Updated by

Sherly

Updated on April 22, 2024

Many of us have experienced an SSD (Solid State Drive) failure at least once, and it's not nice. It can lead to data loss and even financial damage. Some users try to learn more about SSD reliability and its hidden predictive abilities as part of the SMART technology. So let's take a look at how SMART works. We'll also show you how to run an SSD SMART test:

Before we run the SSD SMART test, we should know what it is.

What is an SSD SMART Test? An SSD SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) test is a diagnostic tool used to assess the health of a Solid State Drive (SSD). SMART is designed to monitor the operational status of an SSD, collect various performance and failure metrics, and alert users when potential issues arise. It evaluates the drive's health by analyzing parameters such as power-on hours, read/write error rates, and lifespan. During an SSD SMART test, users or system software can check these SMART attributes to determine if the hard drive has any impending failures. If SMART detects abnormalities, it might indicate that the SSD's lifespan is nearing its end or there are other hardware issues. Users can then proactively back up their data and consider replacing the drive. To perform an SSD SMART test, one typically uses specialized disk utility software, built-in tools in the operating system (like the Disk Management tool in Windows), or third-party utilities. These tools display the SMART data and interpret its meaning, helping users understand the status of their SSD.

An SSD SMART test checks the status of your target SSD via SMART attributes, which helps to determine whether the SSD is working properly. SMART is a system that monitors information internally on a drive, an acronym for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. SMART is a technology in both hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs), unrelated to operating systems, BIOS, or other software. SMART was invented because computers needed a program to check or monitor the performance of an SSD test. In short, SMART should tell you if a hard drive or SSD is about to fail.

While the exact SMART attributes vary from one piece of software to another, the most important one is “Health.” This is usually followed by a breakdown of details that indicate any areas of concern. Generally speaking, SSD SMART attributes will include entries for:

    - Error Rate - The number of errors while reading data - Bad Blocks - Sectors that have become unsafe for data storage during the drive's lifetime - Power-On Hours - The total number of hours the hard drive has been powered on - Power Cycles - The number of times the hard drive has been shut down and restarted - Device Temperature - The current internal temperature of the hard drive - Total Write Sectors - The number of Logical Block Addresses written to - Total Read Sectors - The number of Logical Block Addresses read from

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However, does Windows have built-in SSD SMART tools? The answer is “No.” You can check the SSD health status on Windows 10 via CMD, but the information you get is limited. To get detailed SSD SMART status or SMART attributes, you need to turn to professional third-party SSD SMART test tools.

Run SSD SMART Test with Partition Master

Tools like Partition Manager Professional can display over 20 SSD SMART attributes, including Critical Warnings, Composite Temperature, Available Spare Space, Power Cycles, and more. It presents these detailed health checks in a clear interface. Most importantly, it sends an alert message immediately once it detects that your SSD is about to fail. Thus, this software can effectively reduce the trouble caused by SSD failure.

Here is some detailed information about the Partition Master tool to help you learn more:

    • Supported Systems: Windows 11/10/8.1/7 and Windows XP/Vista
    • Interface: Clear and well-organized
    • Difficulty: Low
    • Target Users: Beginners and experienced users

< strong > Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, click the blue arrow, and activate the "Disk Health" feature under the "Discovery" tab.

Click the blue arrow:

Step 2. Select the target disk and click "Refresh". Then, you can view the status of the hard drive.

Select the target disk Select the target disk

From the above result, we can see the SMART status of the SSD. Apart from checking the health condition of the SSD, Partition Assistant has many other features, such as:

To keep your SSD in good health and well-managed, download the free trial without hesitation.

Conclusions

Predictable SSD failures may include normal wear and tear over time or a high number of failed erase attempts. As time passes, the issue worsens, and eventually, the drive fails. Thus, SMART can help you check the health of your SSD by monitoring a series of variables. The SMART attributes of a disk/SDD, and you can run an HDD SMART test. In this article, we provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to run an SSD SMART test and clearly explain the SSD SMART status.

