Sequence of actions in the presence of S.M.A.R.T. hard drive or SSD errors. How to fix disk and recover lost data. When you boot your computer or laptop, S.M.A.R.T. appears. hard drive or ssd error? After this error, the computer does not work as before, and you are afraid about the safety of your data? Don't know how to fix the error?

Actual for OS: 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 to do with SMART error?

Step 1: Stop using the failed HDD

Receiving an error diagnostic message from the system does not mean that the drive has already failed. But in case of S.M.A.R.T. errors, you need to understand that the disk is already in the process of failure. A complete failure can occur both within a few minutes, and after a month or a year. But in any case, this means that you can no longer trust your data to such a disk.

You need to take care of the safety of your data, create a backup copy or transfer files to another storage medium. Along with the safety of your data, you must take steps to replace the hard drive. The hard drive where the S.M.A.R.T. errors should not be exploited - even if it does not completely fail, it can partially damage your data.

Of course, a hard drive can fail without S.M.A.R.T. But this technology gives you the advantage of warning you that a drive is about to fail.

Step 2: Recover deleted disk data

In the event of a SMART error, data recovery from the disk is not always required. In the event of an error, it is recommended to immediately create a copy of important data, as the disk may fail at any time. But there are errors in which it is no longer possible to copy data. In this case, you can use the program to recover hard disk data - Hetman Partition Recovery.

For this:

1. Download the program, install and run it.
2. By default, the user will be prompted to use File recovery wizard. Pushing a button "Further", the program will prompt you to select the drive from which you want to recover files.
3. Double click on the failed drive and select the type of analysis you want. Choose "Full Analysis" and wait for the disk scanning process to complete.
4. After the scanning process is completed, you will be provided with files to restore. Select the desired files and click the button "Restore".
5. Choose one of the suggested ways to save files. Do not save recovered files to a disk with an error.

Step 3: Scan the disk for bad sectors

Run a scan of all hard disk partitions and try to fix any errors found.

To do this, open the folder "This computer" and right-click on the drive with the SMART error. Select Properties / Service / Check In chapter Checking the disk for errors.

As a result of scanning, errors found on the disk can be corrected.

Step 4: Reduce disk temperature

Sometimes, the cause of the “S M A R T” error may be the exceeding of the maximum allowable operating temperature of the disk. This error can be fixed by improving the ventilation of the computer. First, check if your computer is equipped with sufficient ventilation and if all fans are working properly.

If you find and fix a ventilation problem, after which the disk's operating temperature drops to a normal level, then the SMART error may no longer occur.

Step 5:

Open folder "This computer" and right-click on the disk with the error. Select Properties / Service / Optimize In chapter Disk optimization and defragmentation.

Select the drive you want to optimize and click Optimize.

Note. In Windows 10, disk defragmentation and optimization can be configured to run automatically.

Step 6: Buy a new hard drive

If you encounter a SMART hard drive error, then purchasing a new drive is only a matter of time. Which hard drive you need depends on your computer style and the purpose for which it is being used.

What to look for when purchasing a new drive:

1. Disk type: HDD, SSD or SSHD. Each type has its pros and cons, which are not critical for some users and are very important for others. The main ones are the speed of reading and writing information, volume and resistance to repeated rewriting.
2. The size. There are two main drive form factors: 3.5" and 2.5". The disk size is determined in accordance with the installation location of a particular computer or laptop.
3. Interface. Main hard drive interfaces:
   • SATA
   • IDE, ATAPI, ATA;
   • SCSI
   • External drive (USB, FireWire, etc.).
4. Specifications and performance:
   • Capacity;
   • Read and write speed;
   • The size of the memory buffer or cache;
   • Response time;
   • Fault tolerance.
5. S.M.A.R.T.. The presence of this technology in the disk will help to identify possible errors in its operation and prevent data loss in time.
6. Equipment. This item includes the possible presence of interface or power cables, as well as warranty and service.

How to reset SMART error?

SMART errors can be easily reset in the BIOS (or UEFI). But the developers of all operating systems categorically do not recommend doing this. If the data on the hard disk is of no value to you, then the output of SMART errors can be disabled.

