Is My Hard Drive Dying

[@TechGeek01]

There are two types of people: Those who have lost data, and those who are about to. Alternatively: The best backup is the one you never need. The worst backup is the one you didn't take.

[@SuprousOxide]

Even if you have a proper backup plan, a lost drive is a pain. Need to reinstall all your software, confirugre everything the way you like, and then pull back whatever data you want from the backups. If you can predict a dead drice beforehand, you can just clone your drive to new hardware, swap it in and continue as normal

[@jackburton8352]

I can't speak to SSD's but when it comes to HDD's ive always found when a drive starts failing to save data the best thing to do is partition off the bad sectors then copy whatever data you can to the good sectors or another drive.

[@gwgux]

Sounds like a good opportunity to make an updated video on how to build a file server. 😀 Otherwise, it may be worthwhile to get a NAS. Both good options and I prefer both over using a backup drive so I can centrally store data and share it between multiple computers at home.

[@gh6stz]

+1

[@bertnijhof5413]

Good explanation for Windows users, but you ignored corrupted files due to power fails! I have 2 backups for my data and my VMs. I had this year one failing disk, but I can't complain, because it did reach 10 power-on years. I did replace the 1 TB HDD with a new 2 TB HDD. I also replaced its 500GB brother, that also had more than 9 power-on years :) I like to promote the use of the file system OpenZFS available for Linux, Unix/BSD and some home file servers. That file system adds the CRC of each file to its entry in the directory. OpenZFS checks on request or by default each month all files. They check, if they are still readable based on that separately stored CRC. That is how I detected I had a problem. Another issue is related to corruption due to power fails or system crashes. If that happened during a file update in ntfs or ext4, your file might be half new and half still old, so the internal file format has been corrupted and has become unusable. Note that the file administration might still be correct, since only the internal file format is corrupted and that cannot be detected by ext4 or ntfs. I have/had between 2 and 20 power fails per week, so I collected over the years >100 corrupted music files using ext4 and ntfs. OpenZFS uses a "Copy On Write" mechanism, so a file is never updated, but a new one is written. So after the power fail you have either the newly written file or you still have the old file, but both will be readable. I think Microsoft ReFS uses the same ideas. I replaced my HDDs (1TB and 500GB) with another HDD (2TB) and I did it, because: - I'm Dutch and it was cheaper :) :) - I had a 128GB sata-SSD as cache device for the HDDs (L2ARC) and together with a 4GB memory cache (L1ARC) I have a very nice performance from the VMs running from my double cached HDD (memory -> SSD -> HDD).

[@keithmonahan3788]

Very useful information. Thanks for sharing that with us

[@HasnainChess]

Great knowledge, kindly make videos on making a good backup, mistakes made in backup, how to backup, where to backup, etc. And also on safely cloning data from one drive to another. Highly appreciated your efforts sir 💚💚

[@bbo1779]

Thanks!

[@CyberCPU]

You're welcome. Appreciate it.

[@jasonwirick149]

That's the "issue" with SSDs, they won't die a lot of times, they become read-only that is a known feature/problem with SSDs

[@1tgb4yb25ub5ub]

i like that. you can easily get the data

[@KaptainCnucklz]

Perfect! Been wondering how healthy my hard drive is, and it's apparently doing good in spite of having 44k hours (5 years) of power on time.

[@robertgarland9342]

Thanks for showing us this HDD/SSD software. I honestly thought my SSD was in good nic until I did the Crystal Disk check and found it said good but it was at 59%. This drive is only 18 months old and hasn't done that much work so it just goes to show. Don't trust your drive. Time for another full back up and get a new drive ready just in case.

[@mdd1963]

My 960 EVO is at 95% health after 6 years…

[@buttman12954]

how do you manage to keep them high even after 6 years, any tips for new users? I want to maintain my longevity :((

[@DjBasA38]

I'm still on my Crucial MX300. Used it since 2017 and am now using it in a completely new build, still as the os drive and is still working great! (I did a complete clean reinstall of Windows ofcourse, cause of completely different hardware) I don't have any backups, but all thats on there are games, not much else of importance. It's only really used for gaming and other entertainment. (Like Netflix, Spotify, etc) I couldn't care less if any of the drives failed on me, even the OS drive. (Aside from the SATA SSD i have Windows on, i have 2 nvme's (4 tb of storage each) beside it just for game storage.)

