The best programs for working with ssd drives. We check the SSD drive for errors and performance. Appendix B: SSD drives

During the operation of any drive, various types of errors may appear over time. While some can simply interfere with work, others can completely damage the disk. That is why it is recommended to periodically scan disks. This will allow you not only to identify and fix problems, but also to copy the necessary data to reliable media in a timely manner.

So, today we will talk about how to check your SSD for errors. Since we physically cannot do this, we will use special utilities, who will diagnose the drive.

Method 1: Using the CrystalDiskInfo utility

To test the disk for errors, we will use a free program. It is quite easy to use and at the same time fully displays information about the status of all disks in the system. We just need to launch the application and we will immediately receive all the necessary data.

In addition to collecting information about the drive, the application will conduct a S.M.A.R.T analysis, based on the results of which you can judge SSD performance. In total, this analysis contains about two dozen indicators. CrystalDiskInfo displays the current value, worst case value, and threshold of each indicator. Moreover, the latter means minimum value attribute (or indicator) at which the disk can be considered faulty. For example, let's take an indicator like "Remaining SSD resource» . In our case, the current and worst value is 99 units, and its threshold is 10. Accordingly, when the threshold value is reached, it’s time to look for a replacement for your solid-state drive.

If during analysis disk CrystalDiskInfo detected erasing errors, software errors or failures, in this case it is also worth thinking about the reliability of your SSD.

Based on the test results, the utility also gives an assessment technical condition disk. In this case, the assessment is expressed as percentage, and quality. So, if CrystalDiskInfo rated your drive as "Fine", then there is nothing to worry about, but if you see the rating "Anxiety", which means we should expect the SSD to fail soon.

Method 2: Using the SSDLife utility

SSDLife is another tool that will allow you to evaluate the performance of the disk, the presence of errors, and also conduct S.M.A.R.T analysis. The program has a simple interface, so even a beginner can understand it.

Like the previous utility, immediately after launch SSDLife will conduct an express check of the disk and display all the basic data. Thus, to check the drive for errors, you just need to launch the application.

The program window can be divided into four areas. First of all, we will be interested in the upper area, where an assessment of the condition of the disk is displayed, as well as the approximate service life.

The second area contains information about the disk, as well as an estimate of the health of the disk in percentage terms.

If you want to get more detailed information about the status of the drive, then press the button "S.M.A.R.T." and get the results of the analysis.

The third area is information about the exchange with the disk. Here you can see how much data was written or read. This data is for informational purposes only.

And finally, the fourth area is the application control panel. Through this panel you can access the settings, reference information, and also restart the scan.

Method 3: Using the Data Lifeguard Diagnostic Utility

Another utility for testing is the company's development Western Digital, which is called Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. This tool supports not only WD drives, but also other manufacturers.

Immediately after launch, the application diagnoses all disks that are in the system? and displays the result in a small table. Unlike the tools discussed above, this one displays only the condition assessment.

For a more detailed scan, just double-click with the left mouse button on the line with the required disk, choose required test(quick or detailed) and wait until the end.

Then, by clicking on the button "VIEW TEST RESULT"? you can see the results, where it will be displayed brief information about the device and condition assessment.

Conclusion

Thus, if you decide to diagnose your SSD drive, then there are quite a lot of tools at your service. In addition to those discussed here, there are also ones that can analyze the drive and report any errors.

Not long ago I bought myself on aliexpress solid state hard disk, in other words - SSD, and even . The disk arrived, was installed and worked great for several months. But in Lately I began to notice that the disk began to “choke” often, and sometimes I just had to ROUGHly turn off the laptop. Doubt crept in: was my Chinese “friend” screwed up? How to check SSD functionality?

At the beginning I began to sin on Ubuntu, maybe it started to glitch? I often install new programs, and although Linux is much more stable in this regard than Windows, it can also be ruined.

And so yesterday I decided to reinstall the system so that I would have time. Decided . But it was not there! After the first installation I was unable to log into home folder, which I have encrypted.

