I've been using a Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSD for years, but Windows was previously installed on an HDD. I recently cloned the HDD to the SSD expecting better performance, but the computer became extremely slow instead. In Task Manager, the SSD frequently spikes to 100% usage or remains there continuously, even when I can't identify an obvious process causing it. The drive is only about half full.
I tried running CHKDSK, DISM, and a drive-health utility, and none reported a problem. Samsung Magician also refuses to recognize the drive as a genuine Samsung SSD, so I can't use it to update the firmware. I attempted the bootable ISO method as well, but it stops with an error about an incorrect EFI loader signature and remains stuck at "booting kernel."
I also tried cloning Windows back to the original HDD, but although the drive contains a copy of the operating system, it does not appear as a boot option in the BIOS. I'm unsure whether the SSD is defective, counterfeit, misconfigured after cloning, or suffering from a software issue. What should I check, and how can I restore the old HDD installation if necessary?
1 Answer
The firmware-update error is probably separate from the 100% usage problem and may simply indicate that the updater is not seeing the drive correctly. Confirm the exact model printed on the SSD and compare its serial and firmware information with the diagnostic utility. If the drive is genuine and the SMART data is clean, focus first on cabling, controller settings, background I/O, and the cloning process rather than assuming a firmware update will fix it.
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