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S.M.A.R.T.-Werte
In brief
S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a self-monitoring function of hard drives and SSDs that records operating and wear values. These include operating hours, reallocated sectors, read errors, or, for SSDs, the degree of wear. When refurbishing used IT, the S.M.A.R.T. values help decide whether a drive can continue to be used or should be replaced.
Important S.M.A.R.T. values
| Value | Significance |
|---|---|
| Reallocated Sectors Count | Number of defective sectors that have been replaced by spare sectors, see reallocated sectors |
| Current Pending Sector Count | Sectors that are conspicuous and waiting for replacement |
| Uncorrectable Errors | Read errors that could not be corrected |
| Power-On Hours | Operating hours of the drive |
| For NVMe SSDs: Percentage Used, Available Spare, Data Units Written | Degree of wear, remaining spare blocks, and amount of data written |
The exact meaning and counting method of individual values differ depending on the manufacturer. Rising error counters are a warning signal, but a single value alone is not a reliable failure prediction.
S.M.A.R.T. in refurbishment and erasure
During refurbishment, the values are read out and documented in the test report . Drives with critical values are replaced. They are also important for erasure: reallocated sectors can contain remnants of old data that cannot be reached from the outside during overwriting. Which erasure method takes this into account is explained in our guide Securely erasing hard drives and SSDs. Second IT checks devices in refurbishment with comprehensive functional tests and replaces worn components such as hard drives or batteries.
Frequently asked questions about S.M.A.R.T. values
How do I read out S.M.A.R.T. values?
With the manufacturer's diagnostic programs or freely available tools. Many erasure and testing programs also display the values.
When is a hard drive no longer usable?
There is no fixed limit. If reallocated or pending sectors continue to rise, the drive should be replaced.
What does S.M.A.R.T. say about an SSD?
Above all the wear: how much of the intended write volume has been used up and how many spare blocks are still free, see TBW.
What does S.M.A.R.T. stand for on hard drives?
S.M.A.R.T. stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology. It refers to a self-monitoring function of hard drives and SSDs that records operating and wear values, such as operating hours, reallocated sectors, and read errors.
Why are S.M.A.R.T. values important for data erasure?
Reallocated sectors can contain remnants of old data. They are not reached when overwriting from the outside. The values therefore also show whether an erasure method must take hidden or replaced areas into account. Drives with critical values are usually replaced.
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