Hi there! I have an NVME M.2 SSD that I suspect may be failing. According to CrystalDiskInfo, the status is showing bad at 0%, with a critical warning (4) and a percentage used indicator (BF). However, when I run the chkdsk /F command, it reports that "Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems." How can I determine if my SSD is actually failing or not?
6 Answers
Chkdsk will check for data corruption and try to fix that, but what you're seeing is more of a heads-up that the drive might fail soon. It's best to start looking for a replacement.
What brand and model of SSD are you using?
Great advice here! Seriously, don’t put this off. When I see error codes, I just use the drive for temporary storage and nothing critical. But given its warning, either phase it out or replace it if you can.
Go with the CrystalDiskInfo readings for diagnosis. If you're seeing such a significant issue, your BIOS might also throw warnings at startup—unless those SMART alerts are disabled. Chkdsk just means nothing's corrupted yet; however, once the drive hits its rated lifespan, it’s best not to rely on it for important data.
Keep in mind that chkdsk only checks for corrupted data and doesn’t assess the internal health of the SSD. Since CrystalDiskInfo says your SSD is on the fritz, I suggest making a full backup ASAP before it completely fails. If it becomes inaccessible, you won't be able to retrieve your data.
You should definitely check the SMART info from the drive. Just search for "SSD SMART test Windows" and it should help you get a clearer picture.
Ok, thanks for the advice!