How to Fix Hard Drive Error Code 0146?

If you are a Dell laptop or computer user, you might have come across the initial startup diagnostic before the system boots. Among the many tests it conducts to check for errors, one text also includes looking for the operating system boot sequence in the hard drive. If everything goes well, the Dell system will boot normally. In case it does not, then errors are displayed with an error code for reference. One such common error many users face is Dell PC error code 0146, known for the failure of startup of the system due to operating system files unavailability.

If you are also trying to fix hard drive error code 0146 on your Dell system, read along the article to learn what is error code 0146, the reasons behind it, and effective solutions to fix it. We have also included the best data recovery method to recover your precious data from the hard drive.

Part 1: What Does Dell PC Error Code 0146 Means?

The hard drive error code 0146 occurs during boot and is specific to Dell laptops and desktops. It is a warning message that appears after the self-test during the booting process by the Dell device. It indicates that there is a problem with the hard disk that could lead to hard drive failure.

This issue may cause your Dell laptop or computer to freeze often, preventing system apps from operating or responding for extended periods. Error 0146 can also cause a system crash, resulting in abrupt shutdown and many kinds of Windows-related issues.

Part 2: Common Causes for the Hard Drive Error Code 0146

Following the previous discussion, we established that the error 0146 problem can happen while reading or writing files from hard drives. So, to apply the right solution to the problem, it is important to understand the reasons behind it.

Here are some of the most common reasons for Dell PC error code 0146:

1. Corrupt System Files: The operating system makes use of log files to improve its efficiency. However, they can get damaged due to unexpected problems in writing information, such as a sudden power outage, a hard disk failure, or virus interference. When a log file fails, it may be enough to cause faults throughout the operating system.
2. Bad Drive Sector: Bad sectors or fragments are a typical problem in hard drives (HDDs). While storing the information, it is split into sectors on the storage disk. So, no matter how minor the damage, it will corrupt the entire information and make it unreadable. Thus, during the booting process, if the files are not executed properly, it will lead to errors.
3. Virus or Malware: A virus or malware can corrupt or modify the data of an operating system. Although defenses against the operating system have improved, malware has gotten more advanced, resulting in many boot sequence errors, such as Dell diagnostics hard drive error code 0146.
4. Hard Drive Failing: For the most part, hard drives are flawless components, but for any reason, they fail or end up dead. It can result in many complications with the booting process.
5. Bad SATA/IDE Connection: Another common reason for Dell PC error code 0146 includes a loose or bad SATA/IDE cable connection. Since the booting process is unable to detect the hard drive, it flags error code 0146.
6. Physical Hard Drive Damage: Hard drives are sensitive items that can be physically damaged by a single hit, abrupt movement, or even component deterioration. Physical damage to the disk compromises the reliability of the stored data and can result in many kinds of problems, including error 0146.
7. Incorrect BIOS Setting: An incorrect BIOS setting may cause problems recognizing any hardware component, making it impossible to boot by properly locating the operating system inside the hard disk.

Bonus Video Tutorial: 6 Commom Hard Drive Problems and Solutions

Recent Videos from Recoverit

View More >

Part 3: Methods to Fix Hard Drive Error Code 0146 Problem

After knowing the reasons behind the error code 0146 on the Dell system, now you can easily apply the right solution methods to resolve the issue. The methods can be as simple as scanning for infected viruses or as technical as to boot in safe mode and clean boot files.

Follow are the best methods to fix hard drive error code 0146 on your Dell computer:

Method 1: Using Virus Scan

To fix hard drive error code 0146, you can run a full system scan, which will remove any virus or malware in the system. It will also help prevent any interference of malicious files during the booting process.

Here are the steps to follow to run a full system scan on your computer:

Step 1: Launch the “Settings” from the “Start” menu on your computer and select the “Update & Security” option.

Step 2: Next, click on the “Windows Security” option and select “Virus & threat protection” from the list.

Step 3: On the new window, click on the “Scan options” under the “Current threads” section.

Step 4: Enable the “Windows Defender Offline scan” option by selecting it and clicking on the “Scan now” button to begin the process.

This will scan your entire system for malicious threats and remove them before restarting.

Method 2: Using Disk Error Checking Feature

If the full system scan did not fix the issue, then you can use the Windows inbuilt disk check utility to run disk checkup. The feature will scan the status of your hard drive and repair any bad sectors to help fix any booting sequence files for a smooth rebooting process.

Here are the steps to repair your hard drive using the Windows disk check utility:

Step 1: Launch the “File Explorer” from the “Start” menu on your computer. Click on the “This PC” option from the left panel.

Step 2: Next, select and right-click on the hard drive to select the “Properties” option from the context menu list.

Step 3: On the Properties window, select the “Tools” tab at the top and click on the “ChecK” button under the “Error Checking” section.

Step 4: Lastly, on the next window, follow the on-screen instructions and select the “Scan Drive” option to automatically fix any errors or issues by running the chkdsk functionality.

Method 3: Using System File Checker (SFC) scan

Error 0146 can happen because of drive corruption or an incompatible file system. You can use System File Checker to fix faulty or missing system and registry files. SFC is a Windows tool that verifies the integrity of system files.

Here are the following steps to fix error code 0146 using the System File Checker scan:

Step 1: Search for “command prompt” from the search box in the “Start” menu.

Step 2: Right-click on the “Command Prompt” search result and select the “Run as Administrator” option.

Step 3: On the command prompt window, enter the “sfc /scannow” command and press the “Enter” key.

Step 4: Once the process is over, restart your computer.