[@rmrestivo]

Absolutely love your channel. You give information and explain it that is truly useful. Thank you for what you do. 👍

[@zeeksthegoblin7564]

Great video. Backup is so important, especially with ransomware viruses as well. Last year bought a 2tb ssd and did a manual backup for important files and photos and then deleted the files. Two days later I added another important file but the backup drive stated failure to initiate the drive, something like that. I was able to recover the files after 3 day struggle trying to get the drive to read. After that, I was able to get my money back from 7 days return policy for damaged goods. But my main concern was my data which I almost completely lost. So now I rather backup to the cloud as well.

[@DKKatano]

In my job it's very common that I talk with people who don't have a proper backup solution. We have our own cloud service (but I don't like it, I won't even buy it myself), so when I talk with people about backup, I never try to sell the idea of getting our cloud backup, but getting a cloud backup solution in general. Sometimes people say they have an external HDD, so they don't need a cloud backup, and sure maybe they don't. But I still ask them what they will do if something happens to that external HDD, because that can also fail. What if they drop in on the floar, what if there is a fire in the house, what if someone steals it. I'm not trying to sell them our product, I'm only trying to make them think about it for a moment, so them have a chance to do something, if the data they have on the HDD, is something they really don't wanna lose. I depends on the person, but normally people understands, and some of them gets a cloud solution after that, and yes sometimes people buy the solution we have, but if I can see they already have Microsoft 365, I help them setup OneDrive, so it also happens I ask why they don't use that 1TB OneDrive they pay for every year, because they didn't know what it was. So ofc I helps them, in the end a cloud solution is better than nothing. :)

[@padders1068]

Rich, great tips and well explained!

[@davidrenard6980]

You can change the way the raw data is represented in CrystalDiskMark‘s settings so the raw values are readable.

[@PJD_55]

How?

[@icecreamjunkie6790]

I used to use an external HDD as an extra storage device. As soon as I heard it start clicking, File Explorer freezing, and issues with files, I immediately bought an external SSD and backed everything up.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

Thank you for this video, and thank you for the sponsor link. Just had a laptop die, and put the old SSD into a new (to me) one... windows deactivated because of a hardware change... VIP SCDkey got it reactivated in minutes :)

[@gregnewberry4813]

Great video. The reallocated sectors is in HEX.

[@gentuxable]

In the old days when the CPUs were not as hot and mechanical hard drives not that silent you could instantly hear when a drive is starting to fail. It will freeze your system and either do a rhythmic "click, click, click" or a "brrr, click, click, brrr, click, click" or spin down and back up again. Some drives have voice coils they will literally cry at you with a very distinctive beep-like sound.

[@keithmonahan3788]

Another very “VERY” useful video Rich !! Thanks for sharing it. Clear and concise content and to the point !! Love your channel man !! 👍👍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@Enjoymentboy]

Way back in the early 2000's when my media drive died the part that I found most difficult to accept was that the data was still there and perfectly fine but there was just no way to access it. It wasn't just"gone" but just permanently out of reach. Now i have 3 separate background of any data that is important to me and one is a 6tb drive that is stored in a fireproof safe.

[@johngoard8272]

Thanks for the info on that check program I downloaded it and mine is showing 99% good.

[@uniqueangel]

Updating firmware of the SSD can help and activate Over Provisioning & Trim too with the tool for the brand of the SSD

[@michaelspenceley7316]

Thanks for a useful and interesting channel. I have recently been trying to set up a home network server with a mixture of Windows 11 and 10 PCs. It proved impossible to achieve a stable network no matter what settings I changed on each PC. Eventually I loaded the server PC with Windows 8.1 and all the networked 10 & 11 PCs could then read and write to it. Why has Microsoft made home networks so complicated?

[@Green_House]

Thanks! Very helpful. Glad I changed my SSD just yesterday! You confirmed my concerns. 🙂

[@davinp]

I backup my data monthly to a portable backup drive that you plug in via USB. It comes with backup software that will backup your data similar to the way Windows File History backs up.

