I have an SSD that I've been using as a backup drive with Time Machine on my Mac, and lately, it's been acting up. I run backups every two weeks, but this week, I tried to back up and got a failure message. After trying to run "First Aid," which also didn't work, I copied my backups to another drive and attempted to erase and reformat my SSD. That only sometimes works. I eventually managed to erase it, but now the backups still won't complete after re-adding it in Time Machine. I'm really hoping to avoid spending $100-$200 on a new SSD when this one was functioning fine just yesterday. If you need more details to help me troubleshoot, let me know!
4 Answers
Using an SSD as a backup drive isn't always the best idea, especially for frequent backups. They can wear out faster under constant write conditions. Maybe consider switching to an eSATA HDD for your backups instead? They’re more reliable for that kind of use.
Have you tried using CrystalDiskInfo to check the health status of your SSD? It could give you some insight into whether your drive has any underlying issues that might be causing these backup failures.
I've seen this before with SSDs, especially some lesser-known brands that aren't very reliable. You might want to consider sticking with a reputable HDD for backups. They may be slower, but at least they're generally more dependable. Just my two cents!
It sounds like your SSD might be on its way out. Sometimes drives just fail unexpectedly. Have you considered contacting the manufacturer for a warranty or RMA? Even if it's been a while, there's still a chance they might help you out if the drive is eligible for replacement. But you’re right; just because it worked yesterday doesn’t mean it’s safe now!
I get what you mean! It’s frustrating because you can't pinpoint exactly when or how it happened. Unfortunately, if it's out of warranty, it might be time to look into a replacement anyway.