Introduction
Having a hard disk problem in Windows 10 can be a frustrating experience. It can cause your computer to run slowly, freeze up, or even crash. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to fix hard disk problems in Windows 10. This guide will provide you with the information you need to diagnose and repair your hard disk issues. We will cover topics such as disk errors, disk fragmentation, disk optimization, and disk repair. With the help of this guide, you should be able to get your computer running smoothly again in no time.
Fix Hard Disk Problems in Windows 10
1. Run the Check Disk Utility:
The Check Disk utility, also known as chkdsk (chkdsk.exe) is a tool used to check the integrity of the files and file system on your hard disk. To run the Check Disk utility on your Windows 10 computer, do the following:
a. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive you want to check.
b. Select Properties from the context menu.
c. On the Properties window, switch to the Tools tab.
d. Under Error checking, click the Check button.
e. If you want to repair any errors found during the scan, select the Automatically fix file system errors check box.
f. Click Start.
2. Run the System File Checker:
The System File Checker (SFC) is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files. To run the System File Checker on your Windows 10 computer, do the following:
a. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
b. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
c. The scan will take some time to complete.
3. Run the Disk Cleanup Utility:
The Disk Cleanup utility is a built-in tool in Windows that allows you to delete temporary files and other unnecessary files to free up disk space. To run the Disk Cleanup utility on your Windows 10 computer, do the following:
a. Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive you want to clean up.
b. Select Properties from the context menu.
c. On the Properties window, switch to the General tab.
d. Under Disk Cleanup, click the Clean up system files button.
e. Select the files you want to delete and click OK.
f. Click Delete Files to confirm.
System Image Recovery is a useful tool to save a system that has crashed or is in between crashing. System Image Recovery takes a complete backup of the entire computer data from the hard drives. The system image recovery backup data includes system settings, operating system, programs, and other files on the drive. With the help of the Windows System Image Recovery utility, you can easily recover your Windows and hard drive data. However, the Windows Image Recovery utility sometimes fails due to certain hard disk problems. When the recovery utility fails to recover backed-up data, you may receive an error like being unable to recover your PC system drive is too small. Continue reading to resolve the same.
How to Fix Hard Disk Problems in Windows 10
There can be various reasons for this issue; most of these are related to hard disk problems. Some reasons for this error to occur are the following:
- The target disk may have insufficient size.
- You may be restoring the data to an external disk without first removing the source disk.
- Already existing system image issue.
Let us now look into possible solutions for such unable to recover your Windows PC system drive is too small issue that may cause this error on your computer.
Method 1: Verify Target Drive Size
This error will come up because your target disk must have more capacity than your source disk. Therefore, it is obvious to check the size of your target disk. Follow these simple steps:
1. Press Windows + E keys simultaneously to launch the File Explorer.
2. Right-click on the hard drive (target disk) where you want to restore the system image and select Properties.
3. Under the General tab, you can see the disk’s size and capacity.
Note: If you find the size and capacity of the target disk are greater or equal to the size and capacity of the source disk, the restoring should work fine. If the size and capacity of the target disk are less than the source disk, you may want to free up the space in the target disk.
Also Read: Fix Steam Corrupt Disk Error on Windows 10
Method 2: Recreate System Image
A possible reason you are still getting the same error again is not because of hard disk problems but rather because of pre-existing issues with the system itself. You can try to recreate the system settings to resolve this issue.
Option I: Repair System Files
Read our guide on How to Repair System Files on Windows 10, and follow the steps as instructed to repair all the corrupt files on your computer.
Wait for the commands to be executed and check if the issue has been resolved.
Option II: Use Backup and Restore Utility
1. Press the Windows key and type Control Panel. Select it and press Enter to launch it.
2. Set View by as Category. Click on Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
3. Click on Create a system image on the left side menu.
4. Select the drive and follow the on-screen instructions to create the system image.
Also Read: Fix: New Hard Drive not showing up in Disk Management
Method 3: Change Attribute for System Image File
When you create a system image file, the values of the minimum size required for the target file are automatically saved in a file. This file is titled $PBR_ResetConfig.xml. The values saved in this file are in MB or megabytes. Thus, even if the size of a target file is greater or equal to the size of the source file, you may still get an error because the minimum required size is greater. To resolve this hard disk problems, you can follow the following steps.
