Solid state drives (SSDs) have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their faster speeds and improved reliability compared to traditional hard disk drives (HDDs). However, like all storage devices, SSDs can and do fail over time. Detecting SSD failure early can help prevent potential data loss and make it easier to replace the drive before it causes system instability or crashes.
Why Do SSDs Fail?
There are several reasons why an SSD may fail or develop issues:
- Wear and tear – SSDs can only withstand a finite number of read/write cycles before their storage cells begin to wear out and die. This is known as wearing out of the drive. Continuous heavy usage will cause an SSD to wear out more quickly.
- Failed or damaged components – Issues with the SSD’s controller, firmware, capacitors, etc. can cause the drive to malfunction or fail.
- Overheating – Excessive heat can damage NAND flash memory and other SSD components.
- Power loss or unexpected disconnections – SSDs need continuous power to keep the data intact in the storage cells. Power loss or sudden disconnections during writes can lead to corruption.
- Buggy firmware – Bugs in the SSD’s firmware can lead to stability issues, crashes, or even total failure.
- Physical damage – Drops, impacts, liquids, etc. can physically damage the SSD and render it inoperable.
How to Check SSD Health and Status
There are several tools and techniques you can use to assess the current condition of your SSD:
1. Check S.M.A.R.T. Data
S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a monitoring system built into SSDs and HDDs. It tracks a variety of attributes and errors related to drive health and performance. S.M.A.R.T. data can alert you to issues before catastrophic failure occurs. Many disk utilities can read S.M.A.R.T. data. Some options include:
- Windows – Diskmgmt.msc – Disk Management utility built into Windows provides basic S.M.A.R.T. info.
- Windows – CrystalDiskInfo – Free app provides comprehensive SMART monitoring.
- macOS – Disk Utility – Utility in macOS reads S.M.A.R.T. and runs tests.
- Linux – smartctl – Terminal command shows S.M.A.R.T. stats.
- Manufacturer Tools – SSD makers like Samsung and Crucial have their own drive utilities.
- HDD Sentinel – Advanced paid utility works across Windows, macOS, Linux.
Look for attributes like Reallocated Sectors Count, Reported Uncorrectable Errors, Command Timeouts, and overall Health Status.
2. Check SSD’s Age and Wear Level
Along with S.M.A.R.T. data, most monitoring tools will show the SSD’s age and wear level percentage or wear level indicator. This shows you how much the drive’s storage cells have worn down from constant use. A brand new SSD will show 0% wear level. The wear level will gradually rise during normal usage. Around 5% wear level is the average for an SSD to be considered warrantable. Up to 85-90% wear level is considered the end of life for many consumer SSDs.
3. Run the TRIM Command
The TRIM command clears unused cells inside the SSD so they can accept new write data more efficiently. Running TRIM improves performance and reduces wear on an SSD. To use TRIM in Windows:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Type fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify and hit Enter. If it says 0, TRIM is active.
- If it says 1, TRIM is disabled. Type fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0 to enable it.
- Run TRIM with optmiser /restorehealth
On macOS and Linux, TRIM is automatically enabled for compatible SSDs. You can verify TRIM is active by checking the filesystem status.
4. Update SSD Firmware
One cause of SSD failure is buggy firmware. Most manufacturers periodically release firmware updates with bug fixes and performance improvements. Firmware updates require compatible hardware. Updating requires an app from the SSD brand such as Samsung Magician or Crucial Storage Executive.
5. Check for Bad Sectors
Bad sectors indicate physical damage on part of the SSD’s flash storage chips. Windows Disk Checking utility can scan for bad sectors. To run:
- Open Command Prompt as admin
- Type chkdsk C: /f /r /x (use your drive letter)
- This scans drive C: and attempts to repair any bad sectors.
On Linux, use fsck command to check and repair bad sectors. On macOS, Disk Utility First Aid verifies and repairs HDDs and SSDs.
SSD Failure Symptoms
Along with using utilities to assess SSD health, also watch for common warning signs of SSD failure:
1. Slow Performance
An SSD that once felt fast for booting and loading apps now feels much slower and sluggish could indicate it is wearing out or having issues. Run a benchmark test like CrystalDiskMark to check speeds.
2. Windows Crashes and Blue Screens
Frequent crashes and blue screens (BSODs) can occur when an SSD is having problems. The specific BSOD pointing to a disk problem is UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION.
3. Strange Noises
Though rare, a failing SSD may emit strange noises like screeching, squealing or grinding noises when accessing data. This usually points to a mechanical or physical problem.