Although I did not scan (perhaps in vain) to the end, it was clear that in general all the cells were working perfectly. But I didn’t calm down and downloaded another program - HDDScan, and scanned it for her.

And this program showed that my first sector was killed! Just one, could it cause such problems? Or is this program only suitable for regular HDD? I don't know yet, but I know what I will do.

Since this is the first sector, when marking the disk, I will leave an unmarked area at the beginning so that this sector does not work. If this doesn't help, then I don't know what to do.

How to check SSD for errors in Linux?

In Linux, for this purpose, as I understand it, there is only console program(although maybe I was looking wrong), everything is checked like this:

Sudo badblocks -v /dev/sdc > ~/test.list

The badblocks utility will check the disk for bad sectors and produce a report in the test.list file, which will appear in home directory. Yes, it’s not very clear, but you can still check it. Maybe you know better programs?

I'll try to bet on this one SSD drive Linux 15.04, I’ll test the new Ubuntu (I haven’t tried installing it yet) and the disk at the same time. I’ll write down in the comments what came out of all this...

Many articles and guides have already been written about vim, translations of its documentation are also in Russian, it is discussed on forums and LUGs. I’m in this article...

Well, friend, you got it! The disk on which the Windows system is installed is locked, are you in a panic and don’t know what to do? There is a banner hanging in the middle of the screen...

10 comments

Today I tried to install Ubuntu 15.04 on this SSD disk, leaving the initial area of ​​the disk unallocated - the installation froze.

I didn’t continue and decided to install Windows 7 - everything was installed, although I don’t know yet whether it will work without failures.

I decided to do this: I inserted an SSD with Windows 7 into the laptop, and external HDD installed Linux. Now I can work in Windows if necessary, but I can boot into Linux from an external drive, so that everything is simple with Linux.

I had some strange problem with the disk (only it was a simple disk), in lninuch it wrote that it was restarting something there, although it was working. In Windows it just started getting really stupid and crawled furiously across the disk. Although everywhere it showed that everything was fine with the disk.
It turned out that I needed to switch to the IDE controller in the BIOS, instead of some strange new one, and everything became okay.

And this happens, but SSD drives are still very different from regular ones and the technology is not yet well developed, which is why there are problems, especially on Chinese ones. But we need something cheaper!

I personally have been using an SSD as a system drive for about six months now. I have a laptop Sony VAIO I had a regular hard drive. Then I installed my SSD there. I’m running Ubuntu 14.04.3; rebooting, if necessary, takes 11-12 seconds - I personally measured it with a stopwatch :-) In the laptop, instead of a drive, there is an additional 1TB hard drive (mount point home directory) .
I use BTRFS everywhere. Previously I used Ext4. I didn't notice any glitches.
Oh yes! I have an SD card from Kingston for 120 gigs. Mounted as root.

SSD is a storage (recording) device whose operation is based on various microcircuits and a controller. Such devices are widely used in many modern devices: laptops, smartphones, tablets and so on. What is it? Improved hard drive! When many people hear the term SSD, they imagine something complicated. However, this is just a recording device, which is present, as already mentioned, in many devices.

What is the difference between an SSD and a hard drive?

If this is a recording device, then why do we need hard disks and what is the difference between them? The main difference is the operating principle. HDD based on magnetic disks(plates), from which constant reading and writing occurs by reversing the magnetization of the cells. SSD, on the other hand, runs on microcircuits and is an oversized flash card.

SSD drives have many advantages, in particular: high speed work, low level noise, light weight. There are also disadvantages, such as: high cost, inability to recover lost data.

One way or another, SSD drives have become firmly entrenched in our lives. When working with them, there is often a need for diagnostics, testing, and optimization. For this there are special programs. Let's look at them in more detail.

Programs for setting up and optimizing ssd

SSD Mini Tweaker

Let's start with something simple and easy. This program designed for fast and efficient setup your SSD drive. It has a simple interface and takes up very little space on your computer (about 3 MB).

