My HDD is failing. What now?

[Arashikage]

So Windows kept giving me the "Your hard drive is failing" bit, and I had to take careful measures.  Unfortunately, this is my 1TB, and I can't afford to replace it with a new one of anywhere close to the size.  I've tried reseeding the hard drive, and it's still having this issue, and now Skyrim won't load, which leads me to believe I'm missing some data.  I've read somewhere that a full format of my drive will sometimes fix the problem, and I hope so.  But I'd like to hear some input before I do that.

[Fedora]

Check your connections. Not just to your Hard Drive but also to your Mobo. Look at the power and data. If they are loose, bad things happen.

 

Then, back up as much stuff as possible since a full format will wipe your disk cleaner than a school of piranha going to to town onna cow. I've done some reading and it seems that a format will help cleanup bad sectors on the disk. I'd run chkdsk from the command line or click error-checking from the drive's Properties menu in the Tools tab just to be sure though, if ya don't mind about an hour of digital purgatory. Look at this article to see if that hard drive is on it's last legs as well, just in case.

 

Finally, god bless. Hope the drive is okay.

[DZComposer]

I've had success saving data with a program called spin rite. But, you can buy a new drive for cheaper: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339

The product is good, though. The site isn't much to look at, but it's legit. The guy that runs it is just old fashioned. He wrote it in assembly lol.

[Arashikage]

I haven't lost anything I can't get back yet, I don't think so at least.  I'm gonna format the drive if SeaTools fails to repair it and see if that works, until then though I have to sit around while this thing diagnoses and tries to repair bad sectors.  It's worth noting I backed up everything I can't get again so easily

[Clearwater]

Have you tried a complete System Recovery using your Windows Installation CD?

[Arashikage]

I don't think that will work seeing as how the drive doesn't even have Windows on it.  It's an extra hard drive I used exclusively for Steam.  I tried a full format of the disk but no go.  It's still saying it's bad.  That really sucks too, because I don't have the money for another 1TB.  It seems like I need to get a new one now.

[DZComposer]

That drive I listed is on sale, but you'd have to buy it today. Not sure how much off as it involved a promo code.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236339