How to Repair Locked Up Hard Drives

A hard drive is a computer storage device that manages and organizes computer data from the actual CPU. The hard drive also stores all critical system data required for a computer to startup. Without a hard drive, a computer cannot function. Repairing a locked up hard drive that prevents a computer from functioning is an important aspect of computer maintenance and repair.

Instructions

1. Check that the computer hardware is plugged into a reliable power source. Turn on the computer.

2. Hold down the "F2" key on your keyboard if you're using the Microsoft Windows operating system. If using the Mac operating system, hold down "Option-Command-Shift-Delete" on your keyboard.

3. Use your keyboard's arrow keys to select "BIOS Setup Menu" in the screen that appears (Windows OS). If using a Mac, wait for the startup bypass process to finish and use your keyboard's arrow keys to select a primary startup volume.

4. Select "Hard Drive Priority" in your Windows BIOS system, or your main hard drive in the Mac operating system.

5. Check that your boot hard drive is listed on the top of the boot-up list (applicable in both PCs and Macs). In Windows, continue further by selecting the "Disable Hard Drive Auto-lock" option in the BIOS system screen.

6. Save and exit, allowing the operating system to boot-up. This will clear any system errors causing the wrong hard drive to lock up.

Tips & Warnings

• Backup your data continuously. Constant hard drive lock-ups could signal significant data corruption.