A solid-state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses flash memory chips to store persistent data. SSDs have several benefits over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs): they are faster, more power efficient, silent, and less susceptible to physical damage.
However, SSDs are not immune to corruption. Factors like sudden power loss, hardware issues, and bugs can still corrupt data on an SSD. When this happens, the SSD may start behaving erratically or prevent Windows from booting properly.
The goal of this article is to explain how to identify and troubleshoot an SSD that may be corrupted in Windows 10. We’ll cover the common symptoms of a corrupted SSD, tools to diagnose issues, and steps to attempt recovery or replacement if the SSD cannot be fixed.
Symptoms of a Corrupted SSD
A corrupted SSD can cause a variety of issues on your Windows 10 computer. Here are some of the most common symptoms that indicate your SSD may be failing or corrupted:
Slow boot times – As an SSD accumulates bad blocks, it becomes slower at reading and writing data. You may notice your computer takes much longer than usual to boot up or load programs if the SSD is corrupted [1].
Freezing and crashes – Damaged areas on the SSD can lead to read/write errors that cause programs or the entire system to freeze or crash unexpectedly. Data corruption can also cause crashes [2].
Blue screen errors – Corrupted system files due to SSD errors may result in various blue screen of death errors on boot or when accessing files. Common error codes include PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA [3].
Inability to access files/folders – If critical OS files or file system structures are corrupted, you may get errors trying to open files or access folders on the SSD. Data may seem to disappear from the drive.
Detection as an unknown device – In some cases, the SSD may not be detected at all or shows up as an unknown device due to firmware damage or other issues. You’ll likely see errors that the disk needs to be formatted.
Check Disk Health
Windows includes a built-in tool called Check Disk that can scan your drive and diagnose errors. Check Disk can detect bad sectors, file system errors, directory issues, and more. It is generally safe to run on SSDs and will not cause premature wear like defragmenting can.
To run Check Disk on your SSD in Windows 10:
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Open File Explorer and right-click on your SSD drive letter (usually C:). Select “Properties”.
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In the Properties window, go to the “Tools” tab and click on “Check”. This will open the Check Disk tool.
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Make sure both “Automatically fix file system errors” and “Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors” are checked. This will allow Check Disk to fix any errors it finds.
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Click “Start” to begin scanning your SSD. This may take some time depending on the size of your drive.
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Once completed, Check Disk will report if any errors were found and fixed. If errors persist, your SSD may be failing.
Running Check Disk regularly can help identify and resolve minor filesystem issues before they become major problems. However, if Check Disk is unable to repair issues or you continue experiencing corruption, your SSD may need to be replaced.
Update Drivers
Outdated drivers can sometimes cause SSD corruption issues. Keeping your SSD drivers up-to-date is an important troubleshooting step when dealing with a potentially corrupted drive.
You can update your SSD drivers in Windows 10 by following these steps:
- Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting it.
- Expand the Disk drives category.
- Right-click your SSD drive and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Windows will search and install any available driver updates.
You can also visit your SSD manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers directly from there. Major SSD brands like Samsung, Crucial, and Western Digital provide driver downloads on their support pages.
After updating your SSD drivers, reboot your computer and check if the corruption issue is resolved. Keeping drivers updated can prevent and troubleshoot a wide range of problems.
Run SFC and DISM
Two built-in Windows tools that can help detect and repair corruption are the System File Checker (SFC) and the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. SFC scans Windows system files for corruption and restores any damaged or missing files from a cache folder (source). DISM can repair damaged system image files that SFC may not be able to fix.
To run SFC, open an elevated Command Prompt and type sfc /scannow. This will scan all protected system files and replace any that are corrupted or missing. To run DISM, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to perform a full system scan (source). DISM may take longer to complete but can repair more system corruption that SFC cannot.
Running SFC and DISM regularly can help proactively detect and repair system file corruption before major problems occur. They may help restore corrupted system files related to the SSD as well. If multiple SFC scans are unable to fix corruption, DISM may be able to repair the damaged files instead.
