Nov 11, 2024 • Filed to: Answer Hard Drive Problems • Proven solutions
After running the old desktop computer for many years, the computer has now suddenly started showing a weird error message "Smart failure predicted on hard disk". It is one message, which is commonly observed in Apple and Windows operating systems. Thankfully, both operating systems have tools to counteract it. It could be due to any of the issues, which are highlighted below.
This guide will examine methods/solutions by which you can resolve the SMART failure when it is shown in your windows or Apple system. It will further also outline preventive measures, which can decrease the probability of experiencing this issue in the future.
If you get the error "smart failure predicted on hard disk" for the first time, you may wonder what it is. You may think about smart failure a bit. SMART is an abbreviation for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology.
It is a self-diagnostic tool that is embedded in your hard drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD). It serves the purpose of monitoring continuously drive conditions, including error rates and performance while reporting its result to the computer system. Using predictive failure analysis, it essentially reports if a failure on the hard disk is about to happen as opposed to an actual failure.
More so, the error "smart failure predicted on hard disk" comes with an associated warning to back up the data and replace the hard disk in your computer system. Then it commands you to press F1 to continue. This error is shown for the most part in Lenovo ThinkPad, Sony Vaio, Dell Laptop, and systems that have Windows 7 and 10 installed.
It could be due to several reasons. Some of them are mentioned below:
Regardless of whichever the reason is, you should always back up your files to prevent data loss as instructed by the error message and go on to resolve the SMART hard disk issue. In the following section, you will see how the hard drive is backed up and the issue can be resolved for MAC and Window operating systems. This issue is commonplace and can be fixed easily by following specific routines.
When you see the "smart failure predicted on hard disk" error, it indicates that the hard disk present in your personal computer will cease to function properly. It could either take many days in a row, or maybe a month or so, but it will happen nevertheless. The prospect of data loss is highly unlikable for any user. Due to this reason, you need to resolve the smart hard drive failure at your earliest convenience. In case your hard disk ceases to operate properly, it could open up a Pandora box for you.
In essence, there are two ways of doing this.
Moreover, when you check the partition on which Windows 7 or Windows 10 is installed, then you will be asked to conduct a disk check after the restart. However, if you do not want to schedule the check-up of partitions one after the after, you can use a partition free management software.
In most cases, the SMART hard drive failure is due to disk fragmentation. The issue can be resolved by defragmenting the disk. Your first suspicion when this issue occurs is predominantly due to a lack of disk defragmentation.
In a case, if you have tried all the tips and tricks mentioned above, but the error message persists, it could be possible that the SMART hard disk error is due to physical factors. In such a case, you cannot do anything to repair it physically. However, you can back up your data immediately and replace the hard disk to prevent any data loss that can occur in the future.
It is entirely plausible that performance issues or physical issues could cause the SMART error. If you are experiencing this issue, then it can be resolved relatively quickly. You will need to follow some basic steps:
Press Start which is located on the top left corner of your Windows platform. Clicking it will open up a panel which will show the computer. Click it.
After you have found the computer, you will need to select the drive and then right-click on it. This will reveal a panel with options.
After clicking, go to the lowest option in the panel which says properties. Click on it. It will open up yet another panel with a range of options. Find tools.
After entering the Tools box, you can see an error-checking option known as ''Check Now''. You may require admin permission for it if you do not own the system.
After this, click on the automatically fix file system errors. This will rectify all the existing file errors present on the drive.
In case this does not work, there are other methods to explore.
Another solution to resolve this issue is to make a backup through AOMEI Backupper because the hard drive will fail sooner than later. Listed below are step by step guidelines on how to do so:
First, download the AOMEI Backupper Professional for generating backups before the SMART error strikes. Launch it and select a backup option given on the main screen.
Choose a backup mode. This option allows you to make backups of partition, system, hard disk as well as files as per your individual needs.
Now, you can select the disks that you need to backup. Choose the option 'add' and move on. You can add multiple disks.
Select 'Step 2' to select the required drive and back up the data. You can even copy them to an external hard drive.
