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SSD Optimization Not Available

Anonymous
2023-01-05T15:18:52+00:00

I cannot seem to get a straight answer to this question anywhere I search.

My external SSD suddenly started running very slowly. It's a Samsung EVO 860 500GB. Windows 11 plenty of RAM etc. Power Options = High Performance Plan

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I open Optimize Drives and it says:

• C Drive SSD optimized today (and it runs fast) - Current Status OK

• E Drive SSD (my external SSD) optimized 3 months ago - Current Status Optimization Not Available

• Scheduled Optimization On - run weekly (but it hasn't run in 3 months on my external SSD)

• The Analyze and Optimize buttons are greyed out so I can't optimize manually

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Why is Optimization Not Available on my external SSD (but it was 3 months ago) and how do I make it available?

I understand SSDs are optimized using the TRIM function and not defragged

TRIM function is enabled

I will wait for the standard wrong answer from Microsoft to a question I didn't ask, then hope a knowledgeable user will be able provide the correct answer to the question I am actually asking.

Thank you.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-02-07T01:08:51+00:00

    I have read many places to never defrag an SSD because it wears it out fast and it's designed to maintain itself (don't know the exact term but TRIM is what I see).

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-01-05T15:53:53+00:00

    Hi Chris,

    I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    An SSD does not need to be set to Optimize or defrag, because it is not required, the TRIM function in Windows s automatic it is not run on a schedule and will run when required, like when you delete data from the drive, it would really be best if Microsoft removed SSD's from the Optimize/Defrag utility altogether, it is just too confusing for most people.

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  3. Igor Leyko 110.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-02-07T01:57:21+00:00

    HDD 'thrashing' (when the laser moves rapidly over the platter searching for data).

    Sorry but there are no lasers in HDDs. Lasers are used in CD, DVD, BD devices, HDDs use magnetic heads.

    And there are many modern WD hard drives with TRIM support.

    15 % free space is an Urban Tale now. Since Vista this number is significantly decreased (to ~1 GB), and TRIM does not need any free space at all.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2023-01-05T17:35:05+00:00

    Thank you very much.

    When I read about my SSD slowing down (it takes forever to open or save a file, for example, like over a minute sometimes), everything I read including on here said to do this Optimize procedure.

    When I opened Optimize/Defrag, both SSD drives are "scheduled" to optimize once a week (I had not ever set this), but only the C drive seems to be running on that schedule. The external drive that's running slow says it hasn't been optimized in 3 months.

    Does that mean the automatic TRIM you're talking about hasn't been done in that time?

    If not, what could be slowing down my drive so much all of a sudden? It is less than a year old and around 1/3 full with data. I have tried it in all USB ports and with different USB cables and it is still slow. I can't think of anything else to try. The "suddenly" slow seems like it might be the biggest clue of something.

    Thank you again.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-01-05T17:38:22+00:00

    Hi Chris,

    There are many things that could be slowing down that drive, it could be getting indexed, Windows Defender may be accessing that drive...etc.

    Open Task Manager, then select the Performance tab, is there a lot of read/write access on that drive, if there is, on the Processes tab, can you see what is accessing that drive?

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