Trimming SSDs

[petfy]

This summarises many posts on the internet:

 

"SSDs also have the concept of TRIM. While TRIM (retrim) is a separate concept from fragmentation, it is still handled by the Windows Storage Optimizer subsystem and the schedule is managed by the same UI from the User's perspective. TRIM is a way for SSDs to mark data blocks as being not in use. Writing to empty blocks on an SSD is faster that writing to blocks in use as those need to be erased before writing to them again. SSDs internally work very differently from traditional hard drives and don't usually know what sectors are in use and what is free space. Deleting something means marking it as not in use. TRIM lets the operating system notify the SSD that a page is no longer in use and this hint gives the SSD more information which results in fewer writes, and theoretically longer operating life."

 

So basically from Win 7 onwards, the software will periodically trim your SSD. You don't have to do a thing to maintain your SSD.

 

Alternatively, you can force a trim from the command prompt by:   

defrag C: /L
NOTE: Substitute C: in the command with the drive letter you want instead.

 

 

[rick66]

i prefer to use the SSD software to trim.

[danr]

18 hours ago, rick66 said:

i prefer to use the SSD software to trim.

Thanks.  Now I understand "Trim".