As you know, the hard drive on a computer plays one of the key roles, since it is he who is responsible for saving information, whether it is the operating system or user programs and files. And it is this component of the computer that is subject to the greatest wear, since it is used almost every second. Therefore, most manufacturers of hard drives began to use the built-in technologies of SMART diagnostics, which would make it possible to check disks regardless of the installed system. Let's try to figure out what it is.
What is SMART technology ?
Before considering the technologies themselves and the functions associated with them, we turn to the decoding of the abbreviation. SMART (for convenience we will use the abbreviation SMART) stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology, that is, roughly speaking, it is a system of self-diagnosis, analysis and reporting.
The basic principles of diagnosis
If we approach the understanding of such a technology in a broader sense, each user should know that it has nothing to do with the installed operating system. In fact, SMART technologies consist in the use of a certain microprogram, which is built into the HDD controller even at the factory assembly stage. The program itself always works as long as the hard drive is functioning.
Moreover, the evaluation of the hard drive includes tracking the main parameters of the state of the hard drive, the number of which can vary within different limits, but usually no more than thirty. The main controlled indicators include the speed of reading or writing data, the physical state of the disk surface, some parameters related to the work of the mechanics of the hard drive, etc.
But here's the interesting thing: since in this case the cable connection or the cable connection is not used to access the firmware to the disk, the internal check performed in no way affects the central processor. It is done in the background, the indicator icon for accessing the hard drive does not blink (or does not light constantly), but the noise produced by the hard drive is still sometimes heard. This is what surprises many users. Remember, this is not a big deal.
However, SMART technologies in the form of firmware, as a rule, in most cases use a quick check. At this stage, only the physical positioning of the hard drive and its electronic components are checked. This entire process takes less than a minute. If, for some reason, failures occur, a full scan can be launched, which includes surface tests, checks for bad clusters, and much more. Such processes take more time and can last about one hour.
At the same time, standard ATAPI / ATA commands are used to start checks of any type, and if any malfunctions or breakdowns are detected, a warning is issued that indicates some kind of error (maybe even fatal) with a proposal to backup the data. In most cases, this just indicates that the hard drive, to put it mildly, is time to rest.
Setting SMART goals
As regards the setting of tasks for the tests carried out, here we should highlight several key parameters that will be tested during offline diagnostics:
- the average value of the linear speed of reading and writing data;
- the average value of the transition time to a specific track (head positioning);
- average reading of a random sector;
- maximum search execution time in conditions of moving from the zero track to the last;
- read speed from cache.
As for the cache, it’s worth mentioning separately. In fact, this is a kind of proprietary RAM or a kind of clipboard. Data read from the hard drive is first entered into the cache memory, and only then into the system memory through the appropriate controller on the "motherboard".
But all this concerned only the basic parameters. If we talk about advanced testing, here should include indicators, a drop in the values of which may indicate disk wear:
- number of sector reassignments;
- total number of reassignment operations;
- current number of fragile sectors;
- reading error rate;
- spindle restart retries
- number of errors to be corrected;
- number of read / write errors;
- number of spindle restart cycles;
- operating time in the on state (in hours worked since the start of operation);
- the number of complete cycles to start and stop the disk;
- number of times the drive is turned on / off again.
Pros and cons
Actually, the technology itself, in which the firmware is used to diagnose the hard drive, is welcomed by everyone. Its application allows you to make full testing of the hard drive in time and prevent data loss.
But along with this there is one main minus - the program itself does not eliminate malfunctions or errors that occur, but simply informs the owner that his disk is “dead”. So what about self-diagnosis is not worth the mistake. The result will be displayed only with a complete failure of the hard drive. In most cases, combating this is unrealistic, although there are still some loopholes.
The most famous utilities for diagnosing and recovering hard drives
Regardless of the self-diagnosis, you should periodically use utilities to monitor the state of the hard drive — at least your own means of operating systems, at least third-party utilities. Built-in tools often cause a lot of complaints.
But here the program for diagnosing the Victoria hard drive of any version today in the computer technologies of this direction looks like the undisputed leader.
A sufficiently large resonance at the time was caused by the appearance of the most interesting utility HDD Regenerator, which, according to the developers, can bring to life any "dead" hard drive due to magnetization reversal. It is difficult to say how at the program level it is possible to physically affect the surface, nevertheless, the fact remains.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it remains to add that only the main points regarding SMART technologies for autonomous diagnostics of hard drives are considered here. There was no special excursion into the principles of performing such complex tests, since an unprepared user in them, they say, will break his head. However, he does not need this. It is enough to understand the fundamentals that are laid in production and to independently control hard drives at the present stage of development of computer technology.