How to fix a crashed desktop pc hard drive?

[barnaymar]

A few years ago my desktop pc crashed so i got a new one. I recently found the computer in my garage and would liketo be able to use it again. Is there a way to wipe the hard drive clean and then use it again or would i need to buy a completely new hard drive? Whenever i boot up theconputer is gives anerror message.

[OfficialDAPT]

Did the hard drive fail? What do you mean by "crash"?

[koncide]

A few years ago my desktop pc crashed so i got a new one. I recently found the computer in my garage and would liketo be able to use it again. Is there a way to wipe the hard drive clean and then use it again or would i need to buy a completely new hard drive? Whenever i boot up theconputer is gives anerror message.

If the hard drive failed due to a mechanical fault, it's trash. If on the other hand, it failed cause of malware or an operating system fault, you should be able to get it wiped and re use it.

[Triphosphate]

A few years ago my desktop pc crashed so i got a new one. I recently found the computer in my garage and would liketo be able to use it again. Is there a way to wipe the hard drive clean and then use it again or would i need to buy a completely new hard drive? Whenever i boot up theconputer is gives anerror message.

If the hard drive failed due to a mechanical fault, it's trash. If on the other hand, it failed cause of malware or an operating system fault, you should be able to get it wiped and re use it.

Now hold on... A mechanically failed HDD isn't a paperweight just yet. You might not ever be able to boot your OS from it again, and thus you'll not be able to wipe and reuse it. But, if you boot your OS off a working drive there's a good chance you can salvage SOME of your data off of the dying one before you throw it away. Heck you might even be able to create a partition on it to use as extra space, just don't save anything irreplaceable in it for when it finally does kick the bucket.

[koncide]

A few years ago my desktop pc crashed so i got a new one. I recently found the computer in my garage and would liketo be able to use it again. Is there a way to wipe the hard drive clean and then use it again or would i need to buy a completely new hard drive? Whenever i boot up theconputer is gives anerror message.

If the hard drive failed due to a mechanical fault, it's trash. If on the other hand, it failed cause of malware or an operating system fault, you should be able to get it wiped and re use it.

Now hold on... A mechanically failed HDD isn't a paperweight just yet. You might not ever be able to boot your OS from it again, and thus you'll not be able to wipe and reuse it. But, if you boot your OS off a working drive there's a good chance you can salvage SOME of your data off of the dying one before you throw it away. Heck you might even be able to create a partition on it to use as extra space, just don't save anything irreplaceable in it for when it finally does kick the bucket.

You might be able to salvage data, but I think the OP implied using it again on a daily basis, which is not something I'd recommend.