Episode 71: Drive Failures — Boot Errors, Data Loss, S.M.A.R.T

Drive-related issues are among the most frequent problems encountered in IT support, and this episode helps you identify, diagnose, and resolve them. We begin by explaining boot-related errors, such as “no boot device found” or “inaccessible boot volume,” and explore how BIOS misconfigurations, corrupted boot sectors, or failed drives contribute to these problems. We also dive into system lockups and file access errors, both common signs of failing drives.

We then examine SMART technology—Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology—and how to interpret common attributes such as reallocated sectors, spin-up time, and read error rates. The episode concludes with recovery best practices and tips for preparing users for possible data loss. These topics are especially important for the A Plus exam, where troubleshooting storage issues frequently appears in multiple-choice and scenario-based formats. Brought to you by BareMetalCyber.com.