4 Ways To Determine The Type Of Drive (HDD Or SSD) Installed In Your Computer
Windows 10 Windows 11
ByUsman Khurshid
Hours
The hard drive is an important component of a computer as it permanently stores all the data that…
The hard drive is an important component of a computer as it permanently stores all the data that is processed by the CPU. The hard drive is usually the slowest component in the computer but it can be faster if you select the right kind of hard drive.
There are different types of hard drives. The old hard drives were hard disk drives (HDD) which are still abundantly used because they are cheaper compared to other alternatives. The newer kind of hard drives are Solid State Drives (SSD) which are expensive but are a lot faster than HDD.
Today we will discuss about how to detect which type of hard drive has been installed on your computer. There are quite a few ways of determining the drive type in Windows but we will go through 4 ways of doing so.
Using PowerShell (Command line)
The quickest and easiest way to determine the type of hard drive installed on your computer is using the command line.
- Go to Run –> powershell. This will open PowerShell.
- Run the following command:
PowerShell “Get-PhysicalDisk | Format-Table -AutoSize”
Determine the media type using PowerShell
You can see the type of hard drive installed under Media Type.
Using the Windows System Information Tool
Windows System Information tool is a wonderful tool for resolving hardware conflicts as well as getting basic level of information about each component of the computer. The System Information Tool is a built in tool in Windows which is available in all versions of Windows including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10.
- To open the system information tool, go to Run –> msinfo32
- A new window will open. You need to expand to Components –> Storage –> Disks from the left hand menu tree
- The right hand pane will give you detailed information about each hard drive attached to the system. The information doesn’t have any headings so you’ll need to find out details of each hard drive with care.
Using Drive Optimizer (Disk Defragmentation) Tool
There is another simpler way to check whether your hard drive is HDD or SSD. You just have to open the Drive Optimizer tool in Windows which shows the disk type while listing the drives in the system. In Windows 8, the tool is called Drive Optimizer while it was called Disk Defragmentation Tool in previous versions of Windows.
Although this method is simpler, I would recommend the first method as it gives you more details about your system hard drive than the Disk Optimizer tool.
Using Third Party Tools
If you are a tech geek and come across many computers and want to see the hardware details of all the computers especially the drive types, then you should use a third party software. We have already given a list of 6 tools to check detailed information about your computer hardware. You may choose among those tools. Almost all of them will tell you some details about the hard drive.
I would recommend Speccy Portable, HWiNFO and PC Wizard for the purpose of determining the hard drive type on your computer.
How do you determine the hard drive type in your computer especially if you are not a Windows user but are using Mac OS or Linux?
Also see:
Usman Khurshid is a seasoned IT Pro with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry. He has experience in everything from IT support, helpdesk, sysadmin, network admin, and cloud computing. He is also certified in Microsoft Technologies (MCTS and MCSA) and also Cisco Certified Professional in Routing and Switching.
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3 Methods to know what SSD do I have? [Quick Guide]
Written By Steven Arends
Suppose you buy a laptop, you want to boot it. Whilst booting, you learn that you have a storage device called SSD in your system. But can’t figure out, which one is it & what type is it.
I know it can be very infuriating at times and most of us have gone through this. But fear not. I, your friendly TEXPERT (tech-expert) am here to help you identify what storage and type of that storage you have with the help of my 10+ years of experience in the tech field.
SSDs have different types along with different variations of storage capacity to work with. Before moving on to finding out what SSD you have, if you want to utilize it properly or you want to upgrade it, we need to know a few basics.
Also, check out our expert’s recommended fastest PCIE 4.0 SSDs.
What is an SSD?
The WOW’s of SSD!
Types of SSD – Explained
1.
SERIAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT SSDs (SATA)
MINI-SATA SSDs
M.2 SSDs
2. PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECT EXPRESS SSDS (PCIe)
NON-VOLATILE MEMORY EXPRESS SSDs (NVMe)
But how do I know what SSD do I have?
Method 1 – Use PowerShell (Command Line)
Method 2 – Use Drive Optimizer Tool
Method 3 – Windows Information System Tool
How to tell if I have an SSD in older Windows versions?
How do I know if the SSD is 2.5 SATA or M.2?
Take Away
What is an SSD?
