Storage Management

Correct Answer: NVMe SSD

For high-performance video editing tasks, an NVMe SSD is the best choice. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) SSDs offer the fastest data transfer speeds and lowest latency compared to other storage solutions. They utilize the PCIe interface and are optimized for high-throughput, low-latency data access. SATA SSDs, while faster than traditional HDDs, cannot match the performance of NVMe SSDs. HDDs have slower read/write speeds and higher latency, making them less suitable for demanding video editing workloads. External USB drives, even if using SSDs, are limited by the USB interface's bandwidth and are not ideal for high-performance local storage in a video editing workstation.

Correct Answer: Check if the USB device appears in Disk Management

The best first troubleshooting step is to check if the USB device appears in Disk Management. This will help determine if the computer is detecting the device at all. If it shows up in Disk Management, the issue might be related to drive letter assignment or formatting. Restarting the computer or updating USB drivers are valid steps but should be attempted after checking Disk Management. Reinstalling the operating system is too drastic a measure for this issue and should only be considered as a last resort.

Correct Answer: Backup the data and replace the HDD

The best precautionary measure is to backup the data and replace the HDD. Strange noises and slow read/write speeds are signs that the HDD may be failing. Defragmenting or running a disk cleanup will not address potential hardware issues and could put the data at risk if the drive fails during these processes. Converting the HDD to an SSD would require reinstalling the operating system and applications, which is unnecessary if the goal is to safely preserve the data. Backing up the data ensures it is protected, and replacing the failing HDD prevents data loss and performance issues.