SSD/HDD

Step-by-step SSD and HDD check when buying or for yourself. Works for new and used drives.

1

Quick check

5 minutes

  1. S.M.A.R.T. status

    Run CrystalDiskInfo: check the overall status (Good), health percentage and power-on hours.

  2. Speed

    Subjectively check how fast Windows boots and apps open.

2

Medium check

10–15 minutes

  1. Speed test

    Run CrystalDiskMark and compare the advertised read/write speeds with the real ones.

  2. File system check

    Run chkdsk (Check Disk) in the command prompt to find logical errors.

3

Full check

30–60 minutes

  1. Bad sector scan (HDD)

    Run a full surface scan in Victoria HDD (Read + Ignore/Erase mode).

  2. Controller and TRIM check (SSD)

    Verify TRIM works and the controller stays stable during long writes of large files.

Related checklists

RAMCPUPower supply

How to test tech before buying

Buying new or used tech always comes with risks: hidden defects, dead pixels, broken keys, a worn battery, cooling issues and other problems are not always visible during a casual inspection. FullTestPC provides detailed step-by-step guides to help you catch everything when checking devices. For each type of hardware — laptops, desktop PCs, monitors, keyboards, mice, headphones, GPUs, SSDs and HDDs, RAM, CPUs and power supplies — we have three levels of diagnostics: a quick 5–10 minute check with no software to install (visual inspection, basic functions), a medium 15–20 minute check using built-in Windows tools (battery reports, chkdsk, load tests) and a full 30–60 minute check using professional utilities like AIDA64, FurMark, CrystalDiskInfo, Victoria, TestMem5 and OCCT. This approach lets you adjust the depth of the check to the situation: a quick check is enough when buying from a store, a medium check when buying from a private seller, and a full stress test of all components for complete peace of mind. Many tests can be done right in the browser using our online tools (keyboard test, monitor dead pixel test, mouse and trackpad test), while the rest use standard or free programs. Following these checklists reduces the risk of buying a broken device and gives you confidence in its condition.