Solid State Drive is the new generation of storage devices used in computers. SSD’s are much faster than your daily traditional mechanical hard disk. It works as a simple USB flash drive but is a much more complex and larger device that accumulates tons of NAND flash storage.
Unlike HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSDs don’t possess moving parts or spinning disks. To deliver higher speed, even from HDD, SSD controller manages & uses interconnected pools of flash memory to deliver speed beyond the offerings of HDD.
The WOW’s of SSD!
HDD write speeds range between 50-120Mbit/sec, compared to 200-500Mbit/sec of SSD. Meaning that SSD reduces boot time to approx. 10 seconds (in cases much faster) than 35-40 seconds in an HDD.
Boot your operating system on your SSD, click on the power button, and boom, the system has already been opened within 5-10 seconds. You won’t even have the chance to grab some snacks in between.
Check out our experts tested and reviewed the best Aura Sync Compatible SSDs.
Types of SSD – Explained
When you decide to go for SSD as the storage device for your setup, you need to consider the speed, readability, and power usage of the SSD. As SSD is extra storage unit using flash memory to store data inside it, it is several times faster than your average HDD in terms of reading and writing data.
As you will notice a reduction in your boot time and application loading time, it will feel much smoother.
There are two types of SSD – SATA & Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or Non-Volatile Memory Express (PCIe/NVMe/PCIe-NVMe).
1. SERIAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT SSDs (SATA)
Between the two types of SSD, SATA is the slower one because it uses the same interface similar to Hard Disk Drives. Despite being the slowest grade in its criteria, it will still boost up your system’s speed, four to five times than any HDD would.
Also, check out our separate post on will SSD reduce high disk usage.
The most common type is the 2.5inch SATA SSD. It can be used in older generation computers as a separate unit of storage.
The maximum speed is set at 6Gbps / 600Mbps and the average is at 500-500Mbps
MINI-SATA SSDs
Mini SATA or mSATA is the younger brother, smaller in size of SATA SSDs. They are mainly used in smaller devices such as phones, tablets, or very thing laptops and notebooks. They are just smaller in size but have the same specs as a 2.5inch SATA SSD.
Check out our separate post on SSD good for Gaming.
M.2 SSDs
M.2 SSDs are ram-like edition SSDs for your device. It is a rectangular stick looking very similar to a RAM stick, commonly used in mobile devices or slims laptops.
Computers also support M.2 SSDs but your motherboard has to have the designated slot for it. Which can only be found in newer generation boards and a few previous generations too.
Don’t be fooled by their size. M.2 SSDs can store up to 2TB (terabytes) of data. There are also 1TB/512GB/256GB/128GB/120GB editions of it.
You will notice numbers which are M.2 SSD – 2242, 2260, 2280, 22110. These indicate its size in length and width. Example, an M.2 2260 means 22mm (length) X 60mm (width).
Follow our guide to know Can SSD Overheat.
2. PERIPHERAL COMPONENT INTERCONNECT EXPRESS SSDS (PCIe)
PCIe SSDs are three to four times faster than normal SATA SSDs, as it has more bandwidth, meaning it is the fastest type of SSD in the market.
PCIe SSDs are high-speed interface and performance expansion cards installed in the motherboard. It works along well with graphics cards and sound cards. These cards are expensive than SATA SSDs for performance, not for more storage capacity.
In a hurry? Check out my new post on Is SSD Affected by Magnets.
NON-VOLATILE MEMORY EXPRESS SSDs (NVMe)
These are new generation SSDs that possess the fastest response time and best performance.
NVMe can transfer data at a high speed, around 3000-3500 Mbps/ 3-3.5Gbps. Meaning it will take 15 seconds or less to transfer a 30GB file to your computer.
But how do I know what SSD do I have?
There are a few steps that can be performed to identify your storage type. Here are a few simple methods you can follow:
Method 1 – Use PowerShell (Command Line)
Using PowerShell is the quickest and most convenient way to determine the storage device installed on your computer.
You need to:
- Click Windows Button + R keyboard shortcut
- Run box will pop-up. Type PowerShell. This will open PowerShell.
- Run the following command:
Get-Physical Disk or
PowerShell “Get-Physical-Disk | Format-Table –AutoSize”
The following texts will indicate the type of storage that is installed under media type.