4. Failure to Boot
If your system gets stuck booting and will not load Windows properly, a faulty SSD could be preventing access to the boot files. You may see boot errors like “Reboot and select proper boot device.”
5. Bad Sectors
As mentioned earlier, bad sectors indicate permanent damage on part of the SSD. This often spreads leading to more widespread disk errors and data corruption over time.
6. Shorter Battery Life
Some faulty SSDs will consume more power than normal, leading to shorter battery runtime for laptops. The increased power draw generates more heat too.
7. Lost Files and Data
Unrecoverable read errors when attempting to access files and folders may occur. Silent data corruption is also possible where the SSD returns corrupted data without reporting an error.
SSD Failure Root Causes
If you confirm the SSD is failing, identifying the root cause can prevent the same issue reoccurring with a replacement drive.
1. Wear from Heavy Usage
Frequent and sustained reads/writes over time wear out SSD storage cells. This is expected end of life failure for a heavily used SSD over 3-5 years.
2. Thermal Throttling
Overheating SSDs will throttle performance to reduce temps. This reduces lifespan. Ensure proper airflow and heatsink contact if supported.
3. Electrical Damage
Power surges, outages, static electricity or improper connections can damage the SSD controller and flash memory chips.
4. Firmware Bugs
Bugs in the SSD’s controller firmware can cause crashes, freezes, corruption. Updating firmware may resolve such issues.
5. Component Failure
Manufacturing defects or failures in controller, capacitors, flash memory and other components can cause SSD failure.
6. Physical Damage
Severe impacts, shocks, drops, liquids and other physical damage can break the solder joints or internal components.
How to Test an SSD Before Replacement
Once you’ve confirmed the SSD is causing problems, additional testing can help identify if replacement is needed or if other components are at fault. Try the steps below before replacing an SSD:
1. Run S.M.A.R.T. Tests
Tools like HD Sentinel allow extended S.M.A.R.T. drive self-tests. Perform a thorough short and long test to uncover any other problems.
2. Scan Surface for Defects
Use manufacturer software like Samsung Magician to do a scan of the SSD surface. This identifies any bad blocks on the drive.
3. Check with Alternative Cables/Ports
Try connecting the SSD to different SATA/M.2 ports and cables. Faults can sometimes stem from bus or cable issues rather than the SSD itself.
4. Update BIOS, Chipset, and USB Drivers
Outdated supporting hardware and drivers can hinder SSD stability and performance. Update to latest available versions.
5. Test with Different OS/PC
Verify if behavior persists when connecting the SSD externally to a different PC or OS installation. This can isolate the fault to the drive or other system components.
How to Recover Data from a Failing SSD
Before replacing a failing SSD, it is essential to recover your valuable data stored on it. However, do not repeatedly power on a faulty SSD or try excessive reboots, as this stresses the device further. Consider data recovery options like:
1. Backup Drive Image
Create a full disk image backup of the SSD using software like Macrium Reflect. This copies all data to a separate healthy drive.
2. Connect Externally via USB
Remove the SSD and connect it to another PC externally using a SATA/USB adapter. This often allows data to be copied off the SSD when the original system cannot access it.
4. Use Targeted Data Recovery Software
Tools like EaseUS and Disk Drill can read and recover data from failing drives. But they cannot repair physical SSD failure.
5. Send for Professional Data Recovery
For SSDs with mechanical issues or severe corruption, professional data recovery services may be required. But fees are usually high.
Tips to Prolong SSD Lifespan
You can optimize and alter system usage to extend the usable life of your SSD. Tips include:
- Enable TRIM regularly to maintain performance
- Keep at least 10-20% free space available
- Avoid unnecessary large writes and downloads to drive
- Use a cooler operating environment
- Disable virtual memory/page file if possible
- Spread writes over all available cells via partitioning
- Update firmware when available
Is Data Recovery Worth it for SSDs?
Due to the way SSDs store data compared to traditional hard drives, recovering lost data from SSDs tends to be more expensive and complex. So you need to determine if the data is valuable enough to justify professional recovery costs. For personal photos, documents and other irreplaceable data, the high fees may be warranted. But less critical data is often not worth thousands in recovery fees.
Conclusion
SSDs are a vital storage component in modern PCs and laptops. But their lifespan is finite. Monitoring tools that check S.M.A.R.T. attributes, wear level, bad sectors, etc. can warn you about impending failure before it happens. When an SSD does inevitably wear out or become damaged, recovering your data quickly is crucial. But with precautions and early warnings, SSD failure does not have to result in catastrophe. Careful usage, maintenance, and monitoring will let you get the most value from your solid state storage.