4 Ways to Check the Health of Your Hard Disk and SSD

A hard disk is one of the essential components of a computer, as it serves as a storage device for all your data. Since it is a non-volatile memory, your data remains intact even when the computer is turned off.

Most computers come with a built-in hard disk of varying capacities. Users can also replace or upgrade their hard disk if needed, especially when the existing one becomes faulty and unusable.

The lifespan of a hard disk depends on several factors, such as usage, quality, and possible manufacturing defects. In some cases, a hard disk may fail sooner than expected. So, is there a way to check its health? The answer is yes.

You don’t need to remove the hard disk from your computer to inspect its condition. Instead, you can assess its health by using built-in system tools or manufacturer-provided software.

Below are some easy ways to check the health of your hard disk on a Windows computer. These methods can also be used for SSDs (Solid State Drives).

1. Using Hard Disk or SSD Manufacturer Tools

The first way to check your hard disk’s health is by using specialized tools provided by the manufacturer. Most major brands offer free software to monitor the condition and performance of their storage devices. Follow these steps to check your hard disk's health:

1. Open Device Manager

First, identify the manufacturer of your hard disk. You can do this through the system by accessing Device Manager on your computer. Open Control Panel or search for "Device Manager" in the Windows search bar.

2. Record the Name of the Disk Drive

Once the Device Manager window is open, expand the Disk drives section. This will display the model name of the hard disk or SSD installed on your computer. Take note of the model name, as you will need it in the next step.

3. Download the Manufacturer’s Software

Open Google and enter your hard disk model number in the search bar. The search results will usually indicate the brand or manufacturer of your hard disk.

Once you have identified the manufacturer, visit their official website, navigate to the Support section, and look for their hard disk utilities.

For example, if the system displays Intel SSDPEKNW512G8, it indicates that the storage device is from Intel. In this case, you can search for Intel SSD software and download the Intel® Memory and Storage Tool from Intel’s official website.

After installing the software, you can check the SSD’s status, including temperature, performance, and other relevant details.

Each manufacturer provides different tools, but most include diagnostic features that allow you to monitor your storage health. Below is a list of tools available for various hard disk and SSD brands:

• ADATA – Users of ADATA SSDs can use the ADATA SSD Toolbox, which can be downloaded from the official website Adata.com.

• Corsair – Corsair SSD users can use the Corsair SSD Toolbox, available for download at Techspot.com.

• Intel – Those using Intel SSDs (commonly found in laptops) can download the Intel® Memory and Storage Tool from Intel.com or directly click this link.

• Samsung – Samsung SSD users can download Tools & Software from Semiconductor.samsung.com and select the appropriate software for their product.

• Seagate – Users can download SeaTools from SeaTools.

• Transcend – Transcend SSD users can use SSD Scope, available at Transcend-info.com.

• TeamGroup (TEAM, T-FORCE, T-CREATE) – Users of these brands can download SSD S.M.A.R.T. TOOL from the TeamGroup support website or click this link and search for the "SSD S.M.A.R.T. TOOL" file.

• WD (Western Digital), SanDisk, and G-Technology – Users can visit Westerndigital.com and select the appropriate software for their specific brand.

If your hard disk brand is not listed above, you can try the next method, which will be discussed below.

2. Using Third-Party Hard Disk Checking Tools

You can also use third-party tools to check the health of your hard disk or SSD. These tools typically provide more comprehensive information about your storage device’s status. The advantage of using third-party tools is that they work with various brands.

To analyze the health of your hard disk, these tools utilize the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) feature, offering more detailed insights.

There are several third-party hard disk monitoring tools available for download, such as CrystalDiskInfo, Hard Disk Sentinel, and HDDScan.

For example, the author used CrystalDiskInfo. Simply download and install it on your desktop or laptop. Once installed, the software will display detailed information about your hard disk or SSD, including health status, temperature, and other metrics.

By default, CrystalDiskInfo runs health checks every 10 minutes and notifies you if any issues arise.

CrystalDiskInfo is a lightweight tool that provides essential details such as temperature, health status, hard disk type, read/write error rates, and total usage time, among others.

3. Using the Windows CHKDSK Tool

This next method does not require downloading or installing additional software. That’s because CHKDSK (Check Disk) is a built-in Windows tool that can be used immediately.

This tool scans your computer’s hard disk for system errors and bad sectors. If an issue is detected, it provides details about the problem.

CHKDSK can also repair minor issues and will notify you if it detects larger problems that cannot be fixed automatically. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Windows Properties

Right-click on the hard disk you want to check (e.g., Local Disk (C:) in File Explorer) and select Properties.

2. Open the Tools Tab

Navigate to the Tools tab and select the Check option under the Error checking section. Then, click Check it to start the scanning and repair process. This may take a few minutes.

If your hard disk or SSD is in good condition, a message will appear stating that no scan is necessary.

4. Using the WMIC Command

Another way to check your hard disk’s health is by using WMIC (Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line), a built-in system tool that allows users to perform administrative tasks, including monitoring hard disk health.

This command utilizes the S.M.A.R.T. feature to analyze disk status and provides simple status messages like "OK" or "Pred Fail" to indicate potential failures.

While this is one of the quickest methods, it only provides basic information. Here’s how to use it:

1. Press Windows + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cmd and click OK to open the Windows Command Prompt.
3. Type wmic and press Enter.
4. When the WMIC interface is ready, type: "diskdrive get status". Press Enter again.
5. The status of your hard disk or SSD will be displayed.

"OK" means the hard disk is in good condition. "Pred Fail" indicates a potential failure, often due to bad sectors.

These are the four easy ways to check the health of your hard disk or SSD on a Windows computer. If you encounter serious issues that cause frequent errors, it may be time to replace your hard disk.