But before that, go through our epic guide on can SSD cause Blue Screen.
Method 2 – Use Drive Optimizer Tool
Another recommendation to determine your storage device is by the Drive optimizer tool in Windows, which indicates the disk type including listing the installed drives in the system.
Just simply:
- Click Windows Button + R keyboard shortcut
- Type dfrgui & press Enter.
When the Drive optimizer tool/ Disk Defragmenter window will pop up, look for the media type column to find out your storage type.
Method 3 – Windows Information System Tool
The windows information system tool is a built-in tool in Windows that is available in versions 7,8,10 & 11.
To access the tool, you need to:
- Click Windows Button + R keyboard shortcut
- Type msinfo32 in the Run Box
- A new window will open. You have to expand to Components > Storage > Disks from the left-hand menu.
- You will have detailed information about every hard drive that is attached to your system in the right-hand pane. The information is not shown with headings, so you will have to find out the details of the hard drive with care.
Go through our epic guide on Is SSD Compatible with All Motherboards.
How to tell if I have an SSD in older Windows versions?
There is another way through which you can identify your storage device type.
It’s to go to the Computer Management option. Here is how:
- Right-click on My Computer (Windows 7) / This PC (Windows 8/8.1/10/11) and select Manage.
- Click Device Manager > Disk Drives. You will see your hard drive disk on the given list.
If you can’t determine your storage type from here, there is nothing to worry about at all. Just google the detailed information you saw or from the official sites of the devices to know if it’s an HDD or SSD?
Here’s a complete guide on can you Partition your SSD.
How do I know if the SSD is 2.5 SATA or M.2?
Unfortunately, there are no 100% foolproof methods to check if the drive is 2.5inch SATA or M.2 by using any windows programs if the product does not show it in the descriptions of PowerShell or Drive Optimizer.
The only thing that can be done in this case is to open up the laptop/desktop and check. Most laptops open a small access plate from where you can gain access to the drives and RAM without having to pull apart the whole laptop.
Apart from the mentioned methods, there are multiple other ways of opening PowerShell, Driver Optimization tool by using Cortana or using the start menu. But the above-stated methods are the easiest and shortest way to find and identify your storage device.
Also check our exclusive tutorial on can SSD Improve FPS.
Take Away
If you are a gamer and want to enhance your gaming experience then SSD is a must requirement for you, depending on your budget. If your daily need is not gaming but productivity/office work, SSDs will satisfy your need, in a better manner than any high-end HDD.
If you are confused that which storage drive you have in your system, you can follow the methods and find it out yourself without asking for additional help.
If you have any thoughts, please feel free to comment below.
How to find out SSD or HDD on a computer or laptop
Among the readers’ questions, I noticed one interesting one — how to determine whether a computer or laptop is equipped with a regular HDD hard drive or an SSD solid state drive without opening the computer.
This is relatively easy to do, but for novice users, the methods may not be obvious.
This manual details several ways to find out if the SSD or HDD is installed on your device. Methods for Windows 10 and Windows 11 are considered, but most of them will work in previous versions of the system.
- Drive optimization window
- Based on disc model
- In Windows PowerShell
- Third Party Programs
- Video
You can find out the disk type using both built-in system tools and third-party programs.
«Optimize Drives» window
The first possible method is to rely on how Windows itself determined the type of disk and look at the system’s «outputs» in the disk optimization window. The advantages of the approach are fast and simple. Cons: Sometimes an SSD can be misidentified as a hard drive.
- Open the disk properties in Explorer: right-click on the disk and select the appropriate context menu item.
- Go to the «Service» tab and click the «Optimize» button. Another way to quickly get to the desired location is the keys Win + R and enter dfrgui
- In the drive optimization window, you will see a list of drives, as well as a Media Type column. If we see «Solid State Drive» in it, it’s an SSD.
When determining the type of disk in the specified location, the system relies on an automatic system performance test, and if it was not carried out or for some reason the speed of the drive turned out to be low, then the type may be determined incorrectly.
Finding the type of disc by its model
The next way is to use the device name and search the Internet. Nearly completely reliable, as long as your drive isn’t too unique enough. This can be done using the device manager, but I recommend the System Information window, because it allows you to copy the data you need:
- Open System Information by pressing the Win+R keys on your keyboard, typing msinfo32 and pressing Enter.
