Category: Hard Drive Troubleshooting

You might have come across a situation when your SD card says it’s still being used by the computer, although none of the programs is using it. You will get a message like this-

“This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device and then try again.”

What might have gone wrong due to which you are unable to safely eject the SD card from your Windows? Well! it happens due to several factors, like virus infection, memory card corruption, or problem in settings. No worries, if you are facing similar issues while ejecting the SD card from your Windows, then try out the following fixes.

Fix #1: Turn Off AutoPlay

1. Navigate to Control Panel
2. Then, select Hardware and Sound
3. In Hardware and Sound, select AutoPlay
4. Deselect Use AutoPlay for all media and devices check box
5. At last, click on Save to confirm changes

Now, try to eject your SD card using safe Removal option. In case, the same problem persists, then go for the second method.

Fix #2: End Programs using Task Manager

• Open Task Manager
• Select all the programs that are saved on your SD card
• And, click on End Task button

Once you end programs, safely eject your memory card. If it doesn’t solve the issue, try out the next method.

Fix #3: Disable Write Caching

• Go to Device Manager
• Select SD card from Disk Drives
• Next, select Policies tab
• Select Optimize for Quick Removal button under Write caching and safe removal
• And, click Ok.

If it is already selected, then, deselect and select it back. Once after selecting this option, try to eject your SD card. If not possible, then you need to repair it as it might be corrupted. Before going to fix it using any method, recover all data from damaged memory card using Hi5 Software Partition Recovery. Once you get back all data from the corrupted SD card, you can format it. Sometimes, you can’t be able to format the card. In such situation, give it to repair experts.

The situation may arise when your Windows terminates unexpectedly and displays “Windows has recovered from an unexpected shutdown” message on the screen. Due to which, you might get stuck in endless reboot loop.  In case, you have gone through this kind of issue on your Windows and searching for a solution, then you are at a right place.

Here I have explained some easy methods to fix Windows computer has recovered from an unexpected shutdown issue.

Case #1: If you are able to get home screen on Windows after error message

System Restore:

If you are able to boot into Windows even after encountering Windows Computer has recovered from an Unexpected shutdown issue. Then, use System Restore to resolve issues that are causing the error.

• Go to Start and navigate to System Protection wizard
• Select System Restore option and click on Next
• When you see a list of available restore points, press Show more restore points to see automatic restore points created
• Choose the most recent restore point and then click on Scan for affected programs
• System Restore displays list of programs and drivers, which you will lose if Windows is restored to the selected point and list of programs and drivers which might be restored after System Restore
• Select the restore point and proceed
• When Windows asks for confirmation, click Yes and hit the Finish button
• When System Restore informs before it begins, click Yes

You can also use Check Disk utility to solve issues which are responsible for Windows Computer has recovered from an Unexpected shutdown error. But, you may lose files during usage of chkdsk command. In case, you find any of your file missing after chkdsk run, then use suitable file recovery software to recover lost files after running chkdsk.

Case 2: If you are unable to boot into Windows due to error

System Recovery

Recover Data from your Windows using reliable data recovery software like Hi5 Software File Recovery. Once you get your data from Windows, boot into safe mode using bootable CD/DVD.

• When Install Windows screen appears, select the appropriate options for language, time, and keyboard, and then hit “Next”.
• Then, click on “Repair Your Computer” on the next screen
• Next, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair

After successful completion of Windows repair, restart your Windows. Now, you may be able to enter Windows without any error.

Boot loop or a restart loop is an annoying issue that often bothers for Windows users. There were many booting issues Windows 10 had faced earlier. There was an endless reboot loop after Windows 10 upgrade, slow booting problem after the Anniversary update, and more. And now it is stuck with restart loop issue after Creators update!

Even though the Windows 10 creators update has many new features, the update is also reported to cause issues like black screen, reboot loop, no WiFi available, etc. Under such cases, you may be able to boot into the log in screen successfully or get the Windows 10 keeping starting all the time, which is a quite frustrating situation.

So here are the reliable solutions to fix the issue of boot looping on Windows 10 after its Creators update.

No one likes to stay with a computer stuck in the endless reboot loop. So, let’s have a close look at how to fix the boot loop issue after the Windows 10 Creators Update. You can try these 3 methods to fix the issue.