Click on the option that says 'start backup' and commence the operation.
Using this feature, you can perform a range of functions including checking up on the status of the hard disk. For checking this, follow our lead:
1. Press R + Windows key at once and it will open up the Run dialogue box. Type 'cmd' here and click 'ok'.
2. Type wmic and press the 'Enter' button.
3. This opens the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) interface. Type this command 'diskdrive get status'.
4. Press 'Enter' and the present status of the drive is shown right in front of you.
To your disadvantage, WMIC is a basic command and provides you only selected information about the status of the drive.
Before we delve further into the subject, it is interesting to note that the SMART system error belongs to the hard drive only. It is not associated with Apple's software or its hardware for that matter. Rest assured, it is a clear indicator that your hard disk needs to be resolved with immediate effect.
The "smart failure predicted on hard disk" can be resolved on Mac systems just as well. Let us see how we go about it in the Mac system.
1. First and foremost, the users will need to insert the Apple Software Restore disk inside the system and boot the system with pressing the 'C' key on the keyboard.
2. The next step for you to take is to release your hold from the 'C' key as instructed by the Mac Customer Care Service team. This happens when the greyish Apple logo appears on the screen. Now the users will notice the Apple logo will fade and the 'Language' option will pop up in its place.
3. Use the right-pointing arrow and now leave the option that says 'use English as the main language option'. This option is highlighted by the system. After this, the users will notice the disk menu appearing on the monitor by itself.
4. Now that you have the disk menu, it is time to tap the 'utilities' icon which you can see. Now click on the 'disk utility' icon. Now you can click on the SATA hard drive listing which appears on the left navigation section.
5. After doing this, you need to tap on the 'repair disk' icon which shows itself on the right panel. The disk utility will begin its operation and identify the S.M.A.R.T errors present on the hard drive and repair them.
6. After the completion of this process, you will have to restart the computer device after the disk utility has concluded its process of checking the hard drive. Now your hard disk issue has been resolved, albeit temporarily. You should still back up your data to be on the safe side.
With the help of these easy steps, you can easily get rid of the SMART error on your OS X system.
In this piece, we covered the essentials of SMART error, which is a common occurrence on the computer-based and Apple Mac platforms. As we observed, the issue can be resolved very quickly and easily by following some simple steps. Be it Apple or Windows, you should still maintain your backups of the file whenever necessary to prevent an unexpected data loss.
More so, we also examined preventative measures to prevent this issue from springing up in the future as it could result in potential data loss. However, it is still advisable to replace the hard disk when such an error is shown because these solutions are temporary fixes.
Check that the device does not emit abnormal noise or heat. On the other hand, if the load times are getting longer, it is likely that you will need to defragment the disk and if this does not improve the situation, it might be a sign of wear and tear. If you have any reason to believe that your device's health is at risk, please use S.M.A.R.T Storage Device Diagnostic Tools to confirm.
All modern storage devices have S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology). This technology is responsible for creating records related to the use of the device and these are interpreted by the firmware of your computer. From UEFI you can access a tool that allows you to interpret these records to know the health status of the device. On the other hand, you can also do it through third-party software.
Devices that have S.MA.R.T. perform DSTs (Disk Self-Test) when they consider that the health of the device is at risk. If your device failed to overcome a short DST, try replacing the SATA cable and connecting it through a different port. If this does not solve the problem, it is better to replace it as soon as possible.
S.M.A.R.T and your computer's firmware work together to avoid data loss. If you want to disable this technology, you can do so by disabling the SMART Monitoring option, this option is usually next to the options related to SATA drivers from UEFI / BIOS. In some cases, depending on the manufacturer, you will need to repeat this process individually for each of the devices for which you want to disable SMART.
Just because you cannot boot from a hard drive does not mean that the information is lost. In some cases, the reason you cannot boot from a hard drive is due to corrupted system files. However, the rest of the information may remain in good condition. Connect your disk to another computer and from there, create backups of all the information you need to recover.
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Theo Lucia
chief Editor