To do this, do the following:

1. Restart your computer, and by pressing the key combination indicated on the boot screen (they are different for different manufacturers, usually "F2" or Del) go to BIOS (or UEFI).
2. Go to: advanced > SMART settings > SMART self test. Set value Disabled.

Note: the location for disabling the function is approximate, since depending on the BIOS or UEFI version, the location of this setting may vary slightly.

Is HDD repair worth it?

It is important to understand that any of the ways to eliminate SMART errors is self-deception. It is impossible to completely eliminate the cause of the error, since the main cause of its occurrence is often the physical wear of the hard drive mechanism.

To eliminate or replace malfunctioning hard drive components, you can contact the service center of a special laboratory for working with hard drives.

But the cost of work in this case will be higher than the cost of a new device. Therefore, it makes sense to do repairs only if it is necessary to restore data from an already inoperable disk.

SMART error for SSD drive

Even if you have no complaints about the operation of an SSD drive, its performance is gradually declining. The reason for this is the fact that SSD memory cells have a limited number of write cycles. The wear resistance function minimizes this effect, but does not completely eliminate it.

SSD drives have their own specific SMART attributes that signal the state of the disk's memory cells. For example, “209 Remaining Drive Life”, “231 SSD life left”, etc. These errors can occur when cells are degraded, which means that the information stored in them can be corrupted or lost.

The cells of an SSD disk in the event of a failure are not restored and cannot be replaced.

SSD drives are a storage standard that is gaining popularity these days. It is distinguished by high speed compared to hard drives, which had a monopoly in this area only 5-7 years ago. But you have to pay for speed: the resource of an SSD drive is seriously limited. How to check the SSD drive for operability - in our article.

It is worth noting that SSDs are based on memory chips, similar to RAM, while their direct competitors - hard drives - use a magnetic surface and read heads. The use of chips can seriously improve the speed of reading data, but imposes restrictions on the resource of the drive. This resource is called the write cycle - it shows how many times information in a particular memory sector can be written and erased until it fails. Usually this resource is 3-4 years - such a guarantee is usually given by the manufacturers of drives themselves.

This does not mean that after the expiration of this period, the disk will die immediately and will not show signs of life. For each drive, this process occurs individually. At first, the speed will simply decrease for someone, some disk will simply stop writing data, that is, it will only work for reading - that's not the point. The main thing is that the disk needs to be checked regularly so that in case of problems you have time to save important data.

So, let's figure it out.

CrystalDiscInfo

This is a free utility for users of the Microsoft Windows system. A very simple program, the advantage of which is a completely intuitive interface. So:

Note! Other SMART tests in the list can also be used to make a conclusion about the health of the disk. Compare the worst-case and current test scores with the score in the Threshold column and analyze the resulting data. Important! Pay attention also to all sorts of failures and errors in reading and writing.

These are also important aspects, in the presence of which it is worth seriously thinking about changing the drive, or at least a backup copy of the information contained on it.

DriveDx

An excellent program for monitoring the status of your drive if you use the macOS platform.

Note! The program is paid, however, you can use it in trial mode. Is it worth paying for the full version - try it, it's up to you.

1. Download the program from the official website of the developer. When you run it, you will see a system warning that this program was downloaded from the Internet and may be dangerous. Allow the system to open the program.

   

2. The interface of the program itself will open. At the top of the window, you'll see bars that let you know the status of the drive, while at the bottom, you'll see more detailed tests and SMART scan results.

   

3. Examine the contents of the window - there can be a huge amount of useful information. For example, it would not be superfluous to know the total operating time of the drive or the number of power-up cycles.

   

4. The Promlems Summary section contains disk error reports. If everything here is zero - you don’t have to worry, everything is in perfect order.

   

5. And what you should pay attention to is the line "Health Indicators", located on the left side of the window immediately below the name of the drive that we are scanning. You will see a list of a large number of sensors that will show you the life of your drive from all angles.

   

   

So, in our case, you should pay attention to the temperature of the drive, as well as the fact that the overwrite cycle counter has already counted quite large numbers. The rest is all right.

Summing up

It is a pity that at the moment no operating system has implemented a built-in function for monitoring the state of the drive. It's a pity, it would be very nice - to be able to monitor your disk without unnecessary movements. But we can always download any monitoring application and see all the necessary information.

