This wikiHow teaches you how to fix a disk error that occurs on a corrupt or damaged hard drive. You can do this on Mac and Windows computers. Keep in mind that you cannot repair a physically damaged hard drive using software. Take the hard drive to a professional data recovery service.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Connect the hard drive to the computer if necessary
If you want to repair an external hard disk or flash drive that is not working, plug the device into a USB port on your computer.
Skip this step if you want to repair the internal hard drive
Step 2. Click Start
Click the Windows logo in the lower left corner. You can also open Start by pressing Win.
Step 3. Run File Explorer
Click the folder-shaped icon on the left side of the Start window. A File Explorer window will open.
Step 4. Click This PC
This is a folder on the left side of the File Explorer window. The This PC window will open.
Step 5. Select the hard disk
Under the " Devices and drives " heading, click the hard drive that you want to repair.
Usually, the computer's internal hard disk will be labeled OS (C:).
Step 6. Click the Computer tab located in the top left corner
A toolbar will be displayed.
Step 7. Click Properties, which is the red tick icon on the left side of the toolbar
The Properties window will open.
Step 8. Click the Tools tab at the top of the window
Step 9. Click Check
This option is to the right of the " Error checking " section near the top of the Properties window.
Step 10. Click Scan drive when prompted
The computer will start scanning for bad sectors.
Step 11. Wait for the scan to complete
When the scan is complete, the results will be displayed in a pop-up window.
Step 12. Click Scan and repair drive when prompted
This option is at the bottom of the pop-up window. Windows will attempt to repair disk errors, which can take anything from reformatting the bad sector to moving the bad sector file to a new, non-corrupt sector.
Maybe you should click Scan and repair drives several times to resolve all errors (error).
Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Connect the hard drive to the computer if necessary
If you want to repair an external hard drive or removable disk that doesn't work, plug the device into a USB port on your computer.
- Skip this step if you want to repair the internal hard drive.
- You may need a USB 3 to USB-C adapter if your Mac computer doesn't have a USB port.
Step 2. Click Go
This menu item is at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
If there is no menu Go at the top of the screen, click the Finder app icon in the Mac's dock (or click on the desktop) for the menu to appear.
Step 3. Click Utilities
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Run Disk Utility
Double-click the Disk Utility icon, which is a gray hard disk with a stethoscope on it.
Step 5. Select the hard disk
In the upper-left corner of the window, click the hard drive that you want to repair.
Step 6. Click the First Aid tab
This is an image of the stethoscope at the top of the Disk Utility window.
Step 7. Click Run when prompted
Disk Utility will start scanning for (and repairing) bad sectors on the selected hard disk.
Step 8. Wait for the repair to complete
When Disk Utility has finished repairing the hard drive, a window will appear describing what was repaired.
If no repairs are made, it means that there are no bad sectors to repair on the hard disk
Step 9. Restart Disk Utility
For each fix (or set of fixes) listed, run Disk Utility again to scan for other problems. If Disk Utility doesn't report any more repairs after the scan is complete, your Mac's hard drive has been repaired.
