Why this matters
Drives wear out, and failure often comes without much warning. Checking drive health lets you replace a failing drive and back up your data before you lose it.
What you'll need
- Your Windows computer
- An administrator account
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1
Back up first
If you suspect a problem, back up important files before running any checks.
Step 2
Check drive health in Settings (Windows 11)
Go to Settings, System, Storage, Advanced storage settings, Disks & volumes. Select your drive and choose Properties. NVMe SSDs show "Drive health" with estimated remaining life and temperature.
Step 3
Check status with PowerShell
Right-click Start, open Terminal (Admin) and run: Get-PhysicalDisk | Select FriendlyName, MediaType, HealthStatus. "Healthy" is good; "Warning" or "Unhealthy" means act now.
Step 4
Check for file system errors
Open File Explorer, right-click your drive, choose Properties, Tools, then "Check". This scans for and repairs file system errors.
Step 5
Watch for physical warning signs
Clicking or grinding noises, frequent freezing, very slow file access or files that will not open can indicate a failing drive.
Summary
A quick health check every few months, plus reliable backups, means a drive failure becomes an inconvenience rather than a disaster.
Still Need Help?
Some IT problems are easier to solve with a professional. If you've followed the guide and still need help, the Omnicron team can assist.