Hard drive failures often come without warning — and they can take all your data with them. But if you know the signs, you can catch the problem early and save yourself a big headache. Here’s what to look out for:
Common Signs of a Failing HDD
➡️ Clicking or grinding noises
That ticking or buzzing sound isn’t normal — it could mean physical damage inside your drive.
➡️ Slow file access or boot times
If your computer is suddenly taking forever to start up or open files, it might be the hard drive slowing things down.
➡️ Frequent system crashes or freezing
Especially if they happen while opening or saving files.
➡️ Corrupted or disappearing files
If files start vanishing or won’t open, your HDD might be failing.
Signs of a Failing SSD
➡️ Frequent crashes during boot
SSDs can suddenly stop working, especially if the system files are on bad sectors.
➡️ Read/Write errors
You might see random file corruption or apps refusing to install.
➡️ System freezes or “read-only” mode
Some SSDs enter a safe read-only mode when they detect serious issues.
➡️ SMART errors
These are early warnings your SSD might send. (Check for these below.)
What You Can Do Right Now
- Back up your data ASAP
- Check your drive’s health using:
If you’re seeing any signs above, we recommend running a full diagnostic for your device!
