My Computer Keeps Crashing

Scot on 08/07/2021 - 20:06
Last edited 08/07/2021 - 20:25 by 1 other user

Hey people, close to retirement age so not an expert! Please be kind! This morning my computer started crashing!

Kept rebooting and can watch Netflix but anything else, emails, Facebook crashes again! Hard disc sentinel says hard disc is PERFECT but when I move down the page WDCWD10EADX says temp 41C health 6%. Is my computer or my external hard disc dying? When I try to back up files it gets to 12% then doesn’t do any further!

Any suggestions about where I go from here very welcome! I have rung the hubby and he is going to bring another computer home but I am worried about all my photos, files etc. I do have some screenshots but not sure how to upload!

Cheers everyone.

Computing Computer Desktop Computer

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  • Riczter on 08/07/2021 - 20:53

    If it is vital you dont lose all your photos and files then stop using the device immediately, and take it to a data recovery expert.

    If you are happy to gamble then just plug in a thumbdrive or external hard drive and copy the specific files and folders full of photos that you want to back up, do it in chunks not all at once. It sounds like the hard drive is failing so trying to do a full system backup is unlikely to be successful.

    And let this be a lesson to you in future to ALWAYS have important files backed up, as hard drives are notoriously unreliable.

    • 4
  • Master Bates on 08/07/2021 - 20:39

    A video of the problem would be helpful. If you can prop a camera on a steady platform and film the computer as it switches on, crashes and reboots without any commentary or external noises. Then film another video with the camera as close to the HDD as possible so we can hear the sound it is making, we might be able to offer some advice.

    If the HDD is on its way out, then there are options to recover your data, some are very costly though.

    • 3
  • Cluster on 08/07/2021 - 21:02

    Stop using the computer immediately and retrieve as much data as possible from the hard drive. It's likely the drive has developed a slew of bad sectors and is busy trying to remap them, without success.

    Take the computer to a repairer if you're unsure what to do.

    Also, do try to keep backups of precious data in the future. Hard drives and SSDs can fail at any time without warning, taking all your files with them.

    • 3
  • Scot on 09/07/2021 - 17:40

    Thanks everyone, well so far so good. Reinstallation was completed and everything is working well. I have done a backup to an external hard drive. I have learnt a lot from you all and suggestions were great. I love the ozbargain community. Cheers!

    • 2
  • garetz on 08/07/2021 - 21:21

    Ive never seen a disk get that low % in health before. Looking at the model it seems like the disk could be a good 10 years old. The longer you use a disk, its failure becomes more likely exponentially.

    in terms of comparison, if a disk got to 90% or less its time to replace it.

    btw, green disks are notorious for very high failure rates.

    • 1
  • c64 on 08/07/2021 - 21:43

    have you tried turning it off and on again?

    • 1
    • iDroid on 08/07/2021 - 21:54

      I see we've got the attention of the Help Desk!

      • 1
  • pharkurnell on 08/07/2021 - 21:45

    You say external drive..

    Start by unplugging that and see what happens

    • 1
  • mickyb80 on 08/07/2021 - 21:52

    Never too old to learn something new about PC's.

    The WDC drive is installed inside the PC right? And when you say 'external' this is the drive you are using as the target to try and backup to?

    1. as others have said, stop using it if you are worried about the data.
    2. take it to a tech centre. Keep in mind, if they are not aware of how to perform proper data recovery they may kill the drive if it is stuffed.

    Depending on what else is going on, it could be caused by many things. You are going to need to be careful if the HDD is shagged and you keep trying to copy your data.

    Random rebooting could be from any number of faulty hardware devices, could be from a recently failed update that's caused some corruption within a system file or the likes when it is being accessed, or virus(s).

    I'd consider installing a second HDD (new primary) with your OS. Then try to extract what you can from there if you don't want to spend the data recovery charges.

    It's a Western Digital Red/NAS drive. Not typically used in a desktop PC. But should still work fine.
    The correct software (offered by WDC) to test the drive is Data LifeGuard Diagnostics.

