How to Check Laptop Hard Drive Health in 2025

Keeping your laptop’s hard drive in good condition is essential for protecting your data and maintaining performance. With modern laptops relying on SSDs and HDDs, understanding drive health helps prevent unexpected failures and data loss. This guide explains how to monitor your hard drive’s status using built-in tools and third-party software, based on 2025 best practices.

Why Hard Drive Health Matters

Laptop hard drives—whether HDDs (mechanical) or SSDs (solid-state)—degrade over time due to wear, heat, and power fluctuations. While SSDs are more durable and faster, both types suffer from declining performance as they age. Early detection of bad sectors, error rates, or temperature spikes can prevent catastrophic failure, saving you from costly data recovery or replacement.

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Laptop Drive Health

You don’t need advanced tech knowledge to assess your drive. Follow these simple, reliable methods:

1. Use Built-in Windows Tools (Windows ¹⁰⁄₁₁)

Windows provides diagnostics for storage health via the Settings app and Command Prompt. To run a full health check:

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator and execute: chkdsk C: /f /r (replace C: with your drive letter). This scans for errors and repairs bad sectors.
• For deeper insight, use the ‘Storage Sense’ and ‘Solid State Drive (SSD)’ settings to monitor health via the Settings > System > Storage menu, which shows current health status and wear leveling data.

2. Check SMART Attributes via Third-Party Tools

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) collects real-time data about drive health. Tools like CrystalDiskInfo (free) display SMART readings including:

• Reallocated Sector Count (indicates bad sectors)
• Current Status (e.g., Healthy, Warning, Unhealthy)
• Temperature trends Launch CrystalDiskInfo, select your drive, and review the SMART report. A rising Reallocated Sector count signals potential failure risk.

3. Monitor Temperature During Use

Overheating drastically shortens drive lifespan. Use software like HWMonitor or Core Temp to track drive temperature while gaming, rendering, or heavy use. Ideal operating temps stay under 50°C; sustained heat above 70°C increases failure chances. Ensure proper ventilation—clean fans and avoid soft surfaces blocking airflow.

4. Run Regular Backups and Diagnostics

Even if your drive shows good health, back up data weekly using cloud services or external drives. Automated diagnostics via tools like Samsung Magician (for SSDs) or AOMEI Partition Assistant provide detailed health trends and firmware updates to maintain optimal performance.

Key Signs Your Hard Drive Needs Attention

• Frequent crashes or blue screens during startup
• Slow boot times or file access delays
• Strange noises (clicking, grinding)—a sign of mechanical failure in HDDs
• Error messages related to storage or boot issues

Conclusion

Protecting your laptop’s hard drive doesn’t require professional intervention every time—just regular checks and proactive care. Use built-in diagnostics, monitor SMART data, and keep temperatures low to extend your drive’s life. When in doubt, back up your data and consult a certified technician. Don’t wait for failure—start monitoring your drive health today for peace of mind and uninterrupted productivity.