Smart Extended Self Test HD521-3W---Failed? Help!

[Lenny4]

Hi, 

 I was running a routine PC check-up for hardware diagnostic tools. I don't know what to do. I tested my PC, but then a 'Smart Exteneded Self-Test HD521-3W' failed. What does this mean? Is it serious? What should I do?

Sincerely,

Lenny

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

@Lenny4, welcome to the forum.

This error message is telling you that your hard drive is failing.  You will have to backup your personal data and replace the drive.  You should buy a drive the same size or larger than the failing drive to assure that the Recovery media works properly.

Here is the How to and Troubleshooting sections for the computer.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[Lenny4]

Hi. Does this mean my current hard drive is too small? Should I get a larger hard drive? About a few months ago, I did have to completely "refresh and renew" my PC--I had to basically bring it back to its original, fresh out of the box state of function. Any suggestions on what to do next?

[mdklassen]

> Does this mean my current hard drive is too small?

No, it means that SMART, which measures about 20 points about the "health" of the disk-drive, is reporting at least one "fail", e.g., disk-drive has been "much too hot" at some time, or it is having problems reliably writing to the recording surface.

The only solution is to replace it.

> Should I get a larger hard drive?

Depends.  If your current disk-drive is less than 33% "full", and you have no plans to put a lot more data onto it, you don't need to spend $200 for a 4 TB disk-drive, when you could spend only $100 for a 1 TB disk-drive.

(Do your children need to be driven to school in a Ferrari or in a made-in-Detroit van?)

> About a few months ago, I did have to completely "refresh and renew" my PC--I had to basically bring it back to its original, fresh out of the box state of function. Any suggestions on what to do next? 

If your disk-drive not not completely failed, you may be able to use "disk-cloning" software to make an exact copy of it, and boot your computer from the brand-new disk-drive.

Does your computer have a utility program to create a "System Recovery" set, usually either one 16GB USB memory-stick or a few DVD-recordable disks?  If so, create that set, and use that set to reinstall Windows onto a brand-new "empty" disk-drive.