After investigating this particular issue, it turns out that the Hard Disk 1 Quick (303) error is always associated with a failing hard drive, which doesn’t necessarily mean you need to order a replacement. There are some things you can do to extend the life of your HDD / SSD and stop this error from occurring for a while. Here’s a shortlist of methods that other affected users have successfully used to temporarily fix the Hard Disk 1 Quick (303) error:
Method 1: Running CHKDSK
If you’re starting to encounter this issue intermittently or during every attempted startup, the first thing you should do is perform a CHKDSK (Check Disk Scan) operation. This utility is a built-in tool that’s capable of identifying bad sectors and other block-related inconsistencies that can be the root cause of the Hard Disk 1 Quick (303) error. It works by utilizing non-used sectors to replace those that are currently malfunctioning. Of course, if you have a lot of bad sectors that are currently failing on your HDD, this utility might not be able to fix the problem. But it’s still worth the show. However, since you’re most likely not able to complete the startup procedure, you will need to run this utility a little bit differently – By opening an elevated Command Prompt from the Recovery Options menu on your Windows computer. To make matters easier for you, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the entire process. Here’s what you need to do: In case you are still unable to boot your computer due to this error, move down to the next potential fix below.
Method 2: Running a TestDisk Scan (If Applicable)
Assuming that you already tried to do a CHKDSK scan using the method above and you’re still encountering this problem, the evidence is certainly pointing to a failing drive. But before you go ahead and take a radical action that will inevitably hurt your wallet, you should still assume that you are dealing with some reparable bad sectors with consequent data loss on your HDD. With this in mind, you should continue the troubleshooting by using the TestDisk utility to find and retrieve si corrupted system files currently located on bad blocks of memory storage. And to make matters easier for you, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will walk you through the process of running a TestDisk Scan on a computer that is booting irregularly or only booting in safe mode. IMPORTANT: If your computer is not booting at all, this method will not work in your case. If you find yourself in this scenario, move down to the next method below. If the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next method below.
Method 3: Getting a Replacement HDD / SSD
If none of the potential fixes above have worked in your case, it’s clear that you are dealing with a failing drive. And given that it’s a hardware issue, there is no method that will save you from having to replace the bad HDD / SSD. In case your computer is still under warranty, the path is clear. Send your computer in for repairs and they will replace the drive automatically. Note: If you still have doubts about the hardware failure, here are a few other methods you can follow to confirm a HDD failure. But on the other hand, if your warranty is expired or voided, the only choice is to order a replacement. You can either order a replacement online if you’re tech-savvy, or you can take your PC to a certified technician.
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