How to test your SSD for potential problems

Even if you own one of thebest SSDs , it will miscarry one day , and that ’s a fact .

Because ofhow SSDs study , each has a finite number of read and write cycles that it can complete before it die , and every such cycle bring to the degradation of NAND flash retention . At some full stop , it ’ll be beyond saving . The good news ? It ’s nearly unsufferable to use up all of these read / write Hz . The bad news ? Your SSD may still go even if you ’re far from hitting that limitation .

preindication of a failing SSD include crashes , blue sieve of death ( BSOD ) , slow functioning , data point loss , and unfitness to write new files to the parkway . When thing are buy the farm south for your SSD , it ’s crucial to roll in the hay and work as soon as possible — you might still have time toback up your data . Check out the best ways to test your SSD to make indisputable your data is good .

Check your SSD in Windows Settings

For a very basic check , you may just head straight to Windows configurations . retrieve that this is not an in - deepness mental test , so if you distrust your SSD might be failing , render out the other selection on this tilt when you ’re done with this one .

footfall 1 : Start by entering the Storage section of Windows configurations . you could do this by either press theWindowsandIkeys on your keyboard , then pilot toSystem > Storage , or by typingStorageinto theWindows Searchand selectingStorage setting .

Step 2 : Once you ’re there , scroll down to findAdvanced storage preferences , thenDisks & volumes .

footmark 3 : pluck your SSD from the inclination and dawn onProperties . Scroll down past some basic selective information about your SSD and look atDrive health . Windows will give you an estimate of your SSD ’s remaining spirit , available space , and the temperature of your drive . Unfortunately , that ’s all the information you could get from this public utility company .

Use Windows Command Prompt

This is another simple " yes or no " type of test . Using the Command Prompt ( CMD ) in Windows , you’re able to find out whether your SSD is healthy . If it is n’t , that ’s a big red sword lily that you should back up your data while you still can .

Step 1 : fall into place on the Start Menu and character inCommand Prompt . Then , right - clickthe result and selectRun as administrator .

Step 2 : start the bidding as comply : wmic diskdrive get statusand pressEnter .

If the tool says that your SSD is " okay , " you ’re in the clear . However , if you encounter " Pred Fail , " you should induce to back up your data ( and then go on with some more in - astuteness testing ) .

Use Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell can provide you with a bit more information than the Command Prompt can , and there are a duet of different commands you could run to learn more about your SSD .

Step 1 : Start by launching Windows PowerShell . embark theStart Menuand search forWindows PowerShell . Then , right-hand - clickit andRun as administrator .

Step 2 : Once in PowerShell , you could test the following command ( you could just re-create and glue them in ):

If the pillar are empty , you may necessitate to apply a more advance tool — more on that below .

you could also modify the 2d instruction : Get - PhysicalDisk | Get - StorageReliabilityCounter | Select [ insert economic value here]and replace " [ insert note value here ] with the specific information you might want to see . For example , to see write computer error , useGet - PhysicalDisk | Get - StorageReliabilityCounter | Select WriteErrorsTotal .

Use Optimize Drives in Windows

This is yet another choice that will just state you whether your SSD is healthy . However , you could also employ the Defragment & Optimize Drive public utility to optimise your SSD if there ’s anything wrong with it .

Word of word of advice : Do n’t put out defragmenting your SSD . Just use this shaft to check your SSD health and optimise it .

footstep 1 : In theStart Menu , lookup forDefragment & Optimize Drive . Next , launch the shaft .

Step 2 : You’ll immediately be met with a list of all your campaign . In theCurrent statuscolumn , you ’ll be able to see whether your SSD is doing fine .

The usefulness will also tell you how long it ’s been since the last " retrim . " This cite to a process that reclaims unused distance on your driving by essentially secern your SSD which blocks of data are n’t need anymore . No matter if your SSD is healthy or not , you’re able to pressOptimizeto run away a retrim . The tool perform retrims in the background , so if it ’s been done of late , there ’s no need to re - do it .

Use CrystalDiskInfo

When it total to get some more comprehensive information about SSD health , CrystalDiskInfo is the go - to tool . It ’s free to use and easy to succeed . It ’ll give you all the most of import data on your SSD , from its king - on count and power - on hours to whether it ’s goodish .