- Navigate to Components — Storage — Disks (the second of two recurring items).
- Select the «Model» line and press the keys Ctrl+C to copy the model.
- In an Internet search, enter the disk model (the word «Model» itself, which will also be copied, delete from the query) and with a high probability the search results will allow you to determine whether an SSD or HDD is installed on your PC or laptop.
PowerShell command
It is possible to determine the disk type using PowerShell, but the disadvantages of the method are the same as in the first case. It is enough to start Windows PowerShell and enter the command: Get-PhysicalDisk
If SSD is indicated in the MediaType column, this is exactly what it is.
Third-party programs
Many programs designed to view the hardware characteristics of a computer (even the simplest ones like Speccy), as well as disk checking utilities such as CrystalDiskInfo, display, among other things, both the type of disk and its exact model.
You can read about CrystalDiskInfo (which I recommend for the task in question) in the review of Programs for SSD.
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How to find out which SSD is in a computer or laptop
SSD drives have replaced conventional hard drives, and now they are already installed even in not the most expensive computers or laptops. A solid state drive (SSD) has a lot of advantages over a classic HDD, and it can seriously improve the comfort of working with a computer. Sometimes a user may be interested in the question of which SSD he has installed. If the volume of the drive can be determined by regular means, then special programs can help you find out the specific model and manufacturer.
Contents: 1. How can I find out if an SSD is installed in the computer? 2. How to find out which SSD is in a computer or laptop - AIDA64 -Speccy - CrystalDiskInfo
How do I know if an SSD is installed in my computer?
If the computer was received from a friend, or had to be encountered at work, it is not always certain that there is an SSD inside, and not an HDD. Yes, there are many programs that make it possible to measure the speed of a disk, and based on this it will be possible to determine its type. But you can also use standard Windows tools.
To find out if an HDD or SSD is installed inside the computer, search in Windows to find a disk defragmentation utility. Run her.
You will see a list of disks that are used on the computer. If the column «Drive type» indicates that it is «Solid State Drive» — it is an SSD. If it is indicated that it is “Hard Disk”, then it is an HDD.
This is the easiest way to determine the type of storage device your computer has.
How to find out which SSD is in a computer or laptop
Now let’s consider a more complicated situation when you need to determine the specific model of SSD installed in a laptop or personal computer.
Pay attention
One way to find out the model of the SSD drive that is installed in the computer is simply to remove the cover of the PC case and look at the SSD — it should have a sticker on it.
AIDA64
One of the best computer analysis software is AIDA64. It makes it possible to view detailed information not only about the current processes taking place in the system, but also about each individual component. Including the SSD drive.
Download the trial version of AIDA64 from the official website of the developers to your computer and run it.
Please note
You can download a version that does not require prior installation on your computer and can be run from the archive.
Select “Storage” from the left menu.
And among the available options, click on the item ATA.
Contains information about installed disks. The «Device Description» item lists the disks installed in the computer. If there are several disks and it is impossible to understand from their name which SSDs are, click on the drive and see information about it. For an SSD, it will indicate in the “Speed of rotation” column that the drive is a solid state drive.
Pay attention
The AIDA64 program allows you to find out a lot of interesting information about installed drives — supported properties, commands, and other technical details.
Speccy
Another application for detailed computer analysis is Speccy. It also makes it possible to find out information about installed drives and determine specific data about the SSD.
You can install Speccy for free by downloading from the official website of the developers. After installation, launch the program and you will be taken to its main screen.
Here you need to go to the «Data storage» section.
Please note
If your Speccy program is in English, you can go to the Options section at the top in the View item and select the Russian language.
Provides detailed information about installed drives. Click on the one you want to reveal information about it.
Please note
If the drive is SSD, this will be indicated in parentheses to its name and model.
By expanding the information, you can see detailed information about the disk. Of the interesting parameters that are worth noting are the “working time” and the state of the main attributes in the table.
Thus, in Speccy it is possible not only to find out the model of the installed SSD, but also to understand its service life, and whether it is necessary to prepare for replacing the drive.
CrystalDiskInfo
In conclusion, consider the third program for obtaining information about installed drives — CrystalDiskInfo.