After starting the program, one single window appears in front of us:

In it we can choose various parameters, the implementation of which is quite difficult. We tick the boxes that we need and click “Apply changes”. That's all, nothing more is needed. Not bad for a program that takes up so little space.

SSD Life

Also very light and accessible program for working with SSD. It diagnoses the selected disk, displaying the percentage of its health:

The amount of memory that has been written and read over the entire time is available for viewing. The results can be saved, although this is not very useful. Much more required function: automatic check every 4 hours. In case with previous check the status has changed, the program will let you know.

SSD Fresh

Quite a large program with rich functionality. After installation, you will be asked to register the free version. To do this, just enter your data:

After launching the program, we see a main window with three tabs: overview, optimization and settings.

The overview tab presents general information: volume, free and busy place, file system. Of course, it is possible to view S.M.A.R.T data. For those who are not in the know: smart - special technology performance evaluations hard drive. It is a set of fields and values.

But the main function SSD Fresh- disk optimization. Here it is implemented with the highest quality and user convenience:

In each optimization section, the status is clearly presented and there are only two buttons: Optimize and Restore from backup copy. After clicking on the first one, optimization is performed automatically. You can also optimize all parameters by clicking on the button in the upper right corner.

Tweak SSD

A program as easy to use as SSD Life. If the latter's task is to diagnose the device, then Tweak SSD optimizes the disk's performance after pressing one single button.

We reviewed the main programs for diagnostics and SSD optimization disks. Undoubtedly, drives of this type will not lose their relevance for a very long time due to the speed of operation and the absence of unnecessary noise.

An SSD, like any other, is subject to errors and failures. The user may experience the inability to write or delete files, reduced memory, or the need to know the service life. The latter is limited to 3-5 thousand cycles. On average we get 7-13 years of activity.

When purchasing a used storage unit, this is one of the most important details. To know exact figure and you can check the SSD disk for errors using special software.

The best software for diagnosing SSD errors, speed, operating time, optimization

Today there is a large number of programs for working with SSD drives. First, we recommend installing proprietary software from the manufacturer.

This will solve most of your problems: check the disk status, operating speed, update the firmware, activate RAID mode, and more. It can be downloaded from the official website of your drive manufacturer, usually by going to the support section. Names of programs from popular SSD manufacturers.

• Intel Solid State Drive Toolbox
• Samsung Magician
• Kingston Manager
• SanDisk Dashboard
• ADATA ToolBox
• Transcend Scope

Among the wide variety of software, choosing the best is not so easy. One of popular application is SSDLife and Cristal Disk Info. They can often be found in reviews on popular YouTube channels.

We already had articles on our website about testing PC components, we recommend you read them.

SSD Life

This is a shareware application that can calculate the “death” period of a drive based on the intensity of work. Supports almost all well-known brands of SSD. The program displays the following parameters:

• Manufacturer's logo and name
• Presence of decreased performance
• Amount of free and used memory
• Usage statistics for today, yesterday, last 7 days and all time

Crystal Disk Info

Free software made in Japan. Supports Russian language. Using Crystal Disk Info, you can check the speed of an SSD drive. The program displays the temperature of the drive in numbers and color indication, as well as the following parameters:

• Opening hours
• Malfunctions
• Promotion time
• S.M.A.R.T. schedule
• Reading and positioning errors

In total there are over 25 types of data displayed on the screen. The user is prompted to change the design themes. The program also supports external drives, can control noise reduction and energy saving. She was awarded three times by famous publications.

SSD Ready

User-friendly software with a large number free features. The storage life is calculated through an online service using constantly updated databases. To get the maximum accurate information the creator recommends launching the application at the beginning of the day, and at the end of the day, click on the Estimate SSD Life button. A website page will open where your data will be displayed. Otherwise, the set of features is similar to those present in SSD Life.

Tweak SSD

A powerful tool that allows you to optimize your drive and manage its performance. The interface offers a convenient setup wizard. You will be able to do the following:

• Change FS cache size
• Overcome NTFS limits
• Perform TRIM optimization
• Disable application and system loading
• Prohibit defragmentation, paging, indexing, and other tasks

The free version has almost full set functions. Access to the TRIM optimization tab is purchased separately.

