Knowing exactly how long a hard drive will last is not easy, because many factors affect the durability of its parts.
If your hard drive already shows signs of wear and holds important files, back it up now. If that is no longer possible, see Bot’s hard drive and external drive recovery.
Things like improper use, manufacturing defects and temperature can make a hard drive last longer or fail sooner.
Want to know the average lifespan of a hard drive and what can shorten it? Read on to find out.
Do hard drives have an expiration date?
Yes. Contrary to what many people think, every hard drive on the market has a limited lifespan.
It is impossible to say exactly how long a drive will last, because many factors can shorten its life.
However, with proper use and care, you can extend the life of your hard drive and keep your important files safe for longer.
How long does a hard drive last?
Hard drives last 5 to 10 years on average. However, few of them get that far without any problems.
Temperature, factory defects and even misuse can shorten that lifespan considerably.
How can I tell how long my hard drive will last?
A hard drive usually shows some warning signs as it approaches the end of its life. Watching out for them is essential, so you are not caught by surprise and can copy your data and replace the drive before it’s too late.
Here are some signs that your hard drive is nearing the end of its life:
Strange noises
Pay attention to the sounds your computer makes. In general, it shouldn’t be very noisy, apart from the cooling fan.
When hard drives are failing, they often make the infamous “click of death”. If you hear it, turn the computer off and do not keep trying to access the drive, as this can make the damage worse.
Corrupted data
Files that become corrupted for no apparent reason are one of the classic signs that a hard drive is about to fail.
You may notice this when copying files from one folder to another on the same drive.
You can run a simple test: save some new files and check whether you get any error messages when you open them later.
If this starts happening regularly, copy your essential files to another device right away, just in case.
Slow to open folders and files
Delays in opening folders and files don’t necessarily mean your hard drive is about to fail, but they should always be watched closely.
Often, it is just the processor being busy or the RAM being overloaded.
However, when a small, simple file takes several minutes to open, that may be a bad sign for your hard drive.
In extreme cases, even several minutes are not enough to open a file or folder.
Another sign of this problem is the recycle bin taking far too long to empty.
Bad sectors
Another sign that your hard drive has reached the end of its life is a growing number of damaged areas (bad sectors) on the disk.
However, because the drive itself remaps these sectors to spare areas and hides them, you need to run a check to find out whether the problem is really happening. Before you do, back up your important files: if the drive is already failing, a long scan can make things worse.
To do this, press the Windows key + R, type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Then right-click the hard drive you want to check and choose “Properties”.
In the window that opens, go to the “Tools” tab and click “Check”. Confirm and wait for Windows to scan the drive for errors.
If Windows finds a lot of errors, especially many bad sectors, copy your data and start looking for a replacement drive.
Crashes and freezes
Finally, another sign that your hard drive is in trouble is frequent crashes or freezes.
When this happens, first check which programs were open – the computer may simply be overloaded.
But if everything looks normal and the crashes and freezes keep happening, the problem may well be the hard drive.
What can shorten a hard drive’s life?
As we have seen, several factors can shorten the life of a hard drive. Here they are, so you can start avoiding them:
Turning the computer on and off too often
Turning your computer on and off very often can wear out its hard drive, because startup and shutdown are the moments of greatest mechanical stress: the motor spins up and the heads move on and off the platters. Over time, this wear can damage the drive, especially in the case of abrupt shutdowns.
So if you won’t be using your computer for a long time, for example while you are traveling, it is best to turn it off.
But if you are only stepping away for a few hours and will use it again the same day, put it in sleep mode instead of turning it off.
Not using a surge protector or UPS
Power surges can damage all kinds of electronic devices, and hard drives are no exception.
So always plug your computer into a surge protector or a UPS. It won’t protect against everything, but it greatly reduces the risk of a power surge damaging your device.
Blocked air vents
If you have a desktop computer, make sure nothing is blocking the air vents. If you have a laptop, avoid using it on cushions or fabric.
Blocking the air vents is very harmful, as it can cause overheating and, as a result, damage to the device.
Accumulated dust
Always keep your computer clean. Dust buildup can damage several components and affect the whole computer.
So clean the vents and ports on your device whenever you can.
But be careful: don’t use sharp objects, as they can damage your computer. Use a soft brush instead.
Drops and impacts
Drops and impacts, however minor, can cause a range of problems in a hard drive, such as read errors.
In serious cases, the drive can stop working altogether.
To avoid this, always carry your devices in a proper protective case.
Carrying the laptop while it is on
Finally, never carry your laptop around while it is on. Whenever you take it somewhere, turn it off first.
If you move your laptop while it is on, the hard drive keeps spinning while it is being shaken around.
This increases the risk of damage. So always turn your computer off before moving it.
What should I do when my hard drive starts having problems?
When your hard drive starts having problems, act quickly and copy your most important files to another device.
When it comes to backups, the old saying holds true: two is one, and one is none.
So at the first sign of trouble, move your most important files to another device before it’s too late.
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Conclusion
As we have seen, hard drives last between 5 and 10 years on average. However, this varies widely, and it is impossible to say exactly how long a particular drive will last.
The “click of death”, frequent file corruption, slow access to folders and files, a large number of bad sectors, and crashes and freezes are the most common signs that a hard drive is reaching the end of its life.
That is why it is worth knowing the main factors that can shorten a hard drive’s life.
To recap: turning the computer on and off too often, not using a surge protector or UPS, blocking the air vents, dust buildup, drops and impacts, and carrying the laptop around while it is on.
By avoiding these habits, you can add a few years to the life of your hard drive.
And if the problem has already struck and you have lost data, you can count on Bot. We specialize in data recovery.
We offer a free standard diagnosis and quote, plus free collection of your device (islands not included).
