How to Check External Hard Drive Health? | Complete guide by victory computers

Worried your external hard drive might be failing? ???? Don’t wait for a crash! Whether you’re storing important work files, personal data, or backup media, checking your external hard drive’s health regularly can save you from major data loss. In this guide, we’ll walk you through simple and effective ways to monitor your drive’s health — like a pro! ✅

???? What Is External Hard Drive Health?

Your external hard drive’s “health” refers to its performance, physical condition, and error-free operation. Over time, wear and tear, power surges, or mechanical damage can affect the drive’s ability to store and access files. ????

????️ 1. Use Built-in Windows Tools

✅ Step-by-Step (Windows):

1. Plug in your external hard drive.
2. Go to File Explorer → Right-click the external drive → Select Properties.
3. Under the Tools tab, click on Check under “Error checking”.
4. Windows will scan for file system errors and try to fix them automatically.

???? Note: This doesn’t provide deep health stats, but it’s a good first check!

???? 2. Use Disk Utility on Mac

✅ Step-by-Step (macOS):

1. Connect your drive.
2. Open Disk Utility (found in Applications > Utilities).
3. Select your external drive from the sidebar.
4. Click First Aid and run the scan.

???? Mac’s First Aid tool helps fix disk errors and verify drive condition.

???? 3. Use SMART Monitoring Tools

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) checks internal diagnostics. Not all external drives support SMART, but many do.

???? Best Free Tools:

• CrystalDiskInfo (Windows) ????
• GSmartControl (Windows/macOS/Linux)
• DriveDx (macOS – Paid, but very detailed)

These tools show:

• Temperature ????️
• Reallocated sectors
• Read error rates
• Power-on hours
• Health status ????????????

⚠️ 4. Look Out for Warning Signs!

You should manually check if you notice:

• ❗ Strange clicking noises
• ???? Slow file transfers
• ???? Files becoming corrupted
• ???? Random disconnects or errors

These are red flags your external hard drive may be failing soon!

???? 5. Backup Your Data Regularly

Even if your drive is healthy today, it could fail unexpectedly. Always keep your critical files backed up using:

• Cloud services ☁️
• A second external drive
• Backup software like Macrium Reflect, Acronis, or Time Machine

???? Where to Buy Reliable External Hard Drives in Pakistan?

Looking to replace or upgrade your drive? Visit Victory Computers for:

• Genuine Seagate, WD, Samsung & more
• Competitive prices
• Warranty-backed external hard drives

???? Website: www.victorycomputer.pk
???? WhatsApp: 03009466881
???? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorycomputer.pk?igsh=bXY0anRtcmFpZnlq
???? TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@victorycomputerlhr?_t=ZS-8yOzSayjueP&_r=1

???? Victory Computers – Your Tech Health Partner in Pakistan! ????????
Stay safe, store smart, and keep your data protected! ????️