4 Ways to Fix “Unknown Hard Error” in Windows

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Try Basic Fixes

Fix 1: Scan Your Drive for Errors

It’s a good idea to scan the system drive (where Windows is installed) for corrupted data or bad sectors to see if that fixes the error. To do that, you canuse the Check Disk utility on Windows.

Step 1:Right-click theStart icon> selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.

Step 2:In the console, paste the following command and pressEnter.

Wait for the command to scan and fix any issues with your drive. Then, check if the error still occurs.

Fix 2: Run SFC and DISM Scans

If the Check Disk tool fails to detect problems, scan your PC’s system filesusing the SFC (System File Checker)and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tools.

Step 1:Right-click theStart icon> selectTerminal (Admin)from the list.

Step 2:In the console, type the following command and pressEnter.

Step 3:Run the following commands one by one and pressEnterafter each to run the DISM scan:

Restart your PC after the scan is complete and see if you get the “Unknown Hard Error” at startup or while using your PC.

Fix 3: Try a Clean Boot

Another thing you can do is boot your PC in a clean boot state, where Windows will only run essential services and programs. This will allow you to determine whether the error occurs due to a malfunctioning third-party app or service.

Step 1:Press theWindows + Rkeyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box > typemsconfigin the Open field > pressEnter.

Step 2:Navigate to theServicestab > tick the box forHide all Microsoft servicesbox > click theDisable allbutton.

Step 3:Switch to theStartuptab > click onOpen Task Manager.

Step 4:Select a third-party app or program > click theDisablebutton. Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.

After completing the above steps, restart your PC and try using it again. If you don’t encounter the “Unknown Hard Error” during a clean boot, one of your third-party apps or programs may be causing the error. To fix it, remove any recently installed apps and programs one by one.

Fix 4: Perform a System Restore

The “Unknown Hard Error” may appear due to recent system changes. If you can’t identify the exact cause, performing a system restore will help. It will restore your PC to an earlier state where it worked fine.

Step 1:Click thesearch iconon the taskbar > typecreate a restore point> pressEnter.

Step 2:Go to theSystem Protectiontab > clickSystem Restore.

Step 3:SelectRecommended restore> clickNext.

Step 4:Review all the details one more time and clickFinish.

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Last updated on 26 July, 2024

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