Solution #1: Repair corrupted system files

If there are any corrupted Windows system files, problems like boot loop may occur. So you can use a handy tool built-in Windows, System File Checker (SFC) to find and fix the corrupted system files on your computer when the Windows 10 keeps restarting. Here’s how to run the SFC /scannow:

• Launch the Command Prompt(Admin) on the PC
• Type into SFC /scannow
• Press the Enter

Then Windows will take a scan. You need to wait until this process is finished. After that, you may see “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.” on the screen. Then you can restart the PC and enter the desktop of Windows 10 Creators Update.

Solution #2: Update drivers

Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers, USB 3.0 drivers, network drivers, etc. are known to cause issues in Windows update or installation. If you locate faulty hardware device drivers in the Device Manager, you can use some professional driver troubleshooters, like Driver Talent, to help to download the drivers for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update/Creators Update.

Here’s how to update the drivers and fix the reboot problem:

• Launch Driver Talent and click Scan to detect all the problematic drivers on the Windows 10 Creators Update computer
• Click Update to download and install the best-match Windows drivers
• Perform a restart to make all the driver changes take effects

Important: It is better to back up drivers before the driver update in case other system issues occur.

Solution #3: Roll back to the previous Windows 10 version

If you have updated to the Windows 10 Creators Update from the Windows 7/8.1, but unfortunately encounter the restart problem, you can go and roll back or downgrade this version to its predecessors.

Note: An intact Windows.old file (stored in C:\Windows.old) is the essential precondition for the rollback or downgrade.

• Use Windows shortcut keys Win + Ito launch the Settings
• Go to the Update & security menu
• Choose the Recovery tab
• Go to Advanced startup and click Restart now
• Click Troubleshoot
• Click the Windows Rollback or Go back to the previous build option

Then you can choose the version you prefer and follow the on-screen instructions to go back to an earlier or previous build. This can help to resolve the boot loop after the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Hope this post is helpful to fix the endless reboot problem on your computer.

“If you are facing some other issues like permanently deleted files on Windows 10, then don’t worry. Deleted files can be easily recovered and the problem can be fixed using reliable file recovery software. Hi5 Deleted File Recovery Application is the recommended one!”

There are many issues you may face while booting into Windows. Sometimes, these issues create a serious problem like restrict you from accessing your Windows. And, Error 0xc0000098: The Windows Boot Configuration Data file does not contain a valid OS entry, is one among them. It is due to damaged BCD file or due to modified hardware.

Solution to Fix Error Code 0xc0000098 on Windows 10: –

The error commonly occurs when computer RAM or hard drive gets damaged due to any reason. So, first ensure that hard drive and RAM both are working correctly. Next, try to repair your BCD file which is damaged due to any unpredictable reason.

Here are the Steps to Repair Corrupted BCD File- 

• Get bootable Windows 10 USB or DVD. If you don’t have one, then create it from working computer
• Connect it to Windows 10 computer which is having problem and restart your computer
• When Windows Setup screen appears, click on Next button
• In the next window, click on Repair your Computer button
• From the next interface, choose Troubleshoot option
• Next, select Advanced Options
• Under Advanced Options, click on Command Prompt
• In the command prompt window, type the following command one by one and hit enter after each command

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /rebuildbcd

Then, reboot your Windows 10. Now, it should start without any error. If still, it shows errors, then repair your computer.

Steps to Repair Windows 10 Showing 0xc0000098 Error:

Follow the steps 1 to 6 as mentioned in the procedure of repairing corrupted BCD file.

• Select Startup Repair, under Advanced Options
• Follow the instructions shown on the screen to complete the startup repair

It will take time to complete the task. After completion, restart your computer. In case, the problem is not solved by repairing Windows 10, then you need to perform the fresh installation of Windows 10. Before reinstalling Windows 10, recover all your data from Windows 10 hard drive using hard drive recovery software. After you successfully backup, reinstall Windows 10.

What if a hard drive could tell you it was going to fail before it actually did? Is that possible? When attempting to install OS X on your computer, sometimes the installer may claim that the hard drive has SMART errors and will not allow you to install to the selected drive. So, the SMART errors for Mac hard drives might mean the drive is about to fail!

A note on SMART Errors

Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (in short, SMART) is a feature within the hard disks that is meant to keep a tab on the health status of the drives, along with recommending a system with a method to detect an impending failure or other drive issues on which an immediate action should be taken.

