Windows 10 update could kill your SSD — what you need to know

Windows x update could impale your SSD — what you demand to know

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Microsoft is moving to fix an update that seemingly introduced a bug that could damage the lifespan of solid state drives (SSDs).

Problems-tracking site BleepingComputer reported that the Windows x May 2020 Update, aka version 2004, has been causing a suite of bug including ane that messes with the 'Defragment and Optimize Drives' tool in the operating organisation. The bug ways that Windows 10 version 2004 doesn't record the final time an SSD was defragmented and optimized correctly.

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This ways that when the Defragment and Optimize Drives tool is used, it flags to users that the SSD needs optimization. As people tend to forget to do this manually, Windows 10 volition carry out such tasks automatically.

But due to the tool non recording the defragmentations, it can end up defragging an SSD every time the drive gets rebooted, effectively defragging an SSD some 30 times more oft than it really should be. This could ultimately damage the longevity of an SSD, slowly killing information technology.

Defragmentation effectively means pulling together fragments of data and packing them closely together with other $.25 of information they chronicle to. You could think of it every bit sweeping a pile of fallen leaves in a yard together — you nonetheless have the aforementioned amount of leaves in one space but they are now all together and easier to admission at in one case.

In that location'southward some debate every bit to how often you should defrag an SSD, with some arguing in that location'due south no benefit to defragging an SSD like there is for a traditional spinning disk bulldoze. Only excessive defragmentation tin can affect the lifespan of an SSD. And that'southward the risk the bug in the Defragment and Optimize Drives tool poses.

A fix is coming

However, the Windows 10 Build 19042.487 (20H2) update, which is currently being rolled out to members of the Windows Insider program, promises to squash the bug.

People using the regular version of Windows 10 will take to wait for the update to laissez passer beta testing, which shouldn't take also long. But in the concurrently, it might be worth turning off automated defragging to preclude running into the bug if information technology pops up on your Windows 10 machine.

Roland Moore-Colyer is U.K. Editor at Tom'south Guide with a focus on news, features and stance articles. He oftentimes writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he's also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be institute wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face up.