How to check SSD health? SSD is becoming increasingly popular in modern computers because of their speed and reliability. Unlike traditional Hard Disk Drives, they have no moving parts, making them less susceptible to damage and wear over time. However, like all storage devices, Solid State Drives can fail, and it’s essential to monitor their health to prevent data loss. This article will discuss various methods to check your SSD health.
1. How to check SSD health and performance?
Before we dive into the methods of checking SSD health, let’s first discuss why it’s essential to monitor your SSD’s health. SSDs have a limited lifespan because they have a finite number of write cycles. Over time, as you store and delete data on your SSD, it can wear out, and this can lead to data loss and other issues. By monitoring your SSD’s health, you can identify potential problems before they become severe and take steps to prevent data loss.
You may be interested in: 6 important Steps Must Be Done When Installing An SSD.
2. Check SSD Health on Windows 10 and 11
Windows 10 and 11 have built-in tools that allow you to check your SSD’s health status for free. Here’s how to access them:
- Open the Start menu and type “Defragment and Optimize Drives.”
- Select your SSD drive from the list and click on “Analyze.”
- Windows will display a report that shows the health status of your SSD, along with other details like the drive’s capacity, file system, and more.
This method is straightforward and easy to use, but it only provides basic information about your SSD’s health. If you want more detailed information, you’ll need to use other methods.
3. How do I check the life of my SSD?
There are lots of tool apps that can check and monitor your SSD life such as Crystal disk Info and Intel SSD Toolbox more and more, I will tell you about the best of them:
3.1 Crystal Disk Info
CrystalDiskInfo is a free, easy-to-use, open-source Windows application that shows you S.M.A.R.T., themes for mechanical hard disk drives (HDD), solid-state drives (SSD), and non-volatile memory drives (NVMe). The app is available as a portable app or with a scan installer. The hard drive or SSD is from S.M.A.R.T., the attributes are a bit weird and the output is a bit fuzzy but fortunately, there are tools that make it easy to verify and interpret the data. You can use it by following these steps.
- Download and install CrystalDiskInfo from the official website.
- Launch the software and select your SSD drive from the list.
- Check the Health Status value under the “SMART Attributes” section. If it’s marked as “Good,” then your SSD is healthy.
CrystalDiskInfo provides more detailed information about your SSD’s health than Windows built-in tools. It also allows you to monitor your SSD’s temperature, which can be helpful in identifying potential overheating issues.
In fact, while you can dive into individual attributes if you’re so inclined you don’t need to do so to use the tools and get actionable feedback on the health of your old SSD or hard drive, the most important thing to remember when running S.M.A.R.T. Tests on different types of drives are what the tests measure, mechanical hard drive tests include data points for things about the moving parts of the drive and the effect of movement on them (how often the drive spins, fails to spin, gets hit or stops, etc ).
4. SSD Manufacturer’s Tool
Most SSD manufacturers offer their own diagnostic tools that can be used to check the health of their drives. You can find these tools on the manufacturer’s website. Here are a few examples
4.1 Samsung Magician
Samsung Magician is a software utility developed by Samsung for managing and optimizing Samsung solid-state drives (SSDs). The software is designed to enhance the performance and lifespan of Samsung SSDs by providing a range of features such as firmware updates, performance benchmarking, and optimization tools.
Some of the key features of Samsung Magician include the ability to monitor and manage SSD health status and performance, securely erase data from the drive, and enable features such as Rapid Mode, which can boost SSD performance by utilizing system memory as a cache.
Samsung Magician is compatible with a range of Samsung SSDs, including the 840 EVO, 850 EVO/Pro, 860 EVO/Pro, 870 EVO/Pro, and NVMe-based SSDs such as the 960 EVO, 970 EVO/PRO, and 980 PRO.
4.2 Intel SSD Toolbox
Intel SSD Toolbox is a software utility developed by Intel Corporation for managing and optimizing Intel solid-state drives (SSDs). The software is designed to help users monitor and manage the health and performance of their Intel SSDs, as well as to optimize the drives for maximum performance and longevity.
Some of the key features of Intel SSD Toolbox include the ability to monitor the drive’s health status, view drive information such as capacity, firmware version, and the interface speed, and optimize the drive’s performance through a variety of tools such as the Trim function.
The software also includes diagnostic tools to test the drive’s functionality and features to securely erase data from the drive. Intel SSD Toolbox is compatible with a range of Intel SSDs, including the Intel® SSD 660p, 665p, 760p, 545s, 600p, and other Intel SSDs based on the SATA and PCIe* NVMe* interfaces.
