SMART failure predicted on primary master?

[thekingofpain]

Im getting this error on a friends machine upon boot---this follows:
Immediately back-up data and replace hdd---failure may be imminent---
press F1 to continue---
press F1 and it goes thru fine no problems anywhere, all is well---ran Norton 2002 etc and no probs, disabled bios virus protection and still get halted within boot---
Asus A7V/Duron 800/Maxtor 20g/7200
Machine works perfectly otherwise, any ideas?

[jkrohn]

If SMART is prediciting your drive to fail, it's going to.
Every time I've seen SMART make a prediction it has been right.

Backup your drive and get a new one

Jkrohn

[DVNT1]

I've seen that type of warning a couple days before a hard drive failed. In your case there might just be a detection problem and not really one with the hard drive.

To be safe, I would backup any important documents and image that drive to another. Then RMA this problem drive based on the SMART warning (if under warranty).

[thekingofpain]

No clicks pops whines grinds or otherwise problems---plus it benches fine---id hate to get too agressive with a non problem (press f1 to boot IS a problem I guess, duh) maybe a cmos clear will set it right?...
Looks like itl wait till tomorrow morn, just was lookin for some ideas...

[jkrohn]

My brother had two HD's die. Smart predicted both. No pops, no hisses, no clicks.

Nothing. Just two dead drives

Jkrohn

[daveleau]

I have heard of very rare occurrences where SMART actually predicted a hdd failure. It was right every time. Not to say there is not an exception. While I hope that you are that excpetion, prepare for the worst.

I personally have had 6 hdds fail and never heard a peep out of the SMART detection system.

Good luck
Dave

[OuTpaTienT]

Wow. This is the first time I've ever even seen someone saying SMART was working. I usually just disable it.

[thekingofpain]

Still cant figure this out---I did find he had 925 loveletter infected files via Kazaa, cleaned that up, ran the SMART suite from Maxtor to verify the drives integrity and it passes ALL tests with flying colors, still get the halt during boot to press f1 to continue---wondering if the bios could be infected---or could loveletter even affect it that way? The bios protection was on at the time of infection---any other thoughts???

[JALM69]

gee is there something built in to the hard drive like a prog to kill your hd after a certtain time hmmmm. think about the manufacturers dont want it lasting forever now do they ! they cant make money on the public!!!!

[Brainchild]

That loveletter virus is a nasty little cuss. Anyway, I have never had a SMART warning, just a dead drive. Backing up data is always a good idea,even if you have a new drive.

Good luck