Working of SMART on Mac

The attributes of SMART will be able to take care of so many metrics, like disk surface error rates, data throughput, hard drive spin times, write head stability, as well as rpm variations. The SMART monitors these metrics when the drive is operational and determine how often the metrics hit a warning threshold. When the drive receives a warning threshold repeatedly, then it is throw a warning to the system saying that SMART is detecting an error.

Generally, the SMART errors are the cause for an alarm and the usual suggestion under such instances is to replace the hard drive. But, it is not always necessary! Sometimes, SMART errors are not so harmful and the program will just detect the error and warns you. For example, a bundle of bad blocks is enough for causing SMART error, rise in drive’s temperature due to poor ventilation or other environmental conditions, etc. which are relatively less harmful.

Not only this, the SMART mechanism may also remind you about the false alarm or just a temporary situation.

When it comes to fixing the SMART errors, you can often do that by just formatting the hard drive, or changing the location of the system that will increase air flow, or just ignoring it. However, before deciding what fix you are going to try, it is important to consider how the drive is going to be utilized. If you rely on the drive as a main boot device or for one that will store important information, then you might wish to play it safe and replace the drive, but if not then you can investigate the SMART status a bit more to see if you can recognize the exact problem.

For doing so, first be sure to play it safe and back up the contents of the drive, and then get a robust and dedicated SMART tool such as SMART Utility that will tell you the exact error the drive is reporting and whether it is a critical error or one that is less important. You can also try basic drive-conditioning routines like repartitioning and formatting (writing to zeros to force the drive to substitute bad blocks) to see if this clears the SMART warning.

If you manage to clear the SMART error, then you might be able to get the OS X installer to recognize the drive as a valid installation destination and continue the install. However, do keep in mind that the error may still persist and only be temporarily averted, so even after testing the drive you might still consider replacing it with a new one and only using it as a spare storage space or as a diagnostics drive.

When you encounter SMART errors, it is indicating that the system is claiming the drive cannot be repaired and suggest you back it up as soon as possible and replace the disk. If you don’t have backup and you tend to lose important data, the you can use data recovery software called Hi5 Partition Recovery for Mac. This tool will help restoring lost data from Mac hard drives. You can recover data from Western digital hard drive, Iomega,  Buffalo, Seagate, Transcend, Toshiba, and all other popular branded hard drives.

Case Scenario:

You try to boot into your Boot Camp, and you notice that the Windows partition isn’t shown in the Startup Disk selector or the boot menu that appears when holding Option on boot.

What will you do under such cases?

Well, many forums say that disabling NTFS-3G completely (through the system preferences) or just for that partition (again through the system preferences) and then unmounting and re-mounting using Disk Utility” will troubleshoot the issue of Bootcamp doesn’t appear in Startup disk.

This may look like a rocket-science for a computer novice who don’t want to mess up with MacBook and end up regretting. They may worry about the loss of Windows partition due to unmounting and re-mounting.

If you are one among those, then don’t worry. Here we will show you how to resolve “Boot Camp is not detected in Startup Disk” issue with no risk of erasing your Boot Camp partition.

Here we go…

• Open System Preference > NTFS-3G. Authenticate with the lock icon on the lower left
• Select your Boot Camp partition in “Mounted NTFS-3g volumes” (it should already be selected if it is the only NTFS partition)
• Check the box for “Disable NTFS-3G for the volume“
• Exit System Preferences
• Now, drag your Boot Camp partition to the Trash/Wastebasket (i.e., unmount it)
• Then either reboot your system or open Disk utility which you can find in the utility folder in Applications and unmount your Bootcamp volume and then mount it again

Now when you check under “System Preferences > Startup Disk” you will see the Bootcamp partition again.

“If you find any files have been deleted or lost from Boot Camp partition, then no need to worry as there is a solution to recover. Make use of Hi5 Partition Recovery Software and recover deleted files from Boot Camp partition.”

There is one more way you can try to fix the above-said issue…

Boot into Windows partition (ensuring you are logging in as an Administrator) and perform the following operation:

• Go to Start menu
• In the search field search for “cmd.exe“
• When it appears in the search results, click on it to open
• The command.exe window will open
• Enter the command sfc/scannow (this will run the SFC utility to check and repairs system files when possible).
• If it found any errors, reboot to fix them
• After the windows reboot, then reboot into OS X

The above procedure will not give a true name to the Boot camp partition, but also make it list under Startup disk options by fixing the errors!