1. Open the System Image file.
2. Click on Sources.
3. Open the $PBR_ResetConfig.xml file with Notepad.
4. Locate the <MinSize> attribute and change the numbers.
Method 4: Remove the Source Disk if Storing to an External Disk
When you use an external disk to restore the system image file, the system assigns this external disk the same ID as the source disk. Sometimes, when both disks are operating in the system, it may cause a conflict and ultimately cause the restoration to fail. Thus, removing the source disk before the repair might help you avoid this unable to recover your PC system drive is too small error.
Method 5: Format/Delete Volumes and Format Target Disks
Try formatting the disk volume when you use an already used disk with partitions to restore the system file and get the same error. Formatting partitions and disks may help you get through this problem. You can follow these simple steps to format the drive:
1. Connect the used disk (target disk) to the system.
2. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type diskmgmt.msc to open the Disk Management window.
4. Right-click on the used volume of the target disk.
5. Click on Delete Volume…
6. Once the volume is deleted, right-click on the target disk again.
7. Select Format…
Also Read: 10 Ways to Free Up Hard Disk Space On Windows 10
Method 6: Create Windows Installation Media
Microsoft has an in-built tool called the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive (or download an ISO file and burn it onto a DVD) of any Windows OS version. The tool lets you upgrade or downgrade the Windows version. Read our guide on How to Create Windows 10 Installation Media with Media Creation Tool to implement the same.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is a system image file?
Ans. A system image is a backup file of your hard drive’s data. You can recover your data from the system image file when your system fails. You can create a system image file by going to the Backup and Restore option in Control Panel.
Q2. Why can’t I recover my PC?
Ans. There could be multiple reasons you cannot recover your PC, and a very common reason for not being able to recover a PC is hard drives, incorrect backup files, and inadequate drive size.
Q3. What is meant by system drive being too small?
Ans. When you try to restore your data and get an error saying the system drive is too small, it means that the capacity of the target drive is less than the capacity of the source drive.
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We hope this guide was helpful and that you were able to fix hard disk problems on your system. Comment down and let us know which method worked for you. Also, if you have questions, queries, or suggestions, feel free to share them with us. Also, let us know what you want to learn next.
Fix Hard Disk Problems in Windows 10
Having hard disk problems in Windows 10 can be a real pain. Whether you’re dealing with a slow hard drive, corrupted files, or a disk that won’t boot, it’s important to know how to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Here are some tips to help you get your hard disk back up and running.
Check for Disk Errors
The first step in troubleshooting hard disk problems is to check for disk errors. To do this, open the Start menu and type “cmd” into the search box. Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select “Run as administrator.” In the Command Prompt window, type “chkdsk /f” and press Enter. This will scan your hard drive for errors and attempt to fix them.
Run a Disk Cleanup
Another way to fix hard disk problems in Windows 10 is to run a disk cleanup. This will remove temporary files, empty the Recycle Bin, and delete other unnecessary files. To do this, open the Start menu and type “disk cleanup” into the search box. Select the Disk Cleanup app and follow the on-screen instructions.
Check for Malware
Malware can cause a variety of hard disk problems, including slow performance and corrupted files. To check for malware, open the Start menu and type “Windows Defender” into the search box. Select the Windows Defender Security Center app and follow the on-screen instructions to scan your computer for malware.
Check for Hard Disk Errors in Event Viewer
The Event Viewer is a tool that can help you diagnose hard disk problems. To open the Event Viewer, open the Start menu and type “event viewer” into the search box. Select the Event Viewer app and look for any errors related to your hard disk. If you find any, you can try to troubleshoot the issue by researching the error code.
Check for Hard Disk Drivers
If your hard disk isn’t working properly, it could be due to a missing or outdated driver. To check for hard disk drivers, open the Start menu and type “device manager” into the search box. Select the Device Manager app and look for any entries related to your hard disk. If you find any, you can try to update the driver by right-clicking on the entry and selecting “Update driver.”
Conclusion
Fixing hard disk problems in Windows 10 can be a challenge, but with the right tools and knowledge, it’s possible to get your hard disk back up and running. Be sure to check for disk errors, run a disk cleanup, check for malware, check for hard disk errors in Event Viewer, and check for hard disk drivers. With these tips, you should be able to get your hard disk back up and running in no time.