[@ChevyUSMC]

I tell my customers to have three backups, they never listen.

[@SparkyOne549]

I also have multiple redundancies.

[@Phantom-darkness]

Backups are for wimps. I don’t need no stinking backups.

[@marcse7en]

I have 5 backup; 3 x HDD (2 x 2.5" + 1 x 3.5"), 1 x USB M.2 SATA SSD (offsite), and 1 x USB Flash Drive (offsite). My data (some of it well over 20 years old), is important to me!

[@marcse7en]

​@@Phantom-darkness Either, you're joking; or, you DON'T value your data? ... I'm assuming the former, rather than the latter?

[@Phantom-darkness]

@@marcse7en yes it’s an obvious joke but also the malaise attitude of many out there as well. As op said they never listen.

[@iGamer4tv]

Just got my windows 11 key, thanks for the discount! :D

[@unconnectedbedna]

I agree to everything except one thing. I will assume you meant an external hd when you say "usb hard-drive" because do NOT rely on a thumb drive to store your backups. A standard usb stick is NOT reliable. Also remember, "a backup is not really a backup until you have restored from it". What that means is you should store your backups on the thing you trust MOST to not fail on you, an usb stick is the absolute opposite. For backup solution, I recommend urbackup on a raspberry pi with spinning discs in hd cases (separate power) connected to usb3. Btrfs lets you store "incremental forever" backups.

[@tonywise198]

There are two sorts of computer users -- those who HAVE had a storage drive fail & everyone else who WILL have a storage drive fail. If you don't so anything else today, Backup all your data and do it now - and keep 3 copies, one not on your premises.

[@gman7949]

When plugging in a new drive to get it to display in Crystal disk into you can go to function and then rescan and it will pick it up. This saves you from having to close and reopen the app.

[@ronguin7062]

really great advise and information here.

[@barrettloganj13]

got lucky that I caught my external HDD failing before the warranty expires WD says I voided the warranty but I Counter-claimed that I got confirmation that opening the case to get the serial number was ok. All within the warranty period. And the drive is a birthday gift.

[@jothain]

5:30 I'd put that even more roughly. Semiconductors virtually never warn user before dying. Gotta agree on the vid. I suspect like 99% of users overestimate their drive usages. Unless one is editing like long 4k videos all the time, one really shouldn't be afraid. Though it's good idea to try to keep some storage left on drives to prevent writing to same cells all the time. But even this is generally done by the drive firmware these days.

[@seferon100]

Thank you very much for this video. Any recommendation about which software to use for Back up all data ? Thank you.

[@Knards]

I learned my lessons. None of my documents, downloads, pictures or any of the library folders are on the C drive. And nor are they on Onedrive

[@janchristianursuaaguilar7434]

thats the reasons why optical media drives on pc's should be mandatory and selling a pc without a bluray burner is a capital punishment

[@SevernBeach]

Great videos. CrystalDiskInfo handy bit of software. Do you recommend any similar program for USB sticks that seem to playing up ?

[@xjpsmithx]

@14:12 The raw value is in Hexadecimal. 1600C0 = 1,441,984

[@JoeyAnswer]

I love this program! I do a have question with types of drives. I’m nearly out of space on a 4TB and I’m unsure which would be the best for price. I was looking at 10TB consumer drives but then saw Enterprise hard drives at 20TB. I use this as my backup drive. Great video your work is appreciated.

[@KeinNiemand]

Depends on how much storage you need if you're sure you won't need more then X storage there no reason to pay more. If you actually need a lot of storage I've found that at least in my country 18TB enterprise drives in terms of Cost/TB but that may vary. But obously that drive would be a waste of money if you're never gonna need that much storage.

