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A failed drive means losing all your data. Before buying a used laptop — or to know whether the computer you are using is still safe — you need to know how to check hard drive health (SSD/HDD) through its S.M.A.R.T attributes. This article shows how to check them quickly and how to read the important attributes.
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Table of contents 6 items
What Is S.M.A.R.T?
S.M.A.R.T is a self-monitoring health system that almost every SSD/HDD has. It records the remaining health %, hours of operation, amount of data written, number of read/write errors… From that you can tell whether the drive is still good or about to fail.
How to Check Hard Drive Health Quickly
Use the laptop test tool: complete the System info step, then open the Storage test to see the health %, power-on hours, data written and read/write errors taken from S.M.A.R.T, along with a write speed test.
Important S.M.A.R.T Attributes to Check
- Health / Percentage Used: remaining health % (SSD). Under 10% used = very good; over 80% used = nearing the end of its lifespan.
- Power On Hours: the number of hours the drive has run — the lower, the newer.
- Total Host Writes (TBW): total data written (SSD). Compare it with the manufacturer’s rated TBW to see how much is left.
- Reallocated Sector Count (HDD): the number of bad sectors that have been remapped. Greater than 0 and increasing = the drive is failing.
- Current Pending / Uncorrectable: any value = a serious warning; you should replace the drive right away.
How SSD and HDD Assessment Differs
SSD look at the health % and TBW; they run quietly and fast, with few mechanical faults. HDD look at Reallocated/Pending Sector and listen to it; an HDD making unusual clicking noises is a sign it is about to fail — back up right away.
When Should You Replace the Drive?
- SSD health below 20%, or Uncorrectable errors.
- HDD with increasing Reallocated/Pending Sector counts, or unusual noises.
- The computer often freezes, file copies fail, or it suddenly slows down.
Tip: always back up important data when you see bad S.M.A.R.T attributes; don’t wait for the drive to die completely.
Check the Whole Laptop Before Buying
The drive is just one item. See the guide to testing all 14 items: Online Laptop Test — Test a Used Laptop in 14 Steps, check for dead pixels, check battery wear and test the keyboard.
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