If you're an SSD user, you might also enjoy the following link:

In the following sections, you can find answers to some questions related to today's topic. If you have more doubts, keep reading.

Frequently Asked Questions About SSD SMART Testing 1. What is SMART? SMART stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology, which is a system that monitors the health of hard disk drives and alerts users to potential failures. 2. Why do I need to perform an SSD SMART test? An SSD SMART test helps users check the status of their solid-state drive and detect potential hardware issues, preventing data loss or drive failure. Regular testing can uncover problems before they become critical. 3. How do I perform an SSD SMART test? You can use various disk utility software (like CrystalDiskInfo, HD Tune) to conduct SMART tests. These tools read the SMART data from the drive and display its status. Many operating systems (such as Windows, Linux) also have built-in SMART monitoring features. 4. What does "Pred Fail" in a SMART test mean? If a SMART test shows "Pred Fail," it indicates that your hard drive may have some issues, even though it might still be functioning normally. It's advisable to back up important data promptly and consider replacing the drive. 5. Can SMART testing guarantee my hard drive's safety? SMART testing provides a reference for the drive's health but doesn't assure complete safety. Even with all SMART attributes showing normal, sudden failures can still occur. 6. If my SMART test results are normal, does that mean my SSD has no issues? Normal SMART test results typically mean there are no known serious issues with the SSD. However, this doesn't rule out other hardware or software problems unrelated to SMART. Regular health checks and data backups are still recommended. 7. What are the differences between SMART testing on SSDs and HDDs? Both SSDs and HDDs can undergo SMART testing, but some specific SMART attributes may apply only to HDDs or SSDs. For instance, SSDs generally don't concern themselves with head wear or rotational errors since they have no mechanical components. 8. Should I frequently perform SMART tests? There's no need to run SMART tests excessively; doing it every few months or when you notice a decline in performance is usually sufficient. Over-testing can be unnecessary and might slightly increase SSD wear. 9. What should I do if my SMART test shows abnormalities? If your SMART test reveals anomalies, first back up your important data, then contact the drive manufacturer or a professional technician for further diagnosis and solutions. 10. Does SMART testing affect the lifespan of my SSD? SMART testing itself doesn't impact the SSD's lifespan, as it merely reads and analyzes data without writing any information. Frequent reads might marginally contribute to SSD wear, but this effect is generally negligible.

SSD SMART attributes can help us predict if an SSD is likely to fail. For more information on this topic, check out the questions and answers below:

How do I run the Samsung SSD SMART test?

Samsung Magician is another testing and troubleshooting software for checking the health of Samsung SSDs. It's a proprietary tool designed by the manufacturer. Here's how to check the health of your Samsung SSD using Samsung Magician:

Step 1: Visit the Samsung website to download and install the Samsung Magician software.

Step 2. Open the app and go to the “Drive Console” menu.

Step 3: Click on the “Status” tab to check the health and temperature status of your Samsung SSD.

Step 4. Check the Activity time, I/O speed, and read/write speeds in the Performance Optimization tab.

Step 5. Click the SMART button next to the Samsung SSD. It will take you to the SMART attributes screen, providing all the details about the health status of your Samsung SSD.

2. How to Run a Disk SMART Check on Windows 10?

Since Windows 10 doesn't have a built-in tool for displaying detailed SMART attributes, Partition Master is a reliable choice. Here's how to use it:

Step 1. Download and launch Partition Master. Go to the “Discovery” section and access the “Disk Health” feature.

Step 2: In the "Disk Health" window, select the target disk and click the "Refresh" button to start. Then, you can view the SSD properties.

3. How do I diagnose an SSD?

An SSD might exhibit one or more of the following symptoms before it fails:

    • Overheating
    • Boot failure
    • Unusual noises
    • Slow performance
    • Multiple bad sectors
    • Files suddenly disappearing
    • Frequent crashes