Troubleshooting Storage Devices Lesson 003: Storage Device Issues Part 1

What does HDD stand for?

Hard Disk Drive.

Hard Disk Drive

Older storage devices that spin and move the read/write head across the platter to be able to put data onto or read data from.

What does SSD stand for?

Solid-State Device.

Solid-State Device

Non-volatile memory that stores data and can access data from the device.

What is/are the benefit/s of a HDD?

Low-cost.

What is/are the caveat/s of a HDD?

Slower speed.

What is/are the benefit/s of a SSD?

Faster speed.

What is/are the caveat/s of a SSD?

High-cost and less storage.

What is the limit with SSDs?

The amount of times they can be read from and written to.

What is something to keep in mind when deciding when to use a SSD?

If it will be used in a high read/write enviornment.

What are signs of a HDD mechanical problem?

Clicking sounds or grinding noises.

What should be done if a HDD is starting to show signs of wear of possible failure?

Back it up.

Clicking sound in a HDD

Indicates a problem with the read/write head moving across the platter.

Grinding sound in a HDD

The read/write head scraping the platter.

What can cause the read/write head to scrape the platter in an HDD?

The read/write head is pushing too far down or the bearings spinning the platter are worn down.

What is a visual indicator of a storage device not working correctly?

The indicator light isn’t blinking when reading or writing data.

What can cause a storage drive to fail to read or write data?

Insufficient power or a faulty cable, causing a lapse in signaling from the motherboard to tell the drive to function.