How to check my HDD's status (if it's broken or not)?

[Myth[Alex]]

Hello there.

Sometimes, I hear a weird noise (I don't know how to explain it in English) when I:
> start Steam for the first time after I open the system
> load certain games
> exit Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
> Counter-Strike: Global Offensive crashes and I try to re-open it (also it takes a lot of time to re-open it.....)
> my anti-virus does its regular scan (not full one)
> other

And when I hear this noise and try to go on Windows Explorer, it's very laggy sometimes.


Additional info:
> I have around 75% of my HDD occupied
> my system is also on HDD (I have no SSD)
> I have this HDD since 2010
> When I have this lag & noise, I open task manager to see if there's a heavy process... But nothing is used... 99% idle

The question is: What's happening? I don't have hardware knowledge. Is there a program to check if my HDD is broken? Or to repair / fix it?

Also: Do I have to defragment it? Or not? I didn't defragmnent it since over 2 years.

Thank you in advance.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Turn off AV when gaming; or Pause it.

Open Command Prompt as an Admin user; Winkey+R > type CMD > click OK
type CHKDSK /F enter; to run Disk Checking Scan

To run more in-depth HDD tests; go to drive maker's website and download the Windows Diagnostic tool app that they provide.

[Myth[Alex]]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Turn off AV when gaming; or Pause it.

Open Command Prompt as an Admin user; Winkey+R > type CMD > click OK
type CHKDSK /F enter; to run Disk Checking Scan

To run more in-depth HDD tests; go to drive maker's website and download the Windows Diagnostic tool app that they provide.

I put my AV in gaming mode; no need to disable it.

Where do I type that text exactly? Right after this text: "C:\Users\Alexandru>" ? Or I have to type it on a new row?

I don't remember the HDD's producer :-\ Also, I don't know where I have the HDD's physical box to check its maker. Any other program?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes, Gaming Mode is fine; that is what it's there for. It basically pauses protection so as not to interfere with gaming. Or at the very least, enters a mode that will keep the AV from doing all sorts of scanning of files while u'r using that mode.


Doesn't matter what line the Command Prompt is actively on when u type that.
It is an OS command and thus it can be launched from any line; so on that line type
CHKDSK /F
then press enter. Please note that this can quite approx 15-60 mins to finish, depending on system/drive speed.


Just look in Windows; all the info is there.
System Information will tell u, if u lack 3rd party apps.
Click Start Menu, in the search box provided, start to type system; wait for results; then click on System Information. Then click Components > Storage > Disks. Then look on right hand side and u will see each physical disk by driver letter; each should say Model and that will provide the model name of your drive(s).

[Myth[Alex]]

Originally posted by Bad-Motha:

Yes, Gaming Mode is fine; that is what it's there for. It basically pauses protection so as not to interfere with gaming. Or at the very least, enters a mode that will keep the AV from doing all sorts of scanning of files while u'r using that mode.


Doesn't matter what line the Command Prompt is actively on when u type that.
It is an OS command and thus it can be launched from any line; so on that line type
CHKDSK /F
then press enter. Please note that this can quite approx 15-60 mins to finish, depending on system/drive speed.


Just look in Windows; all the info is there.
System Information will tell u, if u lack 3rd party apps.
Click Start Menu, in the search box provided, start to type system; wait for results; then click on System Information. Then click Components > Storage > Disks. Then look on right hand side and u will see each physical disk by driver letter; each should say Model and that will provide the model name of your drive(s).

I did the Disk Checking Scan (after I restarted the system), but I couldn't read everything from there because the text dissapeared and the system booted. What to do now? Is there any file saved on the PC?

The model is WDC WD15EARS-00Z5B1 ATA Device

[Bad 💀 Motha]

If u wish to read the report/results of the CHKDSK; u can find those here:
Start Menu > Search Box > type event; click on Event Viewer
Double-click on Windows Logs and look there.

As for further Diagnostics, go here:
http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=608&sid=3&lang=en
Download and Install Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows

Overall, WD Green drives are just not good for running OS/Games off of. It is more of a general storage type of drive, and lacks read/write performance, easily slowing down overall system when OS is installed to it.

For a better drive, I would suggest WD Blue or Black.
Or; SSD for OS + WD Blue or Black for Games.