What recommendations would you like to give so that your SSD will serve you as long as possible? If it has an operating system, then try to move all file operations to the hard drive, if you have one. Apply all the system enhancements required for the SSD, there are many instructions on the Internet on this subject.

Important! Watch the temperature - overheating can seriously damage the chips. Most importantly, back up your data.

You can check the status as much as you like, however, it is basically impossible to be completely sure that your disk will not die today. Remember this. Good luck!

Video - How to check the health of an SSD drive

A simple and often pop-up question: how can we check a newly purchased new or used solid-state drive? With some other components, everything is simple. To check, for example, a video card, we run modern games, or “heater” tests from the Furmark series, you can also make sure that the video card delivers its nominal performance by “running” one of the 3DMark tests. For processors, there are also tests that measure performance and stress tests that warm it up during operation, and even for hard drives there are a large number of utilities that show bad sectors.

Testing semiconductor drives, in fact, is not much different from checking other devices. There are also a number of utilities for them, some specialize in SSDs, some, in general, in information storage systems.

Purchased BUSSDwhat to pay attention to?

Buying a used SSD is not recommended, if only because this device has the effect of easing or degrading its performance over time to one degree or another. The main reason is the limited number of write cycles, although (yet) there are no known cases when the memory on the SSD failed due to its “old age”, it is better to use a new drive anyway.

The usage time of the device may not always give an adequate estimate of the theoretical load on the disk. Where one user installed only the system and some applications on the SSD (and also carried out a number of optimizations), the second one regularly performed useless and even fatal defragmentation of the drive, kept “torrents” on the chips, and so on. Accordingly, the same device with different users will have a different percentage of wear.

First of all (especially if you buy an SSD with a warranty from some store), pay attention to the warranty stickers and stickers on the case. They should be intact, and there should be no traces of screwdrivers on the screws.

There is simply no need to open an SSD, except for test labs in order to take high-quality photos of internal elements, microcircuits and controllers. Any opening, even a "neat" one, will be noticed by a vigilant team of service engineers who will refuse to provide warranty obligations.

Opening an SSD can also mean an attempt to re-solder some elements, or even worse, when scammers simply use the drive case to replace a working drive board with a knowingly defective one, be more vigilant.

typical USB-SATA adapter

In order to determine the performance of an SSD, fortunately, it is not necessary to have a PC, any laptop or netbook with USB ports will do. An average SATA to USB adapter can cost about 500 rubles, which is not so much if you buy a capacious SSD.

Immediately after connection.

Once you connect the drive to your laptop, you won't be able to test its speed. SSDs are very sensitive to the package of installed drivers, controller, interface type, and so on. When connecting USB 2.0 (and version 3.0 too), the speed of the drive will seriously decrease, relative to comfortable conditions, up to 30 MB / s for the USB 2.0 interface.

However, you will still be able to run some utilities that will show the wear of the device, the number of turns on, the size of the drive, and other characteristics.

For example, we use the Crystal Disk Info utility, if possible, the latest version. This is a free program that can be downloaded from the developer's website. Do not confuse with Crystal Disk Mark, which is used to test device speeds (we don't need them at this stage).

Let's pay attention to three main points that interest us:

1. The one shown in the figure above symbolizes all drives connected to a computer or laptop. The condition of the purchased SSD, of course, must be "good". If the program shows "alarm!" it is worth clarifying the reason. Sometimes this happens due to some failures in the utility itself, incorrect reading of S.M.A.R.T indicators, but most often it symbolizes some serious flaw.
2. We have to make sure we have purchased the correct SSD by looking at the name of the device and its capacity.
3. The honesty of the seller can also be checked by the total working time. If in words I bought a week ago, and the total operating time is about a dozen hours, then something is not right here.

Important: Even new SSDs unpacked in front of you have a number of inclusions that are performed during factory checks.

In a word, you yourself will be able to see for yourself if there is “something wrong” with the drive.

TestingSSDat home.

First of all, even before using an SSD, make sure that you have performed small optimizations, updated drivers for the controller, etc., for example, as indicated in this one, so you will save yourself some nerves and be sure that the device is fully functional (or vice versa, has some - problems).