    Can download from the WDC website: https://support-en.wd.com/app/products/product-detail/p/288#…

    Remember, the recommendation is that you take it to a tech. If you want to try and test it, then i'd use the above software first.
    If the results come back fine - the next step would be to check what has recently been updated (if anything).
    Next, you want to check with a gd anti-virus scanner. In a case like this, I'd give the ESET online scanner (free) a run through the system.

    See how you go and keep us updated!

    • 1
  • aoeueoa on 09/07/2021 - 03:08

    most simple way is to use a usb drive to transfer the photos.

    OP is not tech savvy let's stick with something simple that they would know. Everyone suggesting things which require the purchase/installation/setup of new products………

    • 1
  • ode1online on 08/07/2021 - 21:22

    A patch was released last night for WIndows10 and server 2012 and 2016

    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/microsoft-pus…

    Possibly related, had 2 pcs at work give us grief all morning but eventually after a few reboots they settled

    Might be related, but if it is a HDD

    its a great Idea to start copying your important data

    • 0
    • pharkurnell on 08/07/2021 - 21:44

      mate has had constant crashes all day after last nights update..

      • 1
  • Scot on 08/07/2021 - 23:09

    Thanks to all! I am in the process of reinstalling windows after doing a system restore ( as advised by a private message helper) but keeping files and photos. It is taking a while but I am up to Windows installation 19% so keeping my fingers crossed, It could be a long night!
    I did try to back up but it got stuck on 12% so am trying this now.
    If Hubby brings computer home tomorrow what is the best way to transfer files and photos?

    • 0
  • jv on 08/07/2021 - 23:35

    Time for Spinrite.

    • 0
  • Scot on 08/07/2021 - 23:36

    Thanks Yummy I will try this is reinstalling spent work

    • 0
  • mickyb80 on 08/07/2021 - 23:44

    Scot, it sounds like you are performing a recovery on the same drive?
    (sorry the WD drive you have is a Blue not Red series - not that it makes any real difference).

    I'd be very cautious of performing the recovery yet, but as its underway, fingers crossed it works.

    If you have filed and sorted your photos and doc's etc on the drive, then it sounds as if you want to transfer the files to another external drive.
    The easiest way to move those specific files will be via a copy. This will ensure (assuming the internal drive is not stuffed), that you retain a copy on both drives.
    Just hit up your local officeworks and grab one of these $50-$60:
    Officeworks 1Tb External

    All this is assuming the recovery is successful.

    If so, then please run ESET online AV scan, and run the WDC test app in the link I posted earlier.

    Good luck!

    • 0
  • Godric on 09/07/2021 - 07:43

    Did you click the freemoney pop-up?

    • 0
    • [Deactivated] on 09/07/2021 - 09:43

      Always, it just has to be true once.

      • 0
  • ShannonN on 09/07/2021 - 23:38

    while the reinstall was ok have you checked if the drive was near full? Windows uses the default drive as a cache (smartdrive) and if drive doesn't have a fair bit of free space it can cause probs, use cc cleaner to keep temp files down as they can fill a drive, not to mention emails dont keep all your mail delete what you dont need

    • 0
    • Master Bates on 08/07/2021 - 20:16

      That's not the spirit AndyC1, why you so mean?

      • 3
      • fantombloo on 08/07/2021 - 20:32

        My Computer Keeps Crashing

        Is your insurance comprehensive or 3rd party only? If not comprehensive you deserve everything you get.
        -OzBargain

        • -1
    • Yummy on 08/07/2021 - 20:32

      Whats the C stand for?

      • 1
      • SF3 on 08/07/2021 - 20:35

        Cranky

        • 2
        • Yummy on 08/07/2021 - 21:57

          It could be a bird, or a feline.

          • 0
      • KSMLJ on 08/07/2021 - 23:33

        Jim Jefferies's favourite C-word.

        • 0
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