Bad clusters, Read failure, bad sectors

CHKDSK “Bad Clusters” and “Read failure” on C: drive: -

My computer is a Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1 with 8GB RAM. The HDD has 93GB used space and 204GB of free space remaining. After reading the details see question at end.

After failing to create an image of my C: drive using Macrium Reflect (MR) I decided to run a full 5 stage CHKDSK scan. Scan results showed: -

12 “Read failure” entries.
Windows replaced bad clusters in file 16384 of name \Windows\winsxs\AM5853~1.180\ntoskrnl.exe”.
Adding 6 bad clusters to the Bad Clusters File.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
24 KB in bad sectors.

I was then able to create an image of my C: drive using Macrium Reflect but I was intrigued so: -

Three days later another full 5 stage CHKDSK scan reported: -
1 “Read failure” entry.
24 KB in bad sectors.

Thirty days later I was again unable to create an image of my C: drive using Macrium Reflect so I ran another full 5 stage CHKDSK scan which reported: -
2 “Read failure” entries.
Windows replaced bad clusters in file 16384 of name \Windows\winsxs\AM5853~1.180\ntoskrnl.exe”.
Adding 1 bad clusters to the Bad Clusters File.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
24 KB in bad sectors.

I was then able to create an image of my C: drive using Macrium Reflect.

One day later another full 5 stage CHKDSK scan reported: -
2 “Read failure” entries.
Windows replaced bad clusters in file 16384 of name \Windows\winsxs\AM5853~1.180\ntoskrnl.exe”.
Adding 1 bad clusters to the Bad Clusters File.
Correcting errors in the Volume Bitmap.
Windows has made corrections to the file system.
24 KB in bad sectors.

Observation 1 – The file affected by bad clusters is always the same file.
Observation 2 – I have hidden folders and files showing but in Windows Explorer I cannot find a folder “\Windows\winsxs\AM5853~1”.
Observation 3 – “read failures”, “bad clusters” and “bad sectors” are common.
Observation 4 – I can only create an image if I repair the disk first using a full 5 stage CHKDSK scan.
Observation 5 – My PC operates fine otherwise apart from not shutting down sometimes. It was only trying to create an image that highlighted the issue.

Question – Is my hard drive C: beginning to fail?

"Question – Is my hard drive C: beginning to fail?"

ASAP, backup any personal data that you may not want to lose and check the drive's health with the manufacturer's diagnostic/repair utility. Use the repair option and check whether your drive gets repaired. If it says can't repair and the tests fail replace your HDD and then clean install Windows. ( Do not rely on the Macrium image. I can't say how good it will be.)