I'm considering getting a used hard drive just for cold backup. I'll probably access the files only once a month to update them. Since I'm on a tight budget in my country, I can't go for a brand-new backup HDD. Is it safe to use a used hard drive for this purpose? I saw a review saying it has 100% health according to HDD Sentinel. How long could I reasonably expect it to last? Also, besides CrystalDiskMark, what other programs can I use to check the condition of the HDD? Thanks in advance!
1 Answer
Using a used HDD can be fine for cold backups! I’ve got some old drives that have been running strong for over 10 years without issues. However, you can’t predict exactly how long a used HDD will last. I’d recommend checking the SMART values as a starting point, and it's definitely a good idea to perform a full block scan on any drive you buy. Even drives that look good on SMART can fail unexpectedly!
So it sounds like luck plays a big role too! What apps do you suggest for doing a full block scan?