windows warning hard disk problem

[Frum Pilot]

Hi all
Yesterday and today I'm constantly getting warnings from windows, that it detected a problem and suggested to backup my hard drive.
I currecntly have 2 drives. the c:/ is where windows resides (60gb ssd drive).

The second one is an older (3 years old) from my old computer where my programs reside. It is this latter one D:/ (500gb seagate barracuda) where windows is telling me to backup.

I just installed another WD 500GB black (also about 3 years old) so I could backup the D: drive.

The computer is running fine. Is windows accurate in being able to find hard disk problems before they become an issue?
I'm afraid that if I take out the drive and send it back to seagate they might not find anything wrong with it.
Is there a way to test and fix it with software? if so what are your suggestions.
Thanks so much!
Jake

 

[whs]

1. follow the suggestion and backup everything that's on the disk

2. run a chkdsk /r in cmd

3. Then there are a lot of programs like this one that you can also run

 

[Frum Pilot]

Thanks for your reply.
I tried chkdsk /r but it wanted to "dismount the disk" I'm not sure what that meant so I ddin't try it. I did download the other software you mentioned, but it doesn't work with win7
Thanks anyway
Jake

 

[Golden]

On which drive are you trying chkdsk /R? Its normal to dismount a disk in order for chkdsk /R to run.

 

[Frum Pilot]

The D: drive . I don't know what that is or means.

 

[DeaconFrost]

You can't check a disk while the system is running from it (your C drive). So, it needs to be dismounted, which basically means to schedule the chkdsk to run after a reboot. It is safe to do, if you think C is bad. The messages should be telling you which drive, however, so if you plan to be checking D, then you shouldn't be prompted to dismount.

 

[x BlueRobot]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

I would use:

chkdsk D: /F /R in Command Prompt.