SMART event. Should I be worried?

[Volante]

Ok, I'll preceed all this by stating that I know nothing about computers... However, I'm fairly worried about this notification that just appeared to tell me that a SMART event has occurred and that a hard drive might fail.

Should I be concerned? Am I ok to turn the computer off? Does it really mean 'might', or does it actually mean 'will'?

I really need this laptop at the moment. It's borrowed from a family member because the CD/DVD drive in my own needed repair and is currently sitting in someone's workshop, and if that wasn't enough, my external hard drive recently died for no apparent reason... Needless to say, I've got anything I managed to save stored on this computer at present and I really can't afford for anything to go fantastically wrong this time as it always seems to concerning myself and technology.

I have the 'System Report' here which might help? Though it's like another language to me I have to admit...
__________________________________
System Information

Kit Installed: 7.8.0.1012
Kit Install History: 7.8.0.1012
Shell Version: 7.8.0.1013

OS Name: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
OS Version: 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001
System Name: SUEANDIAN-PC
System Manufacturer: MEDION
System Model: WIM2180
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T5550  @ 1.83GHz
BIOS Version/Date: Phoenix Technologies LTD V1.0E     , 03/04/2008

Language: ENU



Serial ATA Information

Intel Serial ATA Controller: Intel(R) ICH8M SATA AHCI Controller
Number of Serial ATA ports: 3
 
Driver Version: 7.8.0.1012
Serial ATA Plug-In Version: 7.8.0.1013
Language Resource Version of the Serial ATA Plug-In: 7.8.0.1013
ISDI Library Version: 7.8.0.1013
 
Hard Drive 0
Status: SMART event
Device Port: 0
Device Port Location: Internal
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 2
Model: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0
Serial Number: WD-WXH208032951
Firmware: 11.01A11
Native Command Queuing Support: Yes
Size: 298 GB
 
Unused Port 0
Device Port: 1
Device Port Location: Internal
 
Unused Port 1
Device Port: 2
Device Port Location: Internal
_________________________________


Can anyone shed any light on this? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

UPDATE: I just downloaded Seatools for Windows as suggested by a thread somewhere on this site; and ran a SMART check to which the drive received a 'Pass'.

Does this mean the system has righted itself, or am I being unreasonably optimistic?

[Broni]

Back up your data immediately.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

[Volante]

Back up your data immediately.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, unfortunately, you're out of luck, because Toshiba doesn't provide any diagnostic tool.

How do I find out what brand the hard drive is? It says in the Seatools program that the model number is WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0... which I would make the assumption means 'Western Digital' from that list?

Is the computer in danger of dying at any moment then?

Thanks for the help so far.

[Broni]

Yes, it's Western Ddigital.

Is the computer in danger of dying at any moment then?

Consequences of SMART error are unpredictable.
Your HD may die tonight, or it may run for next several months.
Manufacturer diagnostic is always the most reliable tool.

[Volante]

Ok. I followed all instructions so far, and I've downloaded the Western Digital Lifeguard Diagnostics program. I clicked the icon to view the 'SMART Data'; and every category has a big green tick to indicate that it's working correctly. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong according to this diagnostic, yet the flashing symbol in the bottom right of the screen is still present.

I'm currently running a 'Quick Test'; but having almost completed it seems to have frozen in its tracks (estimated completion time 2 minutes, running time 8 minutes and counting), and I'm at a bit of a loss of what to do next.

[Broni]

Try to stop it and re-run.

[Volante]

It worked the 3rd time; and I've copied the results in case they mean anything more to you than they do to me... But it would appear that they're pretty straightforward and that it see's nothing wrong.

I'm just about to run the 'Extended Test', but so far everything seems to be ok aside from that flashing icon.
 
Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WXH208032951
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: ABORT
Test Time: 05:05:35, September 16, 2009

Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WXH208032951
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: ABORT
Test Time: 05:17:47, September 16, 2009


Test Option: QUICK TEST
Model Number: WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0
Unit Serial Number: WD-WXH208032951
Firmware Number: 11.01A11
Capacity: 320.07 GB
SMART Status: PASS
Test Result: PASS
Test Time: 05:21:51, September 16, 2009

[Broni]

Go ahead...

[Volante]

Ok, Ran the Extended Test. No issues. All in working order apparently. I'm dubious though as to whether that's correct or not as the flashing icon is still very much there. Any further suggestions anyone?

Cheers for all the help.

[patio]

HDD storage space is dirt cheap right now...
With SMART warnings you may have a few months or a few days but they are there for a reason...
It would be best to replace the drive and "clone" it to a new HDD....

[ale52]

Ditto Patio.  A good program to use is Acronis. 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=acronis+true+image&x=15&y=29

Alan <>< 

[Volante]

I took it in to the computer store for a quick look; the guy there said he couldn't see anything immediately wrong with it, and as all the diagnostics checks had come back showing no problems he would imagine it was a 'spoof' warning or possibly caused by a virus.

When booting it up at the store, it didn't have any flashing icons come up etc, and aside from the report I saved to the desktop there's very little evidence it ever happened.
I usually trust these folks as they're very good at what they do; but seeing these responses still gives me pause.

Does this sound likely to anyone that it could be a spoof?

In the mean time, I guess I'll start saving...

[Computer_Commando]

If you want to get smart, start reading about S.M.A.R.T. here.

You can keep a close watch on that drive with this.

[patio]

You can listen to what i stated or you can choose to ignore it...
It's up to you.
SMART warnings  are rarely wrong.
You decide.

[computeruler]

If theres nothing important on there of course, just keep on using it.  If there is, and you dont want to buy a new drive, back it up NOW, and save every important thing on something like a flash drive.  You still might end up buying a new drive soon anyways