Instead, you're going to need to clone your drive, using a program such as EaseUS Todo Backup, which has a free version for Windows (opens in new tab) or a paid version with a free trial for macOS users (opens in new tab). However, if you have any programs installed or system info you'd like to be brought across, this is likely to be left out if you choose this method. The easiest way to do this would be to simply copy/paste or drag everything from the disk to the second one, which is the best method if your disk only contains media files such as songs or movies. It's also worth checking whether your data has already been backed up in the cloud, since Windows' OneDrive and macOS' iCloud both offer these services, which you may not have realized were turned on.Īlternatively, if your connection isn't up to the task, or if you're racing against time before meltdown occurs, you may want to copy or clone your disk's contents to another drive. The easiest way to do this may be by using a cloud storage service, since this requires no additional hardware and is relatively simple. If, after running checks, you discover your drive is dying, what do you do? Well, the first thing you'll want to consider is how to backup all your data. If you'd prefer to go first-party, it's worth seeing if your disk manufacturer has its own tool, such as Western Digital's Drive Utilities (opens in new tab), or Seagate's handy SeaTools (opens in new tab). That's where standalone programs come in handy, which can offer more extensive info.įor Windows, CrystalDiskInfo (opens in new tab) is a free tool that can delve a bit deeper into your disk's status, while macOS users should take a look at DriveDX (opens in new tab), which costs $19.99 but comes with a free trial.

tool is quick and easy, it doesn't do much beyond telling you whether your disk is fine or about to die. Note: This information won't appear if you're running a post-2015 machine with an SSD installed. status' section in the bottom-left, or by clicking the ' i' icon in the top-right. Click the drive you want to check, and its status will read either ' Verified' or ' Failing' in the ' S.M.A.R.T. To do this on macOS, open the Disk Utility tool by going to Applications, then Utilities.

Hard drive health checker