Disk Check up

Tracks S.M.A.R.T attributes. to calculate disk lifespan. There is an automatic check of the SSD disk for errors, after which you can view detailed reports. In addition, DiskCheckup can run capacity self-tests to detect failures and changes in the size of the HPA and DCO areas. The following information is displayed:

• Model number
• Interface type
• Geometry Options
• Storage capacity
• Start time, stop time, etc.

The application cannot work with disks connected using SCSI or RAID, only storage devices that support S.M.A.R.T technology. The rest simply will not appear in the menu.

Checking an SSD disk for errors in Windows

Windows 8 and 10 provide storage checking for errors. To conduct testing, we need to log into this computer, then click right click mouse on local disk which we want to check. In the drop-down list, go to properties.

Once in properties, switch to the “Service” tab. There are two items in this tab, select the first one “Check disk for errors in file system" To make it easier for you to understand, we recorded a video.

conclusions

First of all, be sure to install proprietary software. If its functions are not enough, you can choose third party application, which we talked about above. Choosing the right application requires trial and error.

Crystal Disk Info and SSD Life are considered in demand. DiskCheckup is quite easy to use software. Tweak SSD and SSD Ready have a nice interface. If you find errors, you can correct them using the time-tested Victoria program, you should understand that you will correct errors at your own peril and risk. Otherwise, the drive may fail.

Checking an SSD disk using utilities is universal method, which performs several tasks at once.

• First – checking the drive for errors.
• Second – control of the operational life of the device.

The presence and periodic use of such programs for the owner of an SSD drive is not only desirable, but also necessary. After all, the resources of these components of modern PCs and laptops are limited compared to HDDs, and the danger of data loss is higher.

Although these disadvantages are fully compensated by a significant number of advantages from using SSD, due to the difference in their design from standard hard drives.

Features of using SSD drives

SSD drives are solid-state, non-volatile drives whose operating principle is similar to flash memory - SD and microSD cards, USB flash drives and other storage media. Such devices have no moving parts, and use a DDR DRAM chip to transmit data.

Parallel recording of information simultaneously onto several memory elements and the absence of the need to move the heads that read information (typical of HDDs) allows you to increase the speed of the process several times. And if average speed The reading speed of a modern hard drive is about 60 MB/s; even an average SSD drive can deliver 4–5 times higher readings. When recording data, the excess may be smaller, but the process is still much faster.

Rice. 1. Comparison of read and write speeds of SSD and HDD disks.

Loading speed is of particular importance for those computers on which several resource-intensive applications are installed. In this case, only download Windows systems occurs within 15–20 s for a solid-state drive and from 30 to 60 s for a hard drive. The same speed improvement occurs in the process of launching programs and recording data.

Other advantages of using SSD drives include:

• resistance to shocks and falls. A parameter that is important for laptops, the hard drives in which often fail precisely because mechanical damage;
• compactness - many disks are not much larger than the battery in size mobile phone, others have the dimensions of a memory stick;
• extended temperature Range disk operation;
• minimal energy consumption and absence of noise during operation.

Rice. 2. Comparison HDD sizes, standard SSD and mSATA format drive.

However, the operation of SSDs also comes with certain disadvantages. These include the relatively high cost of the drive, although as the capacity increases, the price-to-volume ratio becomes smaller. The second important disadvantage is the limited resource of SSD drives, which is why it is recommended to check them periodically.

Drive diagnostics

the main task SSD disk checks consist of diagnosing its condition and providing information about the presence of errors, resource and expected operational life. This allows the user to know in advance about future problems with the drive, leading to unpredictable loss of information. In addition, based on the results of the check, you can plan financial expenses to purchase a new SSD drive, the cost of which may not allow you to quickly find such an amount if the problem arose unexpectedly.

In addition, checking the drive does not take much time and does not even require the purchase of an expensive software. Utilities can be downloaded online for free or purchased for an amount not exceeding the cost of a standard antivirus program. While it is impossible to recover lost information from SSDs, unlike hard drives.

