29
27
<section id="disk-status">
30
28
<title>Checking the hard disk</title>
31
<p>Hard disks have a built-in health-check called <em>SMART</em>. This continually checks for potential problems, and can warn you if the disk is about to fail. This is useful for avoiding future loss of important data.</p>
32
<p>To check your disk's health status:</p>
29
<p>Hard disks have a built-in health-check tool called <app>SMART</app>
30
(Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology), which continually
31
checks the disk for potential problems. SMART also warns you if the disk
32
is about to fail, helping you avoid loss of important data.</p>
34
<p>Although SMART runs automatically, you can also check your disk's
35
health by running the <app>Disk Utility</app> application:</p>
35
<p>Go to <gui>Activities</gui> in the top left corner of the screen and start the <app>Disk Utility</app>.</p>
38
<p>Select your hard drive in the <gui>Storage Devices</gui> list. Information will appear about the disk and its status under <gui>Drive</gui>.</p>
41
<p><gui>SMART Status</gui> should say "Disk is healthy".</p>
44
<p>To see details of the data and tests applied, click on the <gui>SMART Data</gui> button located below <gui>SMART Status</gui>.</p>
38
<title>Check your disk's health using the Disk Utility application</title>
39
<item><p>Open the <app>Disk Utility</app> application from the
40
<gui>Activities</gui> overview.</p></item>
41
<item><p>Select the disk you want to check from the <gui>Storage Devices
42
</gui> list. Information and status of the disk will appear under <gui>Drive
44
<item><p><gui>SMART Status</gui> should say "Disk is healthy".</p></item>
45
<item><p>Click the <gui>SMART Data</gui> button to view more drive
46
information, or to run a self-test.</p></item>
50
51
<section id="disk-not-healthy">
51
52
<title>What if the disk isn't healthy?</title>
52
<p>Even if the <gui>SMART Status</gui> indicates that the disk <em>isn't</em> healthy, there may be no cause for alarm. However, it's better to be prepared with a <link xref="backup-why">backup</link> to prevent data loss. You may wish to take the computer/hard disk to a professional for further diagnosis and repair.</p>
53
<p>If the status says "Pre-fail", the disk is still reasonably healthy but signs of wear have been detected which mean it might fail in the near future. If your hard disk (or computer) is a few years old, you are likely to see this message on at least some of the health checks. You should <link xref="backup-how">backup your important files regularly</link> and check the disk status periodically to see if it gets worse.</p>
53
<p>Even if the <gui>SMART Status</gui> indicates that the disk <em>isn't</em>
54
healthy, there may be no cause for alarm. However, it's better to be prepared
55
with a <link xref="backup-why">backup</link> to prevent data loss.</p>
57
<p>If the status says "Pre-fail", the disk is still reasonably healthy but
58
signs of wear have been detected which mean it might fail in the near future.
59
If your hard disk (or computer) is a few years old, you are likely to see
60
this message on at least some of the health checks. You should <link
61
xref="backup-how">backup your important files regularly</link> and check
62
the disk status periodically to see if it gets worse.</p>
64
<p>If it gets worse, you may wish to take the computer/hard disk to a
65
professional for further diagnosis or repair.</p>