How to Fix Hard Drive or SSD SMART Error

Steps to take when encountering S.M.A.R.T. errors in your HDD or SSD, fixing the disk and recovering lost data. Does a S.M.A.R.T. error appear in an HDD or SSD when your computer/laptop loads? Has your computer performance got worse after this error and you worry about the safety of your data? Do you have difficulties with fixing an error?

How to Fix Hard Drive or SSD SMART Error

Acceptable values of the SMART attribute may differ depending on the hard disk manufacturer – WD (Western Digital), Samsung, Seagate, HGST (Hitachi) or Toshiba.

Actual for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Windows Home Server 2011, Windows 7 (Seven), Windows Small Business Server, Windows Server 2008, Windows Home Server, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT.

What should you do with error?

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Stop Using The Faulty HDD

If you receive a system message about an error diagnosed, it doesn’t mean the disk is out of order already. However, in case of a S.M.A.R.T. error, you should realize the disk is on the way to its breakdown. It can fail completely anytime – both within several minutes or in a month or even in a year. Anyway, it does mean you cannot trust to keep your data there.

You should take some care about the safety of your data, make a backup copy or transfer files to another media. Along with these actions meant to save your data, you should also replace your hard disk. The disk where S.M.A.R.T. errors were found cannot be used – even if it doesn’t break down completely, it can still damage your data partially.

Of course, a hard disk can fail even without showing any S.M.A.R.T. messages, but this technology gives you a certain advantage of warning you about the coming breakdown problem.

Restore The Deleted Data From The Disk

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If there is a SMART error, restoring data from the disk is not always necessary. In case of an error, it is recommended to create a backup copy of important information immediately, because now the disk can fail completely at any time. However, there are errors that make data copying impossible. In this case, you can use special hard disk data recovery software – Hetman Partition Recovery.

The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Restore The Deleted Data From The Disk

To do it:

  1. Download the program, install and launch it.
  2. By default, you will be suggested to use File Recovery Wizard. After clicking Next the program will suggest you to choose a disk to recover files from.
  3. Double-click on the faulty disk and choose the type of analysis. Select Full analysis and wait for the scanning process to finish.
  4. After the scanning process is over you will be shown files for recovery. Select the necessary files and click Recover.
  5. Select one of the suggested ways to save files. Do not save the recovered files to the disk having an error.

Scan The Disk For Bad Sectors

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Start scanning all partitions of the disk and try correcting any mistakes that are found.

Scan The Disk For Bad Sectors

To do it, open This PC and right-click on the disk with a SMART error. Select Properties / Tools / Check in the tab Error checking.

Errors found on the disk as a result of scanning can be corrected.

Reduce The Disk Temperature

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Sometimes a SMART error can be caused by exceeding the maximum temperature of the disk. This problem can be eliminated by improving the case ventilation. First of all, make sure that your computer has sufficient ventilation and that all coolers are in proper working order.

If you found and eliminated the ventilation problem, which helped to bring the disk temperature back to normal, this SMART error can never appear again.

Run Hard Disk Defragmentation

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Open This PC and right-click on the disk having an error. Select Properties / Tools / Optimize in the tab Optimize and defragment drive.

Run Hard Disk Defragmentation

Select the disk you need to optimize and click Optimize.

Note. In Windows 10 disk defragmentation and optimization can be adjusted to take place automatically.

Buy a New Hard Disk

If you encounter a hard disk SMART error, then buying a new HDD is only a matter of time. The disk type you need depends on how you work on the computer and the purposes you use your computer for.

Here are some points to consider when buying a new hard disk:

  1. Disk type: HDD, SSD или SSHD. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages which may be unimportant for one user and crucial for another. These are read and write speed, capacity and tolerance to multiple overwriting.
  2. Size. There are two main form factors for hard disks, 3.5 inch and 2.5 inch. The size of disks is determined in accordance to the slot in a particular computer or laptop.
  3. Interface. The main interfaces of hard disks are as follows:
    • SATA;
    • IDE, ATAPI, ATA;
    • SCSI;
    • External Disk (USB, FireWire etc).
  4. Technical characteristics and performance:
    • Capacity;
    • Read and write speed;
    • Memory cache size;
    • Response time;
    • Fail safety.
  5. S.M.A.R.T. Availability of this technology in the disk will help determining possible mistakes in its work and prevent loss of data before it is too late.
  6. Package. This item can include interface or power cables as well as warranty and service options.

How Can You Reset SMART Error?

SMART errors can be easily reset in BIOS (or UEFI) but all OS developers strongly discourage users from this step. Yet if the data on the hard disk is of little importance for you, displaying SMART errors can be disabled.

Here is the procedure to follow:

  1. Restart the computer, and use combinations of keys shown on the loading screen (they depend on a specific manufacturer, usually “F2” or “Del“) to go to BIOS (or UEFI).
  2. Go to Аdvanced > SMART settings > SMART self test. Set the value as Disabled.

Note: The place where you disable the function is given approximately, because its specific location depends on the version of BIOS or UEFI and can differ slightly.

Is It Worth Repairing an HDD?

It is important to realize that any of the ways to eliminate a SMART error is self-deception. It is impossible to completely remove the cause of the error, as it often involves physical wear of the hard disk mechanism.

To replace the hard disk components which operate incorrectly you can go to a service center or a special laboratory dealing with hard disks.

However, the cost of work will be higher than the price of a new device, so it is justified only when you need to restore data from a disk which is no longer operable.

SMART Error In an SSD

Even if you have no problems with an SSD performance, its operability is reducing slowly because SSD memory cells have a limited number of overwrite cycles. The wear resistance function minimizes this effect but never takes it away completely.

SSD disks have their specific SMART attributes which send signals about the state of disk memory cells. For example, “209 Remaining Drive Life,” “231 SSD life left” etc. Such errors may occur when memory cell operability is reduced, and it means the information kept there can be damaged or lost.

In case of failure, SSD cells cannot be recovered or replaced.

Is the error fixed now? Leave your feedback and ask questions in your comments.

Vladimir Artiukh

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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