4.3 Crucial Storage Executive
Crucial Storage Executive is a software utility developed by Crucial, a division of Micron Technology, for managing and optimizing Crucial solid-state drives (SSDs). The software is designed to help users monitor and manage the health and performance of their Crucial SSDs, as well as to optimize the drives for maximum performance and longevity.
Some of the key features of Crucial Storage Executive include the ability to monitor the drive’s health status, view drives information such as capacity, firmware version, and interface speed, and optimize the drive’s performance through a variety of tools such as the Momentum Cache function.
image credit to Crucial.com
The software also includes diagnostic tools to test the drive’s functionality and features to securely erase data from the drive. Crucial Storage Executive is compatible with a range of Crucial SSDs, including the MX500, BX500, MX200, BX100, M550, and M500 series SSDs.
4.4 Kingston SSD Manager
Kingston SSD Manager is a software utility developed by Kingston Technology Corporation for managing and optimizing Kingston solid-state drives (SSDs). The software is designed to help users monitor and manage the health and performance of their Kingston SSDs, as well as to optimize the drives for maximum performance and longevity.
Some of the key features of Kingston SSD Manager include the ability to monitor the drive’s health status, view drives information such as capacity, firmware version, and interface speed, and optimize the drive’s performance through a variety of tools such as the TRIM function.
The software also includes diagnostic tools to test the drive’s functionality and features to securely erase data from the drive. Kingston SSD Manager is compatible with a range of Kingston SSDs, including the A2000, KC2000, UV500, and other Kingston SSDs based on the SATA and PCIe NVMe interfaces.
These tools provide more detailed information about your SSD’s health and can help you identify any potential issues. They also often come with additional features like firmware updates, performance optimization, and more.
5. Can we check SSD health?
Yes, we can be checked using some Windows tools as command Prompt with the following steps:
- Open the Start menu and search for “Command Prompt”
- Right-click on it and select “Run as administrator.”
- Type “wmic”and press Enter
- then type “diskdrive get status” and press Enter.
- If the status of your SSD is “OK” then it’s healthy.
Command Prompt is a simple and quick way to check your SSD’s health status. However, it only provides basic information and doesn’t offer as much detail as other methods.
6. How do I know if my SSD is failing?
There are several signs that indicate your SSD is failing so you can take steps before losing your data these are the signs:
- Slow Performance: If your computer is taking longer than usual to boot up or load programs, it could be a sign that your SSD is failing
- Blue Screen of Death (BSOD): Frequent crashes and system freezes, especially with a blue screen error, can be a sign of SSD failure.
- Strange Noises: Although SSDs don’t have moving parts, they can still make strange noises when they’re failing, such as clicking or grinding sounds.
- Disappearing Files: If files and folders are disappearing from your SSD without explanation, it could be a sign of file system corruption or other issues.
- SMART Errors: If your SSD’s SMART status is showing as “Failing,” it’s an indication that your SSD is on its last legs.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s essential to take action immediately to prevent data loss.
7. How to Prevent SSD Failure?
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to SSD failure. Here are some tips to help you prevent your SSD from failing:
- Don’t Overfill Your SSD: Try to keep your SSD no more than 70-80% full to prevent excessive wear and tear.
- Enable TRIM: TRIM is a feature that helps SSDs maintain performance and prevent data corruption. Make sure it’s enabled on your system.
- Avoid Power Surges: Power surges can damage your SSD and cause data loss. Use a surge protector or UPS to protect your system from power fluctuations.
- Keep Your System Cool: Overheating can damage your SSD and reduce its lifespan. Make sure your computer has adequate cooling, and don’t block air vents.
- Regularly Back Up Your Data: No matter how well you take care of your SSD, it can still fail. Make sure you have regular backups of your data to prevent data loss.
Conclusion
Checking your SSD’s health is an essential part of maintaining your computer’s performance and preventing data loss. There are several methods to check your SSD’s health, including built-in Windows tools, third-party software, manufacturer’s tools, Command Prompt, and more. It’s also important to be aware of the signs of a failing SSD and take steps to prevent it from failing. By following these tips and regularly monitoring your SSD’s health, you can ensure that your data is safe and your computer is running smoothly.
Finally, I hope my article added some valuable information to you. If you have some questions? Let me know in the comments below. I’ll try my best to answer them.