After that, you can proceed to full testing, in general, there is nothing complicated. Examples of useful utilities and their use can be "peeped" in the "" section.

For example, a free utility will show the indicators closest to the declared characteristics, and the Crystal Disk Mark test is close to real. Comprehensive performance evaluation can be obtained in PCMark Vantage.

Share On

One of the most important parts of the computer system unit is the hard drive. It stores the necessary data, some user information. A hard drive is a delicate thing and requires proper care. Otherwise, there is a high risk of losing everything accumulated and downloaded.

As one of the options for saving information from a hard drive, these are backups to cloud services and / or to external media. The first procedure is notable for its duration and absorbs a lot of traffic, while the second tires you with constant copying. To limit the main storage medium from such problems, you need to get a couple of smart utilities for diagnosing conventional and combined hard drives (HDD, HDD + SSD), as well as external SSD drives. The last two will be discussed today.

Some applications help to timely detect problem areas in the system areas of the drive and warn the user in advance about the need for a technical recovery procedure, while others solve this issue comprehensively, that is, they look for, find, correct and prevent the following relapses.

So, we present to your attention a list of programs for checking an SSD disk for errors. All applications are respected by both professional and amateur user environments and have more than once helped both to solve problems with a high-speed hard drive.

Crystal Disk Mark

This program is for checking hard drives (SSD, HDD) and external storage media. The utility began its history more than 10 years ago, so the developers are burdened with rich experience, as well as user support.

By and large, we have a program for checking SSD drives for speed. That is, the application allows the user to find out the real parameters for reading and writing data to a hard drive or any other drive. Moreover, the Seq algorithm is used as the main analysis tool. The latter is used by almost all manufacturers of high-speed internal and external SSD drives.

This algorithm allows you to compare the numbers obtained as a result of the test with those indicated in the equipment specification. If those differ greatly, then you can sound the alarm and resort to the help of heavier software tools. It is recommended to check the speed of an SSD hard drive at least once a week, because a problem that has just appeared is much easier to fix than one that is running and well managed on your hard drive.

HDDScan

This program for checking SSD drives will provide the user with all the technical information about the device and test it according to different algorithms. The utility has an abundance of functionality.

Here you can find out the temperature of the internal and external SSD, as well as other connected drives. The application identifies individual sectors that are slow, and a rich database of hard drives allows you to compare the received reports with the original manufacturer's specifications.

Distinctive features of the software

The HDDScan SSD test program supports both modern arrays and legacy connection interfaces, that is, it works not only with high-speed media, but also with equipment on SATA cables and old memory cards.

As a fly in the ointment here is an indication of the process of performing current tasks, or rather the absence of it as such. The linear diagnostics of solid-state media has never been fast even on powerful computers, so the absence of the usual strip with percentage completion confuses and alarms: sometimes it seems that the program for checking SSD drives just hung.

Seagate SeaTools

This is branded and fastidious Kingston media and devices from Toshiba, alas, do not work with this application, but devices from Western Digital feel quite comfortable in tandem with this utility.

The software allows you to carry out three main types of analysis:

• short, where only superficial testing is performed to identify obvious problems;
• express diagnostics with a short reading of sequential arrays (checking an SSD disk for bad sectors);
• complete analysis of everything and everything. The last procedure will take a lot of time, but according to its results, there will be, as they say, even a needle in That is, not a single bad sector or some kind of problem will hide even in the most hidden jungles of the hard drive.

Another useful feature of this program for checking SSD drives is tracking and installing the latest software for your hard drive. You will always know about the release of a new firmware or some drivers.

WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic

Another proprietary utility, but from Western Digital. The software is more loyal to competitors, so this program can be used (in most cases) on devices from Seagate, Kingston or Toshiba.

It should also be noted that this utility does not have a simple and intuitive interface, so it cannot be recommended to beginners. In addition, one of the reasons why amateurs should stay away from the functionality of this application is the presence of irreversible modes, such as deep formatting of tracks and sectors. After executing, for example, the WRITE ZEROS function, data recovery is out of the question.

