Detecting problems with your hard drive is essential to maintaining the integrity of your data. From slow file transfers to strange noises, there are clear signs that it might need to be checked.A failing hard drive can pose a serious threat to your computer’s performance. Sometimes, problems affecting this component can go unnoticed until it’s too late.
How to know if your hard drive has no problems using Windows tools.
Windows has a variety of built-in features that can be helpful when it comes to performing scans on your computer . This is one of the main things you should do, as the system itself monitors the components to make sure everything is okay.
The reason why it is recommended to perform this method before any other is because you will not need a program to ensure that your SSD or HDD hard drive is in good condition.
With a couple of commands performed in the Command Prompt you will be able to access the status information of said element. The first one is known as CHKDSK , it is used exactly to detect problems and try to solve them from the system. Without further ado, these are the steps you should follow:
- Enter Command Prompt by typing “cmd” in the start bar and run it as Administrator.
- Enter the code “chkdsk /f /rc:” and press Enter .
- Wait for the scan to complete. At the end, the command will give you a status of how the hard drive is doing.
If your hard drive is not C:, change the last part of the code to the letter that defines your drive in the system. On the other hand, if you get the message “Do you want this volume to be prepared to be checked the next time the system is restarted? (Y/N)” type “Y” , press Enter , restart the computer and start the process again.
The other native tool that can help you with this is WMIC , which is similar to the above. However, it mainly focuses on determining whether the storage drive’s health is good or bad.
Just like CHKDSK , WMIC is run from the Command Prompt. So, you need to open it again and do the following:
- In the cmd put the code “wmic”.
- Once it loads, proceed to run the “diskdrive get status” code.
- If everything is OK, it will say “OK” on the console. Otherwise, it will confirm that it is working incorrectly.
- To exit, type the command “exit”.
While this feature doesn’t give you direct solutions like CHKDSK does , it does give you enough data to know that something is wrong with your hard drive.
Ideally, you should implement these commands to get any error that is appearing in the element.
After this, the best thing you can do is have your computer serviced by a professional and have them confirm whether it is necessary to change the hard drive.
How to use the manufacturer’s app to detect hard drive problems
Knowing the model or brand of your hard drive is of great importance in order to use the corresponding application that has been created for the component. This is actually the most accurate method because it gives you the exact status data.
When we talk about precision, we mean that it gives you information about temperature, GB written and read, frequency of use, available capacity and even the percentage of useful life. Mostly, Segate is used , which is the tool that has a greater range of compatibility.
If you know the manufacturer, just go to their official website and search for the hard drive program . This will definitely make things easier for you and you will be able to see how your SSD or HDD is doing whenever you want. Some of the most popular brands are Samsung , Crucial , Corsair , SK hynix and others like that.
Use third-party applications to determine the status of your hard drive
There are many third-party programs on the Internet that are responsible for performing a complete analysis of the most important parts of your PC. Crystal Mark Retro is one of the most reliable and effective when it comes to doing actions like this.
Using it is as simple as downloading it from its official website . Then you have to install it and open it to start the process. When you run it, you will see a simple interface where you would only have to press the Disk button and immediately Crystal Mark Retro will begin to detect any related problems.
Now that you know the methods to find faults in your hard drive, the solution to these problems is best left to a professional if you do not have knowledge on the subject.
So don’t take apart your computer or make any changes to the hard drive if you’re not sure, as this could result in the complete loss of that storage with all your data and files included.