While investigating a slow desktop PC, you notice the internal 3.5-inch SATA drive produces a repetitive, grinding sound whenever large files are opened. The system still boots, but applications load very slowly. Which action should you perform first to minimize the risk of data loss for the user?
Schedule a disk defragmentation to reorganize fragmented data.
Run a full format to locate and isolate bad sectors.
Back up all critical files to external storage immediately.
Replace the power supply to eliminate voltage ripple.
Grinding or scraping noises from a mechanical hard drive usually indicate imminent mechanical failure, such as a failing spindle or read/write head. Because the drive may stop functioning at any moment, the top priority is to preserve the data that is still accessible. Creating a current backup to external media protects the user's information before additional troubleshooting, diagnostics, or hardware replacement is attempted. Formatting, defragmenting, or replacing other components does not address the immediate threat of losing unique data that has not yet been copied elsewhere.
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Why does a grinding sound in a hard drive indicate failure?
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What is the role of defragmentation, and why is it not suitable in this scenario?
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What are the key steps for creating a reliable data backup in this situation?