Another distinctive feature of this program for an SSD drive is checking the wear of the hard drive and then correcting problems, that is, in-depth analysis and reassignment of damaged areas. In this case, the utility puts special marks on bad sectors, after which the operating system is prohibited from writing any data to this place. As a result, we have not just diagnostic software, but a universal solution for analyzing and fixing drive problems.

Victoria HDD

This is one of the oldest utilities in the field. Victoria appeared at the dawn of ATA interfaces, and this is more than fifteen years ago. Despite its venerable age and mediocre support from developers, the program copes well with the tasks assigned to it and outdoes a good half of modern software in this segment.

Victoria does an excellent job with ordinary express diagnostics and reassignment of bad sectors. In addition, the interface provides a section for checking the connection of the device to the motherboard. That is, in real time you can see the status of the loop and the voltage supplied to the hard drive.

Software features

One of the positive and at the same time negative sides of the program is the interface. On the one hand, we have an extremely simple code that works, as it were, separately from the operating system and can be launched, as they say, on the knee, that is, in the DOS or BIOS environment. But on the other hand, it is difficult for many to use the utility, because there are simply no official assemblies for Windows and you have to be smart with the command line or download amateur options adapted for windows.

Despite such troubles, the program is stable and efficient. In addition, the software is absolutely free and takes up very little space, which allows you to shove it not just into any drive, but even into the system area of ​​​​the disk, where there is already enough space.

The utility seems to be simple, but it cannot be recommended to beginners. Here you need at least basic knowledge and understanding of the process of diagnosing and recovering hard drives. That is, for those who are used to clicking on the start button, and then clicking OK in the “Done” window, this software will not work.

HD Tune

This is a fairly simple shareware application for diagnosing conventional and high-speed hard drives. The software works in two standard modes: express software analysis and low-level error search in reading mode.

It should also be noted that the tools used by the utility have algorithms of their own design, so they can detect most non-standard errors, where ordinary applications will simply pass by. The software supports almost all known connection interfaces from classic SATA drives to modern SSD protocols, so there should be no problems with synchronization.

Distinctive features of the utility

If you purchase a paid license, then the functionality of the program is greatly expanded, and most importantly (for many) - ads and constantly pop-up blocks with an offer to buy some kind of trinket disappear.

The professional version has not only diagnostic capabilities, but also resuscitation. The latter imply a ban on writing to bad sectors, and in rare cases, restoring them to full performance. The Pro version costs about 2000 rubles, and you can purchase it on the official website of the developer. If you're lucky, you can buy software at a significant discount from some distributor for a promotion or even get it in addition to a more expensive product.

HDD Regenerator

This is already a whole complex, where the user has access to a huge functionality for diagnosing and solving problems related to hard drives and SSD hard drives as well. The software uses its own methods and search algorithms with the correction of bad sectors as the main management tools.

Unlike the previous utility, "Regenerator" not only prevents the operating system from accessing problem areas of the disk, but also tries to restore the latter. A combination of high and low level surface formatting can (sometimes) bring bad sectors back to life.

It should also be noted that the utility works with all known drive interfaces, so there are no problems with synchronization. The software will digest both the old man on SATA and brand new combined or external SSD drives.

Program features

The only disadvantage of such a powerful tool for working with hard drives is the cost of a license. On the official resource of the developer, you can buy the program for 5000 rubles. In other distribution networks, you can get a discount, but not more than 500 rubles, so this software cannot be called inexpensive.

Despite such a high cost, the program justifies its investment, especially if your system unit has more than one hard drive or a whole collection of flash drives and other external drives. The utility will save your information and heal devices from specific ailments more than once or twice. Professional users have noticed that the regular use of this program significantly increases the operational life of hard drives (from 15 to 40%, depending on the type and volume). Therefore, the software can be safely recommended to all those who care about their drives, as well as about the information stored on them.

HDDScan

The program is designed to check hard drives and SSDs for bad sectors, view S.M.A.R.T. attributes, changing special settings, such as: power management, spindle start/stop, acoustic mode adjustment, etc. Drive temperature value can be output to the taskbar.

