error check, designed to identify and repair issues quickly. The software supports nearly every version of Windows and features an intuitive interface that’s ideal for beginners.

Download the tool and follow the steps below to repair hard drive failure on Windows 10 using AOMEI Partition Assistant:

Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the partition you want to check and select “Advanced” > “Check Partition”.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, select the way of checking errors to perform. There are three choices, and here we choose the first one “Check partition and fix errors in this …”. Then, click “OK” to continue.

Step 3. After that, you will see the window below. After the progress is completed, click “OK”.

Way 2. Fix crashed hard drive in Windows 10 via File Explorer

For those who prefer sticking with built-in Windows tools, File Explorer offers a simple way to address hard drive issues. Here’s how to use it to troubleshoot and repair potential failures:

Step 1. Press Windows + E to launch File Explorer.

Step 2. Go to This PC and find the drive that's causing trouble.

Step 3. Right-click on the problematic drive and choose Properties.

Step 4. In the Properties window, switch to the Tools tab. (In this example, the C: drive is used.)

Step 5. Under the Error checking section, click Check.

Windows will begin scanning the drive for errors and automatically attempt to fix any issues it detects.

Way 3. Fix Windows 10 hard drive failure via CHKDSK commands

Another effective built-in tool for resolving hard drive failures is the chkdsk command. Follow these steps to run it and repair disk issues:

Step 1. Press the Windows key, search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2. Enter the following command:

chkdsk C: /f /r

Make sure to replace C with the correct drive letter for the affected disk.

Step 3. If the drive is currently in use, you'll receive a prompt asking for confirmation. Type Y and press Enter to schedule the scan on the next system restart.

Step 4. Hit Enter and allow the chkdsk utility to scan and automatically fix any detected errors.

How to recover data from crashed hard drive?

If you're still facing hard drive crashes and have already lost important data, AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery can help you retrieve it. In many cases, data may be deleted, formatted, or corrupted—even after the hard drive has been repaired. That’s where a reliable data recovery tool becomes essential. AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery offers a practical solution for recovering files from a crashed or inaccessible hard drive.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. It will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching for other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins, and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

In conclusion, following the steps outlined above can significantly improve the chances of fixing system issues, recovering lost data, and getting your computer back in working order.

For users dealing with hard drive failure on Windows 10, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable choice. With robust features like disk error checks, partition management, and data recovery, it offers a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for repairing damaged drives and maintaining system stability.