6mo ago

Desk read error occurred.

What's going on here? A week or so ago this showed up and haven't been able to turn on my laptop since. Some hardware issue?

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24 comments

If it a failing disk, and you dont have any backup, and its important data.
Have a look at a product callef SpinRite. It may bring the disk back from the dead long enough to get the data off
https://www.grc.com/sroverview.htm
Then 3 2 1 backup strategy for your future needs.
- Don't waste your money. If the data is really important, send the disk to a data recovery service to avoid risking further damage. If it's only somewhat important, use a (free!) tool like ddrescue to attempt to recover the data.
- SpinRite is only meant for traditional “spinning-rust” mechanical drives.
  SpinRite IS NOT meant for SSDs. The existence of TRIM makes SpinRite useless on any sort of solid state storage.
  And since almost all laptops sold within the last half a decade use SSDs almost exclusively, it is highly unlikely your advice will be useful.
  
  One of the interesting side effects of running it in an ssd is it can speed it up, it doesn't sound like it would be the case but it does.
  None the less its still a valid option to consider.
  
  running it in an ssd is it can speed it up
  Let me be absolutely clear: due to the finite write capabilities of solid-state technology, using SpinRite on an SSD is materially harmful to that SSD, and WILL shorten it’s operational lifespan by a non-trivial amount.
  This is why SSDs have wear-levelling technology: to limit the number of writes that any one data cell will receive. By using a program that conducts intensive read/write operations on sectors, you are wearing your SSD out at a much higher rate than normal, dramatically speeding up any failures in the future.
  
  You are absolutely correct, SSD's do have a finite amount of write capacity and SpinRite will lower that due to it's very nature, at least 6.1 will. However I think you are over estimating the amount of wear it will place on the drive.
  I understand the objection and it's a valid one. I have used it on my boot SSD to restore it's performance to great effect, do I recommend using it every year on a SSD no i don't.
  As this post is mostly about data recovery, I still believe it's a valid option and the performance increase is just a nice bit of bonus information.

24 comments