The best utilities for checking SSD drives

To check the status of the hard drive, drive manufacturers and third party developers Dozens of applications have already been released. Most of them are free or shareware, that is, requiring payment only some time after the start of use. Their effectiveness is almost the same, but the differences lie in ease of use and functionality.

SSD Life

SSD Utility Life represents one of the simplest software for working with solid state drives. With its help, you can diagnose the disk and display its resource indicators as a percentage.

The application has 3 versions - one portable and two that require installation (free and advanced paid SSD Life Pro). The installed programs are distinguished by their ability to work in background, displaying the drive status in real time. Among the functions of the utility, it is worth paying attention to the ability automatic diagnostics every 4 hours and saving the results of previous checks.

Rice. 3. SSD Life main window when checking new and old SSD.

CrystalDiskInfo

Another one free program for control SSD status checks the read and write speed of the drive, monitors its temperature and resource. In addition, CrystalDiskInfo supports S.M.A.R.T technology to assess the health of disks and, like SSDLife, is available in several versions - portable and installed on a computer.

The second version constantly monitors the operation of the drive, informing the user about detection bad sectors and other errors. But the portable version does not require installation and can be used both on someone else’s and on a work PC.

Rice. 4. Scan a 64GB SSD using the CrystalDiskInfo application.

DiskCheckup

The process of checking a solid-state drive can also be carried out using a simple DiscCheckup program. Its task is to determine the speed and performance of the drive (and at the same time all that are installed on the computer, including both SSD and HDD). Among the information displayed on the screen you can find:

• number of mistakes;
• disk temperature;
• read and write speed characteristics.

Rice. 5. Checking disks using the DiscCheckup utility.

SSD Ready

When checking the status of your SSD, you can use the SSDReady application, which only works with solid-state drives. The result of the check is an estimate of the expected operating time of the device based on the collected statistics on writing and reading data. The program runs in the background and requires virtually no resources.

Rice. 6. SSDReady application.

Hard Disk Sentinel

Application Feature Hard Disk Sentinel, designed to monitor hard drives, monitors performance degradation or exceeds acceptable temperature levels and reports this to the user. The application constantly checks the speed of information transfer, temperature regime and other parameters. Among its features:

• work with SSD drives, IDE and SATA drives, and even USB drives;
• displaying information about the current and minimum temperature;
• indication of the number of errors and disk operating hours in hours;
• indication of not only the current, but also the maximum possible information transfer mode for the disk.

Rice. 7. Working with the Hard Disk Sentinel program.

HDDScan

Located in free access The HDDScan program allows you to diagnose hard drives of any type, check them for errors and monitor the “health” of the drives. The utility works in real time and, if necessary, displays a detailed report on the status of the disk, which can be saved for further use.

Rice. 8. HDDScan program report.

SSD Tweaker

Free app SSD Tweaker is easy to operate and allows the user to do more than just control the state solid state drives, but also disable in operating system unnecessary operations that reduce the life of the disk. For example, such as indexing service and Windows defragmentation. Settings can be configured manually or automatically.

Rice. 9. Working window SSD programs Tweaker.

HD Tune

The HD Tune app comes in several variants − free version and paid HD Tune Pro. The first provides testing of the status of hard drives (including SSDs) and memory cards. The shareware utility, for which you will have to pay $38, has expanded functionality, allowing you to control almost all disk parameters and conduct a number of additional tests.

Rice. 10. Diagnostics using HD Tune Pro.

Regardless of the program you choose to diagnose your SSD drive, at least one of them must be installed on your computer (or run from time to time if it is impossible to install on a working PC).

At the same time, if the drive does not contain too important information, the frequency of checking can be changed by setting, for example, diagnostics not every 4 hours, but once a day. Moreover, despite the higher level of reliability HDDs, using most of the same applications, you can periodically monitor their status, increasing the security of data storage.

Video instructions for checking an SSD drive

Checking the SSD drive: best utilities for diagnostics and performance improvement