[@JoeyAnswer]

@@KeinNiemand thank you for the advice. I never though I’d ever fill up 4TB and I did lol

[@klwthe3rd]

I would have to disagree that an SSD won't show signs of starting to fail. I work in IT Security and i write to my laptops each and every night so that my entire drive endures a wiping algorithm on each and every sector. After 5 years my drive is down to 45% of it's health and it's still working fine. BUT...One time on another one of my laptops i noticed(using Crystal Disk Mark) that my write speeds were way down and i knew that those results were way below the normal range. The drive was under warranty from the manufacturer and i submitted the drive through an SMA and talked to the rep about the issue. He told me that a lot of warranty claims are from failing controller chips on SSD's and the best way to tell if they are about to go bad, is to do what i did - check the speeds(read and writes) often. And he stated that if the writes in particular are much lower than normal, it's a real bad sign. The reason is that SSD's are designed to preserved the READ capabilities if they are going to fail so you can still recover your data. They do this by slowing the write cycles speeds way down. So that is a chief indicator to be on the look out for on those drives.

[@mdd1963]

Encrypt the disk? Wiping an SSD daily is… just goofy.

[@gregmurdoch3264]

Seriously backup your stuff to 3 places, daily to a drive you have local, weekly to a drive / server you keep within the house, and then the last week for a year off perm.

[@samuraiwarriorsunite]

I have a clone SSD that has my entire operating system on it. Having had a hard drive fail and losing valuable data I decided better safe than sorry. Of course, HDDs still have their place when it comes to storage and data recovery.

[@worstalentscout]

you too ??......i have 2 clones of my boot drive......i'm not IT-savvy and don't know how to restore the backup image.........i also have 3 copies of my any data i wanna keep

[@markperalta4831]

This is where I get my tech advice. Not LTT anymore.

[@aperson1181]

I am trying to help my elderly mom with her Win PC backups. What method would you recommend for less attended backups, or non-attended? What type of a drive to backup?

[@StriderRyu7]

Thanks for this! Also,what tool do you suggest to data recover crashed SSD’s?

[@jimdavis6833]

If you can plug it in as a USB (using an adapter), and it mounts, you can easily move your data. If it doesn't mount, you've most likely lost it. Open Disk management to see if it shows up there at all. If it does, and you can mark it as active, assign a drive letter, "without formatting it", you can probably save your data. If Windows tells you that you need to format it 1st, then you are out of luck.

[@StriderRyu7]

@@jimdavis6833 Figured as much…. I thought there was a quality recovery suite that could rescue data off a SSD. Thanks.

[@NonLegitNation2]

I have one SSD where Crystal Disk Info just says good health but doesn't show a percentage, but on my other SSDs it does show a percentage. Do you know why that may be? For that particular SDD I was originally using it in an External case (but it's an internal SSD) but then later just connected it internally, could that be the reason it doesn't show a percentage? Also I heard that when an SSD if about to fail it usually will only allow it to be read but won't allow any data to be written to it. I heard that is a feature or SMART or TRIM and it allows the user to read the data and transfer it to another HDD or SSD before the SSD completely fails.

[@goldotex]

Spot ON! Awesome content!

[@marcse7en]

I have 5 backup; 3 x HDD (2 x 2.5" + 1 x 3.5"), 1 x USB M.2 SATA SSD (offsite), and 1 x USB Flash Drive (offsite). My data (some of it well over 20 years old), is important to me! EDIT: You DON'T need to close Crystal Disk Info to detect a newly connected drive. Just select "rescan" from the menu.

[@nelsonlunas]

Function-Advanced feature-RAW Values-10 Dec

[@bigviktor2202]

I have a little nas with 2 6tb hard drives set up in raid 1, backing up all my data, fortunately never had failing SSDs yet

[@DigiDriftZone]

I have an NVME SSD connected to an NVME USB enclosure and this is preventing the software from showing health information for the drive. Any solution to that?

[@jimdavis6833]

Call me paranoid. I have all of my personal data, movies, photos, music, etc. all backed up on not only 2 HDDS (Drives E & F) in my PC, but also on 2 external 2TB SAmsung T7 SSDs.

[@doncoons6761]

i have an issue with USB drive. I cannot see it in my drive listing. it is a PNY USB 16GB. How can I repair it to see it and use it? Great videos!