Change SATA Cables
A faulty SATA cable connecting your SSD can potentially cause data corruption or connection issues. SATA cables degrade over time, especially from frequent bending and movement. If the cable is damaged, it can impact signal integrity and result in data errors.
To replace the SATA cable:
- Turn off your computer and unplug the power cable.
- Open the computer case and locate the SSD.
- Unplug the existing SATA cable from the SSD and motherboard connection.
- Plug in a new SATA cable, making sure both ends are connected securely.
- Close the computer case and reconnect the power cable.
- Turn on your computer and see if the SSD is now detected properly without errors.
Using a brand new SATA cable ensures a clean signal between the SSD and motherboard. This simple fix could potentially resolve SSD corruption issues caused by a faulty connection.
Update Windows
Outdated Windows versions are more prone to file corruption issues that can lead to SSD failure. This is because older versions lack the latest optimizations and bug fixes related to storage devices. Over time, core files can become increasingly unstable without receiving the latest patches.
Updating to the newest Windows version can help resolve SSD corruption by installing improved drivers, critical security updates, and stability fixes. Microsoft releases major Windows 10 updates twice a year, and it’s recommended to install these promptly after they are available.
To update Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for Updates. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install any pending updates. This will upgrade your Windows version and replace potentially corrupted files.
A clean install of the latest Windows version is also effective if corruption persists. Back up your data, boot from Windows installation media, and perform a clean install. This will format the drive and install a pristine Windows environment, while preserving your files.
Keeping Windows updated is key to avoiding bugs that can damage an SSD over time. Run Windows Update regularly to stay current and minimize your risk of corruption issues.
Reset Windows 10
Resetting Windows 10 can fix software-related corruption by reinstalling Windows while keeping your personal files and settings. This is an option worth trying before completely reinstalling Windows.
To reset Windows 10:
- Open the Start menu and select Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under ‘Reset this PC’, click Get started.
- Choose either Keep my files to keep your personal files or Remove everything to delete them.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
Resetting Windows will reinstall the operating system while preserving your data. This can potentially fix corrupted system files or settings causing SSD issues. According to Microsoft Support, resetting Windows 10 is worth trying before a clean install when troubleshooting SSD corruption.
Secure Erase SSD
If your SSD is corrupted beyond repair, performing a secure erase will completely wipe the drive and restore it to factory settings. This erases all data and partitions on the SSD, allowing you to do a fresh Windows installation unhindered by any corruption or bad sectors.
There are a few ways to securely erase an SSD:
- Use third party software like Parted Magic or Darik’s Boot and Nuke to overwrite all data on the SSD.
- Use the secure erase command built into the SSD firmware. This performs a cryptographic erase by generating new encryption keys.
- On some motherboards you can initialize a secure erase from the UEFI BIOS.
After securely erasing, the SSD will be restored to a blank state as if it just came from the factory. You can then reformat the drive and perform a clean install of Windows without old corrupted files getting in the way.
When to Replace an SSD
If none of the troubleshooting steps resolve the corruption issue, the SSD may be failing. There are a few ways to check the health of your SSD and determine if a replacement is needed:
Use a tool like CrystalDiskInfo to check SSD health metrics like total bytes written, wear level, and reallocated sector count. If the SSD has high usage and metrics indicating wear, replacement may be necessary.
Run the SSD manufacturer’s diagnostic software if available. Tools like Samsung Magician can perform a full diagnostic scan and determine if replacement is recommended.
Check the SMART status using Windows’ built-in Disk Management utility. Click on the SSD, go to Properties > Tools > Check. If SMART status shows the drive is failing, replacement is needed.
Monitor for worsening symptoms like dramatically slower performance, inability to access files, or frequent blue screens. If corruption persists after troubleshooting, the SSD is likely faulty and should be replaced.
Replacing a potentially failing SSD before complete failure can prevent permanent data loss. Check SSD health regularly and replace at the first signs of degradation.