- CrystalDiskInfo allows you to know in detail the status and useful life of your hard drive or SSD
- Monitor key parameters such as temperature, errors, and health percentage to anticipate failures
- The tool is free, easy to use and offers advanced monitoring options.
The health of your hard drive or SSD is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to protecting your files, your PC's performance, and, above all, avoiding the headaches of potential data loss. Knowing if your hard drive or SSD is in good condition can save you trouble. and unnecessary expenses. And to easily verify this, there's a free tool that has been a user favorite for years: CrystalDiskInfo.
Throughout this article you will learn Everything you need to analyze your hard drive with CrystalDiskInfo. You'll see how to download and install the program, what information it offers, how to interpret health status data, What to do if your disk starts to fail or displays errors, and what other alternatives exist if you need to monitor your units. In addition, we include useful and practical tips to keep your drive in the best possible condition.
Why is it important to check the health of your hard drive or SSD?
Be a traditional hard drive (HDD)a whirlpool bath, SSD or NVMe drive, all units of storage have a limited lifespan. SSDs In particular, they suffer wear and tear with each writing they do, and this wear and tear is measured in TBW (Terabytes Written)HDDs, on the other hand, tend to fail after a certain number of hours of operation (around 20.000 hours of continuous use is the usual threshold). Detecting any anomaly in time allows us to make backup copies or replace the drive without losing valuable information.
Recognizing signs of failure early can prevent data loss and major problems with your equipment's operation.
CrystalDiskInfo: Your ally to check the health of your hard drive
To know this data, the tool par excellence is CrystalDiskInfoIt's a free, open-source program that's easy to install and use and gives you a clear, direct look at the health and status of any disk connected to your computer (internal or external).
Among its advantages, it stands out that its interface is translated into Spanish, is very intuitive and does not require advanced technical knowledge. In addition, you can use a portable version without the need to install anything, ideal for carrying it in a USB and diagnose any computer in seconds.
How to download and install CrystalDiskInfo
The first step is to download the program from the official source to avoid tampered versions or those containing unwanted software. Visit the CrystalDiskInfo page on the CrystalMark website and choose your preferred installation type:
- Installer Version: To Windows Looking ahead, downloads an .exe file and install it like any other program.
- ZIP version (portable): Compatible with Windows XP and later. No installation required; just unzip and run the file corresponding to your system (32-bit, 64-bit, or ARM).
Remember that there are decorative variants, but they all display the same information. Choose the standard version if you're not looking for any frills. If you download the portable version, simply unzip it and run the appropriate executable for your system.
Once the program is open, CrystalDiskInfo will automatically detect all connected hard drives and SSDs.If a unit is missing, you can force detection from the 'Characteristics' > 'Redetect' menu.
What information does CrystalDiskInfo provide?
When you launch the app, you'll see a main screen displaying all your units and several key pieces of information about each one. The most relevant data is usually on the left and at the top of the window.:
- Health condition: It appears in a blue, yellow, or red box, depending on the status detected by SMART technology. Blue means everything is OK. Yellow warns that the drive is beginning to fail. Red indicates imminent risk of failure and the urgent need to perform a backup.
- Percentage of remaining useful life: Especially relevant on SSDs, where you'll see an estimate based on TBW consumed and total disk usage.
- Actual temperature: Just below the health status, you'll see the temperature of each disk. A blue color indicates normal, while yellow or red indicate overheating.
- Identification data: Model, firmware, serial number, interface (SATA, NVMe), transfer mode, supported standard, drive letter, and features like SMART, APM, NCQ, or TRIM.
Advanced details usually appear in the central part:
- Total Host Reads / Writes: How much data has been read and written in the life of the disk.
- Number of ignitions: The number of times the device has been initialized.
- On hours: The total number of hours the disk has been running.
- Rotation speed: RPM on mechanical disks (HDD), which does not apply to SSDs.
Below you'll find a detailed list of SMART attributes, where you can see parameters such as reallocated sectors, read errors, and the number of unsafe shutdowns. If any of these cross a critical threshold, CrystalDiskInfo will flag it in yellow or red.
How to interpret colors and warnings in CrystalDiskInfo
Blue It means that the disk health is optimal, everything is working correctly and you can rest easy. Yellow Caution alert: The disk may have suffered a temporary failure and you should avoid saving very important data on it or consider doing a backup. Red It implies serious or imminent failure: the drive may stop working at any time, and it is advisable to back up your files and replace the disk as soon as possible.
Besides the colors, the percentage of health on SSDs it helps you know how much useful life you may have left. If it drops below 90% or 80%, it's a good idea to start considering a replacement, especially if the drive is critical to your work or personal data.
All basic and advanced information at the click of a button
Not only do you have the basic data, CrystalDiskInfo offers advanced features For users who want more professional monitoring:
- Set alarms: You can set custom alerts to notify you if your temperature or health status exceeds certain limits.
- Update frequency: Decide how often you want the program to update the data on your disks.
- Privacy Options: Allows you to hide the serial number of the units or customize the display of advanced data.
- Personalization: Change the theme, colors, or font size to suit your preferences.
And if you have multiple drives, you can toggle between them from the top of the window to check the status of each one separately.
What to do if the disk is at risk or displays errors?
If CrystalDiskInfo alerts you in yellow or red, it is essential that you back up all important information on that disk as soon as possible. From there, assesses the replacement of the unitDon't leave your data to chance, because errors can increase at any time and leave you without access to the information.
If the disk is damaged or faulty, make incremental or partial backups if necessary, and use the disk only as a temporary backup, never as primary storage. Also, consider proper disposal and recycling of the unit If you decide to throw it away: never throw away a disk without formatting it (preferably several times) or overwriting the data to avoid privacy issues.
What is SMART and why is it so important?
Most modern discs incorporate SMART (Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology)This technology allows the drive to self-diagnose and detect imminent failures or potential problems, recording metrics such as bad sectors, read/write errors, temperature, and much more. CrystalDiskInfo compiles this data and translates it into a user-friendly visual language.
Importantly, SMART can predict failures in mechanical hard drives (HDDs) earlier than in SSDs., as solid-state drives can fail suddenly and without serious warning. However, periodically reviewing SMART attributes is still essential to anticipate future problems and not lose information in the attempt.
Limits and reliability of CrystalDiskInfo
CrystalDiskInfo is a very reliable and widely used tool in the industry, but like any program, it has its limitations. It can't guarantee with absolute accuracy when a drive will fail, especially in the case of SSDs, which can "die" without any clear warning. Therefore, although the information it provides is very valuable, It is advisable to complement it with other tools or manufacturer diagnostics If you have any doubts, use it according to official recommendations, and if you're inexperienced, consult a professional before making any drastic decisions.
It's essential to maintain regular review habits and make backup copies to protect your data at all times. Constant monitoring helps you anticipate potential failures and take action in time to avoid irreparable losses.
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