Opportunities and requirements

Supported drive types:

• HDD with ATA/SATA interface.
• HDD with SCSI interface.
• HDD with USB interface (see Appendix A).
• HDD with FireWire or IEEE 1394 interface (see Appendix A).
• RAID arrays with ATA/SATA/SCSI interface (only tests).
• Flash drives with USB interface (only tests).
• SSD with ATA/SATA interface.

Drive tests:

• Test in linear verification mode.
• Test in linear reading mode.
• Test in linear recording mode.
• Butterfly reading mode test (artificial random reading test)

S.M.A.R.T.:

• Reading and analyzing S.M.A.R.T. parameters from ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire drives.
• Reading and analysis of log tables from disks with SCSI interface.
• Launching S.M.A.R.T. tests on drives with ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire interface.
• Temperature monitor on drives with ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire/SCSI interface.

Additional features:

• Reading and analysis of identification information from drives with ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire/SCSI interface.
• Changing AAM, APM, PM parameters on drives with ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire interface.
• View information about defects on a SCSI drive.
• Spindle start/stop on drives with ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire/SCSI interface.
• Save reports in MHT format.
• Print reports.
• Skins support.
• Command line support.
• Support for SSD drives.

Requirements:

• Operating system: Windows XP SP3, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10(NEW).
• The program must not be run from a drive that is in read-only mode.

User Interface

The main view of the program at startup

Rice. 1 Main view of the program

Main window controls:

• Select Drive is a dropdown list that contains all supported drives in the system. The drive model and serial number are displayed. Nearby is an icon that determines the expected type of drive.
• S.M.A.R.T button – allows you to get a drive status report based on S.M.A.R.T attributes.
• TESTS button - shows a pop-up menu with a choice of read and write tests (see Fig. 2).
• TOOLS Button - Shows a pop-up menu for selecting available dial controls and functions (see Figure 3).
• More button - shows a drop-down menu with program controls.

When you press the TESTS button, a pop-up menu will offer you one of the tests. If you select any test, the test dialog will open (see Figure 4).

Rice. 2 Test menu

When you press the TOOLS button, a pop-up menu will prompt you to select one of the following options:

Rice. 3 Function menu

• DRIVE ID - Generates an identification information report.
• FEATURES - opens a window of additional features of the program.
• S.M.A.R.T. TEST - opens the S.M.A.R.T. tests: Short, Extended, Conveyance.
• TEMP MON - starts the temperature monitoring task.
• COMMAND - opens the command line build window.

Test Dialog Box

Rice. 4 Test dialog box

Controls:

• The FIRST SECTOR field is the initial logical sector number for testing.
• The SIZE field is the number of logical sector numbers for testing.
• The BLOCK SIZE field is the block size in sectors for testing.
• Button Previous - returns to the main window of the program.
• Next button - adds the test to the task queue.

Features and limitations of tests:

• Only one surface test can be run at a time. This is due to the fact that the author of the program has not yet been able to obtain stable qualitative results when running 2 or more tests simultaneously (on different drives).
• A test in Verify mode can have a block size limit of 256, 16384, or 65536 sectors. This is due to the peculiarities of Windows.
• Test in Verify mode may not work properly on USB/Flash drives.
• When testing in the Verify mode, the drive reads a block of data into the internal buffer and checks their integrity; no data is transmitted through the interface. The program measures the drive readiness time after performing this operation after each block and displays the results. Blocks are tested sequentially - from the minimum to the maximum.
• When testing in the Read mode, the drive reads data into the internal buffer, after which the data is transmitted through the interface and stored in the program's temporary buffer. The program measures the total drive readiness and data transfer time after each block and displays the results. Blocks are tested sequentially - from the minimum to the maximum.
• When testing in the Erase mode, the program prepares a block of data filled with a special pattern with a sector number and transfers the data to the drive, the drive writes the received block ( information in the block is irretrievably lost!). The program measures the total time of transferring and writing a block and the readiness of the drive after each block and displays the results. Blocks are tested sequentially - from the minimum to the maximum.
• Testing in Butterfly Read mode is similar to testing in Read mode. The difference lies in the order in which the blocks are tested. Blocks are processed in pairs. The first block in the first pair will be Block 0. The second block in the first pair will be Block N, where N is the last block of the given section. The next pair will be Block 1, Block N-1, and so on. Testing ends in the middle of a given section. This test measures reading and positioning time.

