Free HDD LED for Windows

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Key Details of Free HDD LED

Monitor hard disk drive activity in real time in the system tray area.
Last updated on July 10, 2015
There have been 4 updates
Virus scan status:
Clean (it’s extremely likely that this software program is clean)

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffJuly 10, 2015

It's extremely reassuring to see that hard drive activity light flashing to the beat of moving data. But suppose you have no activity light? With no LED, how will you know if everything's okay with your PC's HDD? Easy: Try Free HDD LED and see the light. My Portable Software's freeware displays the activity of your system's disk drives, including portable drives, in three places: a flashing system tray icon, a desktop gadget, and even your keyboard's scroll lock LED. It also monitors disk space and can even issue warnings when free space is running low.

The first thing we did when we ran the fully portable Free HDD LED was to click Customize in the system tray and change Free HDD LED's options to Show Icon and Notifications. This made the icon sticky since an icon that flashes to show HDD activity is no good if you can't see it! But we had another choice, a draggable desktop gadget that displayed all our disk drives, including portable drives, in a compact row of activity indicators that also displayed each drive's capacity when we hovered our cursor over it. That's not the end of Free HDD LED's options, either. Right-clicking the tray menu or gadget opened an extensive menu of settings, including Autostart with Windows, HDD refresh rate, disk space tool, transparency settings, and updates. A pop-up warned us that enabling the blinking scroll lock feature might cause "some strange collateral effects," but we tried it anyway. We didn't notice anything strange (at least, not with our system) and it's definitely a valuable option.

PCs used to have real HDD LEDs on their case fronts, but Free HDD LED is actually way better because it not only saves energy by eliminating another LED but also monitors disk space.

Free HDD LED for Windows

Used Free HDD LED for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: July 10, 2015

Latest update: July 10, 2015

Version: 2.01

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 8
Windows Vista
Windows 10
Windows 7
Windows XP

Additional Requirements: Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0/3.5

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 21,268

Downloads Last Week: 3

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Last Updated

User Reviews

2.3/5

12 User Votes

Annoying begware
December 29, 2014
Pros
Works well as a HDD indicator
Cons
Freeware means the developer has created the software without expecting money in return. As for this junk, when you run it, you will find a donate button staying on your screen begging you to donate $10.
Summary
Terrific HDD activity alert
PoptopAugust 29, 2014
Pros
Freeware that loads automatically and shows hard drive read and write activity. The LED button icon is nice as you can move it to any area of your desktop.
Cons
Although it's free It does request a donation as it builds but you can choose to "Skip Donation" after sitting through the 10-second countdown timer. Fortunately this only occurs with each computer restart.
Summary
It was frustrating to not have an activity LED light on my desktop CPU. I checked the available freeware and this one appears to be the best for my needs. I started with Version 1.75 in June 2013. There have been 9 version updates since then and this still functions perfectly for me.
This app is SHLOCK WARE!
GCG1000July 13, 2014
Pros
Nothing redeeming about this app!
Cons
NAGS and requires a 10 EURO "Donation" to get rid of their DONATE Widget!
Summary
Try WINLED (FREE), it accurately indicates R/W activity for all of your HDD's with no NAGS, or extraneous B$.
DON'T BOTHER
papaziarSeptember 20, 2013
Pros
Absolutely None
Cons
It will only install if you allow it to install Krapware along with it.
Summary
DON'T BOTHER
Tries to Install Junkware - Avoid
ln899August 19, 2013
Pros
None, it is junk.
Cons
Has a complicated install routine that tries to install junkware. Avoid this software.
Summary
AVOID!
THIS IS A VIRUS AND MALWARE DO NOT DOWNLOAD
enigmazero123August 2, 2013
Pros
NOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHINGNOTHING RATED 0.5 STAR SINCE I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE
Cons
THIS IS A VIRUS AND MALWARE DO NOT DOWNLOAD
Summary
THIS IS A VIRUS AND MALWARE DO NOT DOWNLOAD
Works Fine
lion063March 18, 2013
Pros
Free, easy to install and use, works fine.
Cons
None for the moment
Summary
The donate button doesn't bother me
Big Fat DONATE Banner
EduardoGrandeOctober 2, 2012
Pros
Nice enough program with plenty of options.
Cons
First gripe is the hoops you have to jump through with the CNET downloader. Make sure you deselect all the optional toolbar and search addons before clicking OK. While this little utility is "FREE", it has a honking DONATE banner attached to it to harangue you for cash. If you donate they give you a code to make it disappear. Once installed, it may be easy to remove, but I don't see it in my Add/Remove Programs list or in my Program Files Folder. Going to have to jump through some hoops to remove this, apparently.
Summary
My advice... if you can live with the DONATE gun to your head, or are willing to DONATE to make the banner go away... not a bad little utility. Not so crazy about the "stealth" installation. Cnet needs to be spanked for all the c%#p they try to sneak in with their downloader.
All I got was unwanted non-associated programs...
jffordNovember 13, 2011
Pros
Since I did not actually use the program, I have nothing to say about 'it' either positive or negative.
Cons
Never did even see the actual program, all I got was unwanted non-associated programs, search bars, etc. Gave up and deleted all of it. I am very disappointed that CNET would allow this type of download to be listed on their website. I went to the trouble of downloading the application twice just to make sure and I got results.
Summary
Nice freebie, works as advertised
jcpeake2September 9, 2011
Pros
Free, easy to install and use, works fine.
Cons
Uses a lot of working memory (44MB) for what would seem to be such a small program. Although it apparently monitors reads and writes separately, which is nice, but there's nothing to tell you which is which (red light vs. blue light).
Summary
My laptop has no disk activity LED, so this program is just the ticket for me.

Developer’s Description

By My Portable Software

Monitor hard disk drive activity in real time in the system tray area.

Free HDD LED monitors all physical hard disk drives connected to the pc (IDE, SATA, or USB). This software is useful if your PC doesn't have a HDD Led or if it is not visible. Free HDD LED shows hard disk drive activity in real time in the system tray area. It also features a free disk space monitor (works also for pen drives, network drives and TrueCrypt drives).