When your computer starts experiencing hardware issues, two components often come into question—your RAM and your hard drive or SSD. In this guide, I’ll show you how to determine whether your hard drive or SSD is faulty using two free tools: Seagate SeaTools and Crystal Disk Info.
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to test your hard drive or SSD using Seagate SeaTools and Crystal Disk Info.
- Understand the difference between quick and extended tests for your drives.
- How to diagnose faulty drives connected via USB and what steps to take next.
Requirements
To follow this guide, you’ll need:
- A Windows PC.
- Seagate SeaTools (Download link in the guide).
- Crystal Disk Info (Download link in the guide).
- Optional: Manufacturer-specific drive monitoring software.
Tip: Seagate SeaTools works on all hard drive or SSD manufacturers products, but HDD & SSD manufacturers usually also provide their own diagnostic tools, which you can use to monitor your drive’s health. Check your manufacturer’s website if you prefer to use their software.
Why Test Your Hard Drive or SSD?
Faulty hard drives or SSDs can cause slowdowns, data corruption, and even total system failure. By proactively testing your drives, you can prevent data loss and ensure your computer runs smoothly. I’ll guide you through two reliable tools that can help you check the health of your drives, so you can take action if needed.
Step-by-Step: How to Test Your Hard Drive or SSD
Using Seagate SeaTools
Download and Install
- Head over to the Seagate SeaTools website and download the Windows version.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install the program.
Running a Quick Test
- Launch Seagate SeaTools and accept the license agreement.
- Select the hard drive or SSD you want to test.
- Click on Quick Test to perform a short diagnostic test. This will give you an initial indication of whether your drive is healthy or not.
Note: The Quick Test is a basic scan. For more in-depth analysis, continue to the extended tests.
Running an Extended Test
- Click on Extended Test for a more thorough scan of your drive.
Using SeaTools in a Linux Environment
- If your PC can’t boot into Windows, you can create a bootable USB drive with Seagate SeaTools. This allows you to run the tests in a Linux environment.
Tip: This is especially useful if you’re dealing with a non-booting computer.
Using Crystal Disk Info
Download and Install
- Download Crystal Disk Info and follow the prompts to install.
Check Health Status
- Launch the program and take a look at the Health Status for each drive.
If you notice a “Caution” warning or if the program shows any reallocated sectors, your drive could be failing, and you should back up your data immediately.
Troubleshooting External Hard Drives
If you’re testing an external drive connected via USB, Seagate SeaTools may sometimes report the drive as “healthy,” but a test may abort midway through. This is a sign of trouble, as the connection type could interfere with testing. In this case:
- Connect the drive directly via SATA for more accurate testing results.
Fixing Errors with Seagate SeaTools
- If Seagate SeaTools detects errors during its tests, it may give you the option to fix them using the Fix All button.
Important: While the tool may fix some errors, this is a temporary solution. If errors are detected, you should back up your data and replace the drive as soon as possible.
Using Hiren’s Boot CD and Ventoy
- If you can’t get your computer to boot and need another way to diagnose hard drives, you can use Hiren’s Boot CD or Ventoy to create a bootable rescue disk.
Tip: Check out my Ventoy Rescue Drive guide where I showed how to create a rescue disk using Ventoy and Hiren’s Boot CD. It’s a great tool for diagnosing hard drive issues when you can’t access Windows.
Conclusion
Testing your hard drive or SSD is essential in diagnosing hardware issues and preventing data loss. Using tools like Seagate SeaTools and Crystal Disk Info gives you a reliable way to check your drive’s health. If any errors show up during the tests, it’s time to replace the drive and back up your data. Don’t wait until it’s too late!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Seagate SeaTools?
Seagate SeaTools is a free diagnostic tool used to check the health of Seagate hard drives and SSDs. It can also test drives from other manufacturers.
Can I use Crystal Disk Info for all types of drives?
Yes, Crystal Disk Info works with both HDDs and SSDs from any manufacturer.
What does a caution status in Crystal Disk Info mean?
A caution status usually indicates that the drive has bad sectors or another fault, and you should back up your data immediately.
Should I use the Quick Test or Extended Test?
The Quick Test is good for a quick check, but the Extended Test is more thorough and should be used when diagnosing potential faults.
Can I fix my faulty drive using Seagate SeaTools?
Seagate SeaTools might allow you to “fix” some errors, but this is not a permanent solution. If your drive has errors, you should replace it as soon as possible.