Task management window

Rice. 5 Task Manager

This window contains the task queue. This includes all the tests that the program runs, as well as the temperature monitor. The manager allows you to remove tests from the queue. Some tasks can be paused or stopped.

Double clicking on an entry in the queue brings up a window with information about the current task.

Test Information Window

The window contains information about the test, allows you to pause or stop the test, and also generates a report.

Graph tab:

Contains information about the dependence of the testing speed on the block number, which is presented in the form of a graph.

Rice. 6 Graph tab

Map tab:

Contains information about the dependence of the testing time on the block number, which is presented as a map.

Rice. 7 Map tab

You can select "Block Processing Time" in milliseconds. Each tested block that took longer than the "Block Processing Time" will be logged in the "Report" tab.

Report tab:

Contains information about the test and all blocks whose testing time is greater than "Block Processing Time".

Rice. 8 Report tab

Identification Information

The report contains information about the main physical and logical parameters of the drive.

The report can be printed and saved to an MHT file.

Rice. 9 Example of an identification information window

S.M.A.R.T. report

The report contains information about the performance and "health" of the drive in the form of attributes. If, according to the program, the attribute is normal, then next to it is a green icon. Yellow indicates attributes that you should pay special attention to, as a rule, they indicate some kind of drive malfunction. Red indicates attributes that are outside the norm.

Reports can be printed or saved to an MHT file.

Rice. 10 Sample S.M.A.R.T.

Temperature monitor

Allows you to estimate the temperature of the drive. Information is displayed in the taskbar, as well as in a special test information window. Rice. 11 contains readings for two drives.

Rice. 11 Temperature monitor in the taskbar

For ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire drives, the information window contains 2 values. The second value is displayed in the taskbar.

The first value is taken from the Airflow Temperature attribute, the second value is taken from the HDA Temperature attribute.

Rice. 12 Temperature monitor for ATA/SATA drive

For SCSI drives, the information window contains 2 values. The second value is displayed in the taskbar.

The first value contains the maximum allowable temperature for the drive, the second shows the current temperature.

Rice. 13 Temperature monitor for SCSI disk

S.M.A.R.T. tests

The program allows you to run three types of S.M.A.R.T. tests:

1. Short test - usually lasts 1-2 minutes. It checks the main components of the drive, and also scans a small area of ​​the drive surface and sectors in the Pending-List (sectors that may contain read errors). The test is recommended for a quick assessment of the condition of the drive.
2. Extended test - usually lasts from 0.5 to 60 hours. Checks the main components of the drive, and also completely scans the surface of the drive.
3. Conveyance test - usually lasts a few minutes. Checks drive nodes and logs that may indicate that the drive has been stored or shipped incorrectly.

A SMART test can be selected from the SMART Tests dialog, accessed by pressing the SMART TESTS button.

Rice. 14 SMART Tests dialog box

Once selected, the test will be added to the Tasks queue. Information window S.M.A.R.T. test can display the progress and completion status of a task.

Rice. 15 Information window S.M.A.R.T. test

Additional features

For ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire drives, the program allows you to change some parameters.

1. AAM - the function controls the noise of the drive. Enabling this feature allows you to reduce the noise of the drive due to smoother positioning of the heads. In this case, the drive loses a little in performance during random access.
2. APM - the function allows you to save drive power by temporarily reducing the speed of rotation (or completely stopping) of the drive spindle during idle time.
3. PM - the function allows you to set the spindle stop timer for a specific time. When this time is reached, the spindle will be stopped provided that the drive is idle. Accessing the drive by any program causes the spindle to be forced to spin up and the timer to reset to zero.
4. The program also allows you to stop or start the drive spindle forcibly. Access to the drive by any program causes forced spinning of the spindle.

Rice. 16 Information window for additional features of the ATA/SATA drive

For SCSI drives, the program allows you to view defect lists and start/stop the spindle.

Rice. 17 SCSI drive advanced features information window

Using the command line

The program can build a command line to control some of the drive's settings and save this line to a .bat or .cmd file. When such a file is launched, the program is called in the background, changes the drive settings in accordance with the specified ones, and closes automatically.