Step 1 : First , you need to downloadCrystalDiskInfo . Once the download finish up , install and start the putz .

whole step 2 : CrystalDiskInfo does n’t have many obscure caveats that you need to keep in mind — what you see is what you get . It monitor your SSD health by checking SMART , which stands for Self - Monitoring , Analysis , and Reporting Technology . You ’ll be able-bodied to tell at a glimpse whether your SSD is doing well .

Runthe tool and control out the wellness of your drives . Some of the most authoritative information to take care at , apart from the percentage economic value underHealth Status , includesPower On Count , Power On time of day , andTotal Host write .

Use AIDA64 Extreme

AIDA64 Extreme is not a gratuitous creature , but you may use it for loose for 30 Clarence Day to prove your PC . Unlike CrystalDiskInfo , AIDA64 can allow for you with utilitarian selective information on the remainder of your PC , too , include your mainframe , motherboard , and RAM . Remember that if your SSD is o.k. but the rest of your PC may not be , we have acomprehensive troubleshooting guideto give you a manus .

Step 1 : startle by downloading the AIDA64 Extreme prick directly from the producer ’s website . pluck the latest version usable anddownload the trial . Go through the fast installation process and selectLaunch AIDA64before it ’s done .

Step 2 : You’ll be met with a screen that list a figure of microcomputer components and package on the left . To check SSD health , the one that you want to fall into place on isStorage . Next , snap onSMARTto locate your SSD .

This is where you ’ll get all the useful information about your SSD . The extent of data is like to what you ’ll find in CrystalDiskInfo because AIDA64 also account the SMART information from your SSD . You ’ll see SSD health , lifespan write ( write in a different format than in CrystalDiskInfo ) , and the total power - on time .

Use HWiNFO

HWiNFO is a useful shaft for monitor your PC ’s health and performance . It has a separate utility for sensor , which can tell you all about your CPU and GPU temperature and clock swiftness , among other thing . It also can provide you with quite a destiny of data about your SSD .

Step 1 : commence by downloading HWiNFO from theofficial site . you may either choose the installer , which will create a persistent version of HWiNFO on your PC , or you may use the portable version that does n’t demand an initiation .

Once downloaded , eitherinstall the programorlaunch it . Do n’t check off any of the boxes ( detector only or summary only ) — just pressStart .

measure 2 : You’ll see two windows pop up — the scheme sum-up and the main HWiNFO window . The summary gives you a brief overview of your system , and in the bottom - right corner of it , you ’ll see a nimble indicator about your SSD health . There ’s much more to jab into , though .

Closeorminimizethe system sum-up window and tab into HWiNFO . On the left - hand side , tap the little arrow next toDrives . In the drop - down carte , selectNVMe Drivesand pick your SSD from the leaning .

measure 3 : flick on your SSD and scroll through all the apt information . Like the other tool on this list , HWiNFO reports on gadget health , spare capability , exponent cycles , and errors .

you’re able to also sink in onSensorsat the top . There will be a bunch of other ( interesting , but unrelated ) sensors at first , so simply scroll down until you reachS.M.A.R.T.followed by your SSD fashion model . This is where all the interesting system of measurement sit , such as substantial - prison term temperature and read / write totals .

Use vendor-specific tools

Some storage manufacturing business offer up their own puppet that you may habituate to scan your SSD with . Some of those are similar to the ones we ’ve name above and do n’t really provide anything extra , but there are a couple that permit you run extra tests depending on the accurate SSD mannikin that you have .

Using these creature is fairly simple . You ’ll usually just have to install them and browse through your SSD health . If there are supernumerary tryout to move , they ’re seeable at a glance .

Here are some tools to check out :

Seagate SeaTools — This cock also works with drives from other vendors . you’re able to employ it to pass additional symptomatic trial .

Samsung Magician — This tool will only work if you have a Samsung SSD . It also includes feature film that can help you optimize your SSD ’s operation .

Western Digital Dashboard — Similar to all the other tools , the WD Dashboard also lets you upgrade your microcode and check SSD health . Only figure out with WD and SanDisk SSDs .

Crucial Storage Executive — Made only for Crucial SSDs , this tool include performance optimization and firmware update .

Kingston SSD Manager — Provides SMART data point and usage statistic , impregnable erase , and microcode update for Kingston SSDs .

Of of course , there is a chance that the tests reveal that the twist is close to give-up the ghost . In this case , it ’s probably time tolook for a newfangled SSDand make trusted you knowhow to install an SSD in your PC .