How to Check Your Laptop Storage Disk Type in Windows: HDD or SSD
Wondering about the storage disk in your laptop? Don’t worry; it’s easy to find out on your Windows system. Understanding the type of storage disk in your laptop can prove beneficial for various reasons. For instance, when troubleshooting performance issues, knowing whether your laptop is equipped with an HDD or an SSD can be a game-changer.
Furthermore, if you contemplate upgrading your laptop’s storage, it’s crucial to identify the current storage disk type. For a similar article, read our comprehensive guide on How to fix Windows laptop plugged in but not charging.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of checking your laptop’s storage disk type in Windows. Additionally, I’ll shed light on the distinctions between HDDs and SSDs, helping you grasp the implications of having either of them.
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What Difference Does My Hard Drive Type Make?
It might seem like there’s no difference between SSD or HDD but there are some fundamental things that make each stand out. Here’s a quick look at them.
- SSDs are faster. SSDs are a lot faster than conventional HDDs as they use a solid-state drive method instead of spinning disks like a regular HDD.
- HDDs can last longer. It’s only possible to write to an SSD a certain amount of times. That’s a large number of times for the average user running into the tens of thousands but a conventional HDD can last even longer. Whichever you choose, it’s far more likely that you’ll upgrade the PC a long time before this becomes an issue.
- SSDs are smaller. Thanks to NVMe technology, SSDs are typically much, much smaller than HDDs which means they’re well suited to increasingly small and lightweight laptops and other devices.
How to Check if You Have an HDD or SSD Using the Task Manager
To ascertain whether your laptop is equipped with an HDD or SSD using the Task Manager on Windows 10, follow these simple steps:
- Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Task Manager from the menu. (If you’re curious, there are alternative methods to access Task Manager.)
- Click on the four horizontal lines stacked over each other at the top-left corner of the screen to expand the left sidebar.
- Head to the Performance tab, where you’ll find an overview of your device’s performance, including details about the CPU, Memory, GPU, and Disks.
- Under the Disk section, examine the information provided for Disk 0 and Disk 1 (if you have multiple disks connected) to confirm the presence of either SSDs or HDDs.
How to Check Your Laptop Storage Disk Type Using PowerShell
To discover the type of hard drive in your laptop, you can utilize the PowerShell or Command Prompt. While it requires a few more steps, the process is relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Press the Windows Key + S or click on the Search Bar located on the Taskbar.
- Type “Power” in the search bar.
- Click on “Windows PowerShell” from the search results to open the Command Prompt window.
- Type “get-physicaldisk | format-table -autosize” and press Enter.
- Look for the “MediaType” column, which will indicate the type of hard drive your laptop is using.
How do I check that my HDD or SSD is healthy?
On Windows 10, use the Windows Error Checking Tool; right-click your disk > select Properties > Tools > Check > Scan drive. On macOS, check the Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) status; go to About this Mac > System Report > Storage > S.M.A.R.T. Status and look for Verified. You can also use a free hard drive testing program or tools provided by your HDD or SSD manufacturer to look for issues. For a similar article, read our comprehensive Troubleshooting Guide: Windows Firewall Not Enabling on Your Laptop.