Rice. 18 Command line build window

Appendix A: USB/FireWire Drives

If the drive is supported by the program, then tests are available for it, S.M.A.R.T. features and additional features.

If the drive is not supported by the program, then only tests are available for it.

USB/FireWire drives supported by the program:

Maxtor Personal Storage (USB2120NEP001)

Storage device	Controller chip
StarTeck IDECase35U2	Cypress CY7C68001
WD Passpopt	unknown
Iomega PB-10391	unknown
Seagate ST9000U2 (PN: 9W3638-556)	Cypress CY7C68300B
Seagate External Drive (PN: 9W286D)	Cypress CY7C68300B
Seagate FreeAgentPro	Oxford
CASE SWEXX ST010	Cypress AT2LP RC7
Vantec CB-ISATAU2 (adapter)	Micron JM20337
Beyond Micro Mobile Disk 3.5" 120GB	Prolific PL3507 (USB only)
Maxtor Personal Storage 3100	Prolific PL2507
In-System ISD300A
	SunPlus SPIF215A
Toshiba USB Mini Hard Drive	unknown
USB Teac HD-15 PUK-B-S	unknown
Transcend StoreJet 35 Ultra (TS1TSJ35U-EU)	unknown
AGEStar FUBCP	Micron JM20337
USB Teac HD-15 PUK-B-S	unknown
	Prolific 2571
All Drives That Support SAT Protocol	Majority of Modern USB controllers

USB / FireWire drives that the program may support:

Storage device	Controller chip
AGEStar IUB3A	Cypress
AGEStar ICB3RA	Cypress
AGEStar IUB3A4	Cypress
AGEStar IUB5A	Cypress
AGEStar IUB5P	Cypress
AGEStar IUB5S	Cypress
AGEStar NUB3AR	Cypress
AGEStar IBP2A2	Cypress
AGEStar SCB3AH	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar SCB3AHR	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar CCB3A	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar CCB3AT	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar IUB2A3	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar SCBP	Micron JM2033x
AGEStar FUBCP	Micron JM2033x
Noontec SU25	Prolific PL2507
Transcend TS80GHDC2	Prolific PL2507
Transcend TS40GHDC2	Prolific PL2507
I-O Data HDP-U series	unknown
I-O Data HDC-U series	unknown
Enermax Vanguard EB206U-B	unknown
Thermaltake Max4 A2295	unknown
Spire GigaPod SP222	unknown
CoolerMaster-RX-3SB	unknown
MegaDrive200	unknown
RaidSonic Icy Box IB-250U	unknown
Logitech USB	unknown

USB / FireWire drives that the program does not support:

Storage device	Controller chip
matrix	Genesis Logic GL811E
Pine	Genesis Logic GL811E
Iomega LDHD250-U	Cypress CY7C68300A
Iomega DHD160-U	Prolific PL-2507 (modified firmware)
Iomega
Maxtor Personal Storage 3200	Prolific PL-3507 (modified firmware)
Maxtor One Touch	Cypress CY7C68013
Seagate External Drive (PN-9W2063)	Cypress CY7C68013
Seagate Pocket HDD	unknown
SympleTech SympleDrive 9000-40479-002	CY7C68300A
	Myson Century CS8818
	Myson Century CS8813

Appendix B: SSD Drives

Support for a particular drive largely depends on the controller installed on it.

SSD drives supported by the program:

Storage device	Controller chip
OCZ Vertex, Vertex Turbo, Agility, Solid 2	Indilinx IDX110M00
Super Talent STT_FTM28GX25H	Indilinx IDX110M00
Corsair Extreme Series	Indilinx IDX110M00
Kingston SSDNow M-Series	Intel PC29AS21AA0 G1
Intel X25-M G2	Intel PC29AS21BA0 G2
OCZ Throttle	JMicron JMF601
Corsair Performance Series	Samsung S3C29RBB01
Samsung SSDs	Samsung Controllers
Crucial and Micron SSDs	Some Marvell Controllers

SSD drives that the program may support:

Additional Information

HDDScan version 3.3 can be downloaded version 2.8

Support: