Worried About an SSD Failure? – Know the Signs of a Drive Failure

Unlike Hard Drives (HDDs), Solid State Drives (SSDs) do not make noise. As a result, those who own computers with SSDs can no longer count on noticing the signs of hard drive failure by the sound of a slowing, stuttering, whirling disk in your computer’s drive. Alas, the bad hard drive symptoms we were all familiar with no longer apply.

SSDs do not have moving parts. But they require other components such as capacitors and power supplies. These components can malfunction, especially as a result power surges and power failures. For example, the wrong power surge at the wrong time might corrupt some existing data without completely knocking out the drive. Finally, all flash memory has limited read/write cycles, which means they will eventually wear out.

But SSDs are very durable and reliable. With each improved generation, many of the read-write issues of the past have been resolved, and your SSDs should last a long time. However, nothing lasts forever, so it is vital to recognize the signs of SSD drive failure.

Signs of SSD Failure

• Some Files Cannot Be Written or Read – When your system fails to write or read data, it is always important to take it very seriously. Even what appears to be an isolated event is probably a sign of things to come. Any difficulty in reading or writing files should be addressed immediately. Before the system corruption is rampant and your data is at risk, employ an IT consultant for a complete evaluation to determine if repair is possible or replacement is needed.
• Receiving Error Messages Reporting “Bad Blocks” – symptoms that might be prompting such error messages include:
  • A slow-moving computer and increasing difficulty accessing larger files.
  • Applications repeatedly freezing while open.
  • Difficulty with and error alerts popping up while moving files.
  • Problems reading and writing files.
• Computer Crashes When Booting Up – If your computer repeatedly crashes during booting up, this is probably a warning sign that your SSD or HDD is on the way out. Even if everything works once you’ve fully booted up, this is another time when you should contact a professional IT consultant for an expert analysis of your system.
• Your System Needs to Be Repaired – When you receive this error message, it can be a warning sign that your SSD has a problem with a connector port or is developing bad blocks. The great news is that Windows, Mac IOS and Linux all have excellent built-in tools for repairing corrupt system files, and you should follow the automatic prompts you receive to apply those tools and restore your files.

General Warning: Corrupt File System Restoration can lose data in the process. Back up all your data regularly. Decide what schedule works best for you and maintain it.

Regular IT maintenance can help a small to midsized business owner keep computers and networks healthy and fully functional and reduce the chances of SSD and HDD failures. IT professionals can recognize bad hard drive symptoms and solid-state drive failures before they affect your business.

Case Studies

• A prominent mid-sized law firm in Manhattan ignored error messages popping up on screens for users in different departments. The managing partner stalled on addressing the issues because she felt, “With computers, little glitches will come up from time to time, but we are here to practice law.” So, she decided to take no action. Six weeks later, the firm’s entire system went down, and when IT professionals were able to restore it, random segments of important data were lost. The cost to the law firm would not have been as substantial had the firm engaged in regular IT maintenance.
• A small family medical urgent care facility in Evanston, Illinois, experienced severe problems with system crashes. Many nurses and technicians complained about needing multiple reboots to start work and incidences of unreadable files and strange error messages. The center had a part-time IT professional come in only when needed. Otherwise, the only precautionary measure it took was regularly backing up the private patient data it is required by law to protect. When the entire system crashed, it took three days for the center’s IT consultant to fully restore the system, and the shutdown hindered the processing of urgent care patients. Fortunately, the IT expert repaired the system, and the most important data was rescued and restored.

There are affordable options to help manage all your IT needs. GEEK-AID^® Computer and Network Support specializes in customized Managed IT Services for small to midsized businesses. GEEK-AID^®’s team of experts is comprised of specialists in different areas of IT services, serving clients on-site and remotely. The GEEK-AID^® team doesn’t clock out at five o’clock on Friday. They are available 24/7 to ensure your computers, network and data stay healthy and secure. As your business grows, expands its network and adds more devices such as smart controls, wireless access and remote access, your network vulnerability and need for regular IT support will grow, too. Hardware and software installation and maintenance, repair, security and network protection must be consistent, proactive and not wait for a system failure or data breach.

Call (877) GEEK-AID (877-433-5243) to evaluate and discuss your IT needs. Remember, we are here for you 24/7.