Hardware problem - but what?

[WinEunuchs2Unix]

run "fsck" on the disk.

[gordintoronto]

There is a program called Disks, Disk Utility, or something along those lines. (The name varies from distro to distro.) It will display the SMART data for your hard drive. If there are a lot of reallocated sectors (more than 200) then you should copy what you can from the drive, then smash it with a hammer or run DBAN on it, then put it in the trash.)

[Carl H]

Gnome Disk Utility mentioned some minor problems, but a total reformat of it and everything seems okay (although I haven't reinstalled Ubuntu, I've gone back to Mint).


Thanks for the replies and advice.