[@001delight9]

I like the Shizuku edition of CrystalDiskInfo

[@Jakeu1701]

You need to stop stalking me. My HDD recently died on my media server and I just replaced the primary drive with a SSD before watching this vid. I will be replacing the HDD that failed with the old boot HDD I swapped with the SSD (old boot HDD did not die). I found out about the bad drive when I tried to watch content on it. Media player could not find content, so I checked the file explorer, but the drive was gone. Then someone in the house said, "yeah, there was a weird clicking yesterday." UGH!

[@TheWolfster001]

Referring to that old video I Like the name "Little Jerks" LOL.. But speciously The name of that nas you couldn't pronounce.. The X in that name has a "Z" Sound.. It is pronounced Zig Ma Nas.. Hope this helps.. Loved the video, Thank you for sharing..

[@aymaneSlayer]

Why backup? Cant we restore all the data from hdd drivers? (They never really got deleated)

[@eddiebug1]

My external drive is in caution status so I will have to replace it as that is where I store my digital movies, shows, pictures and more but I don't use it that much

[@kuoasify]

i ended up being smart by buying out one of them backup rescue drives were i only have it plugged in if im backing somthing up

[@therealjamespickering]

Nothing worse than having a hard drive die on you? I guess you've never stood on a landmine. 😂

[@davidkroft]

Disclaimer : *No SSD was (heavily) abused during the making of this video.*

[@atucci23]

Hi can you update there is no link to the crystal software

[@ramih_ma]

Hello my friend I think your content is great about customizing Windows Is there a way to modify Windows to resemble GNOME on Linux? Unfortunately, I did not find useful content during my online search, and most of the results indicate how to make GNOME look like Windows and not the other way around I think that GNOME is beautiful and it is my favorite interface on Linux, but unfortunately I have left Linux now because it does not meet my needs, but I am annoyed by the Windows interface, and what is most annoying is that it is difficult to modify, unlike GNOME, which can be modified with some extensions.

[@alexbright7735]

Oh crap, what a story. Must have taken years to get over. My backup drive failed other month so just replaced. Keep it backed up ..also I do not trust that key website appears dodgy

[@enkuneheyob3499]

My trusty 2TB HDD sits in eerie silence, its temperature maintaining a cool demeanor. However, when subjecting it to the scrutiny of HDD Regenerator, it unveiled a disconcerting secret - over 500 bad sectors lurking within its digital depths. To add insult to injury, it somberly proclaimed that its 'MBR is damaged,' imploring me to connect it as an internal drive. Is there a glimmer of hope left for its resurrection in this digital realm

[@Graham6410]

I always try to have at least two backups, one to an external drive and the other on a cloud computer.

[@juancamilosuarezsarquezuan8911]

Bro i have an asus zenbook. It stukc on bios utility es mode, but the Windows boot its missing

[@fvrrljr]

CPU-Z that's what i always used but after watching CrystalDisk Info i'm sold! i just installed it on my Win7 with a mechanical hard drive also installed it with on my Win 11 with SSD this ssd drive crashes i've followed your tutorial from your SFC video post. i just reboot since DISM yada yada says ssd drive it OK crystal disk says Good (100%) anyway i installed the anime ones in not into the SSD's they're growing on me

[@knection1986]

I have a program called Hard Disk Sentinel and monitor my drives like a hawk. I lost one drive due to not paying attention to it and I won't ever make that mistake again.

[@pushthebutton8723]

This helped me alot

[@debeeriz]

l have had 2 ssd go one me, both gave no warning they just died, l am reluctant to use them for data storage now, so only use them to boot up and store my data on spinning drives, ine samsung failed within the warranty period and the wd just out of it

[@stevenichols5708]

What cloning software do you recommend?

[@mdd1963]

Macrium Reflect is nice.

[@stevenichols5708]

@@mdd1963 thanks

[@johnpedersen8387]

I use spinning disc as a data drive and ssd as system drive.

[@Van-zf9iw]

I need to get better with backups. I have lost access to a gmail account during a windows upgrade. That's one way to end spam though.

[@aussiejace8572]

wheres the link for that programe

[@johnpedersen8387]

I have backups in 3 places. 2 desktops and a external usb harddrive.

[@jx5189]

I have heard the S.M.A.R.T percentage in lifespan is just a estimate there is nothing in the firmware at 0% that will put the ssd in read only mode in an non enterprise ssd. I have talked to someone that said his ssd is still working he is using 20 percent past his complete lifespan I would like your opinion on this. I know you shouldn't rely on ssd with a zero percent just want to know how accurate S.M.A.R.T is?

[@georgeprice4212]

My HDD has already died. But, the HP built in tests not only recognizes it, but it passes every single test! Yet, when I go to the usual use, nothing.

[@georgeprice4212]

And no, no important files were lost. I use it as a glorified jukebox and have the music on vinyl and cd.

[@matthew.tamasco]

What do people prefer for backups over a home network to/from mapped network drives? I use Karen's Replicator but it does not appear to be getting any updates.

[@sleekbook]

Hard Disk Sentinel Linux GUI for linux user. SSD / Hard disk manufacture app mostly for windows only

[@maxgood42]

I just learned that I have a 1million petabyte drive in my driveway.

[@CyberCPU]

That's a lot of petabytes.

[@maxgood42]

@@CyberCPU Yeah and I can relocate it using only 1 tow truck

[@David_Quinn1995]

I am really parinoid about back ups, my desktop backs up the data I care about nightly and my desktop is in a 2 SSD Mirror so if one SSD fails I can still use my PC and my NAS had 9 drives in a RaidZ3 and in 20 years of being around PCs luckily we've never experianced an HDD fail on us.

[@michaelfaklis8169]

"SMART" kept wasting Seagate 2TB 7200RPM drives on my system. I went through a dozen drives due to "SMART". It's inconceivable that so many drives went bad, I attributed it to poor SATA cabling. The worst thing is that after upgrading all of the SATA cables, those drives with bogus SMART errors were still wasted. I was unable to find any way to test the drives to reset the SMART errors, so they are still unusable.

[@shank2644]

I often receive error on Windows 10. Repair drive error, is my ssd dying too ?

[@mdd1963]

Not good!

[@666Counterforce]

I read that there are currently ten-thousands of filed cases from Microsoft because of cheap Windows keys...

[@mdd1963]

11:23 Intel SSD at work? Once you’ve exhausted your allowable writes per a 4-5 year budget-- EFf yourself, writes disabled!

[@Fr0stM00n]

one of my favorite laptop HDDs failed DURING the back up process! very sad.... another HDD died WHILE moving files that i believe happened due to Win 10 going into sleep mode! now that HDD is a brick and gives CRC errors with all data lost!

[@chaddaZA]

Mine just died 😂 no warning no nothing. Hardly ever used it, it was a back up of a back up. More like a main drive for personal saves. That thing just left the chat with no hesi 😂

[@DavidNationSr]

do u know why uupdump is down

[@ethimself5064]

I have 2 known bad sectors

[@Tweaker420666]

I thought my hard drive was dying, it showed all the signs and then failed to boot. I bought a new one, which was stupid, because I later ran fsck on that drive, it marked the bad sectors, and still spins to this day. Obviously, this is not an SSD though.

[@buttman12954]

fsck? would you tell a bit more? because i feel like my hdd is dying but i’m unsure should I get a new one or not

[@amirbahalegharn365]

reputable ssd lives longer and we have so many ,so many brands of ssd unlike HDD. that's why we see more people who are saying their ssd has died in less than a 3-5 years.

[@lukeb7954]

I bet if Windows did not chug hard drives far less would have failed. I have an old pc and I can hear the hard drive just clicking non stop.

[@PrimalSonic]

My SSD used to keep wiping my Nvida Driver when it was starting to fail had to reinstall it before I could Start SFM

[@CR_eric2.0]

chrome os on windows? how?

[@adamtajhassam9188]

HDD might not be dead but Windows 11 has no remorse 4 HDDS and neither do i

[@Ti-JAC]

Seriously?!? - You trust the cloud (AKA Someone else computer.)🤨

[@franciscohorna5542]

yes indeed had 1tb mechanical toshiba hdd on lenovo laptop it died after 3 years now using icoolax 1tb 2.5 ssd here way way much faster than other mechanical hdd infect took it to tech guy and he could not clone it with acronus cause of bad sectors