Reliable way to do a SMART test remotely?

[pctutor]

What do you guys use when you suspect a HDD is failing, but you don't have physical access to the computer? I can even remote in (business version of Teamviewer) if the computer can still boot to Windows. Talking a client through the process of booting to a disc and running some kind of diagnostic doesn't really seem viable.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Check event logs. A system having problems will have errors in the system logs for Disk, NTFS, and or Atapi.

 

[lcoughey]

R-Studio shows smart data. Assuming that there is no concern about overwriting data on the drive, just download and run the demo.

 

[nlinecomputers]

CrystalDiskInfo can also be downloaded to check the disk.

 

[FremontPC]

Download Crystal Disk Info (portable zip version). Quick and easy, lists the SMART attributes, gives a Good/Caution/Bad flag to each drive. If it says a drive is good, in my book it qualifies for further tests, but if you see something like Sectors Pending Reallocation, then you likely need to get the data and plan on replacing that drive.

Larry Sabo likes HDDScan, which also lists the SMART attributes and offers more tests, like short and long SMART tests as well as Read Verify, others. The menus on HDDScan take a bit of getting used to, grab a copy and try it out. Like nline says, check event logs too.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

GSmart control can be downloaded here.

http://gsmartcontrol.sourceforge.net/home/index.php/Downloads

There should be a zipped version that you can use without installing it. Haven't really tried it on remote, but if I'm working on a machine that I don't want to install things, that's what I use, their windows portable version works within windows, don't see a reason it should not work remotely, just haven't tested it.

 

[HCHTech]

You can get the actual numbers with a WMIC command, but it's not really a usable output. Something like:

wmic /namespace:\\root\wmi path msstoragedriver_failurepredictthresholds

I just run the portable version of crystaldiskmark, easy and fast, then, as NLine says, look through the system log for Disk, Ntfs or Atapi errors.

 

[FremontPC]

I just run the portable version of crystaldiskmark...

Crystal Disk Info? I don't think CDM does SMART.

 

[cypress]

Crystal Disk Info & gSmartcontrol

Check the SMART with Crystal Disk and run a short test with gSmatcontrol.

 

[HCHTech]

Crystal Disk Info? I don't think CDM does SMART.

Yes - going too fast on that. CrystalDiskInfo is correct.

 

[Larry Sabo]

What nline said, but if it's struggling and you suspect it's a failing hard drive, the less you do with the system, the better. If it has important data that you are not certain is backed up, I'd suggest you get physical access to the system and image the drive before even checking SMART. Whatever you download still risks over-writing sectors that are pending reallocation, unless they are saved to a different drive, e.g. an attached flash drive. If the drive is healthy according to SMART, you may still need physical access to check the MB and PSU for swollen caps, which can give the same symptoms as a failing hard drive (failure to boot/start-up reliably/consistently).