Method 4: Using PSA Diagnostics

Fortunately, all Dell laptops and computers come with built-in PSA (Pre-boot System Assessment) diagnostics service to rectify any errors and issues. You can run this diagnostic and fix the error code 0146 issue easily.

Here are the steps to run PSA diagnostics on Dell systems:

Step 1: Restart your Dell computer and as the system boots, press the F12 key until the Dell logo appears.

Step 2; Select the “Diagnostics” option on the booth menu screen.

Step 3: Next, on the “Enhanced Pre-boot System Assessment” window, all detected devices will be displayed along with the diagnostics running status of the tests.

Step 4: If any error or issues are detected, you can view the error codes. Follow the onscreen instructions to fix it.

Method 5: Using the BIOS Settings

The performance of your system might be significantly impacted by incorrect BIOS settings. You should verify the BIOS settings are in the correct order. Therefore, hard disk error code 0146 can be fixed by adjusting the BIOS settings.

Follow the below steps to change BIOS settings to resolve error code 0146:

Step 1: Reboot your computer and keep pressing the “F2” key during the restarting process to start the BIOS screen.

Step 2: Once the BIOS settings screen is open, select the “Drives” option at the top and click on “SATA Operation” from the list.

Step 3: Switch from the “Raid On” option to the “Raid Autodetect / ATA” option.

Step 4: Click on the “Apply” option and make sure to “Save changes and exit” option from BIOS.

Step 5: The system will restart and it should detect the hard drive without error.

Method 6: Using System Restore in Safe Mode

If the system starts to show an error after installing or uninstalling any application. Then you can fix it by booting in safe mode and running the system restore feature. It will restore your system to the state when it is working correctly.

Here are the steps to fix Dell diagnostics hard drive error code 0146 using system restore in safe mode:

Step 1: You can enter the safe mode by pressing the "shift" key on the keyboard while clicking the "Restart" option from the "Start" menu.

Step 2: After the system restarts and enters recovery mode, click on the “Troubleshoot” option.

Step 3: On the next screen, select the “Advanced options” from the available choices.

Step 4: Next, select the “Startup Settings” option and click on the “Restart” button at the bottom of the next screen.

Step 5: Choose the “Enable Safe Mode” option from the list and wait for the system to boot.

Step 6: Once the system is booted up, search for “Recovery” from the “Start” menu.

Step 7: Click on the “Recovery” search result and select the “Open System Restore” option.

Step 8: Select the right recovery point from the list and click on the “Next” button. Continue with given onscreen instruction until the system is restored.

Method 7: Using Safe Mode and Clean Boot

Hard drive error 0146 can also be resolved by clearing the boot files and starting the computer in safe mode. To achieve this, first disconnect all connected devices from the computer, including any printers, modems, or Wi-Fi adapters, before proceeding.

Here are the steps to boot your system in safe mode and clean the boot files:

Step 1: Restart your computer and keep pressing the F8 key until the “Advanced Boot Options” screen is displayed.

Step 2: Select the ”Safe mode with Networking” option and press the “Enter” key.

Step 3: When the system boots completely, press the “Windows + R” keys together to open the “Run” window. Enter the “MSConfig” command and click on the “Ok” button.

Step 4: Next, on the “System Configuration Utility” window, enable the “Selective Startup” option and disable the “Load Startup items” under the “General” tab.

Step 5: Lastly, select the “Services” tab at the top. Here, enable the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox and click on the “Disable all” button. Click on the “ok” button to save the changes.

Restart your computer to check if the Dell PC error code 0146 is fixed.

Part 4: How to Recover Data from Damaged Hard Drive

Now that you know how to fix error code 0146 on your Dell laptop or computer, you might also want to recover any lost or deleted data from the hard drive. To do the job effectively, you would need reliable data recovery software such as Recoverit - Data Recovery. The app is a comprehensive data recovery solution with an easy-to-use interface to recover lost data from all types of storage drives.

Here are the key features of the Recoverit - Data Recovery application:

• It can recover fragmented or deleted files, photographs, audio, music, and emails from any storage device in an effective, safe, and complete.
• The app supports data recovery from any memory card, CF card, SD card, recycle bin, hard disk, flash drive, digital camera, or camcorder.
• You can perform data recovery from sudden deletion, formatting, hard drive corruption, virus attacks, and system crashes in any number of conditions.
• It allows you to preview recoverable files before saving them, enabling customized recovery.
• The application is available for cross-platform operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS.

Follow the below steps to recover data from the hard drive using the Recoverit - Data Recovery tool:

Step 1: Download and install the Recoverit - Data Recovery software on your Windows PC. Install the application on a different drive than the one from where you want to recover data from.

Step 2: Launch the application and select the “Hard Drives and Locations” option from the left side panel. Select your hard drive from the list of drives under the “Hard Disk Drives” section from where you want to recover data.

Step 3: Click on the “Start” button to start the scanning and recovery process to get data from your hard drive.

Step 4: Wait until the process is over. The app will display all the recoverable files by the folders and file types. You can preview the recoverable files to see if they are correct.

Step 5: After previewing the files, click on the “Recover” button to save the files by providing the location. Make sure not to save the recovered files in the original location where it was recovered from.

Conclusion

The hard drive error code 0146 is mostly exclusive to Dell laptops or computers, especially when the system fails to boot. It mainly occurs due to a hard drive issue when the system is unable to find the operating system boot files to load. Thankfully, you can fix this issue by following the methods given in the article. Some solutions are straightforward, but some might require little technical knowledge. However, make sure to recover your data from the hard drive using the Recoverit - Data Recovery tool.