This document pertains to HP Notebook PCs with the HP Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) beginning in late-2008.

On startup, you may see an error message like the following:

The SMART hard disk check has detected an imminent failure.
To ensure no data loss, please backup the content immediately and run the Hard Disk Test in System Diagnostics.

SMART test is not a failure report

The SMART Hard Disk test produces a prediction about the potential for hard drive failure, not an actual failure. A SMART Hard Disk error warning can appear for a variety of reasons such as the computer having been jarred sharply, or the hard disk being subjected to higher than usual temperatures.

After receiving the error message above:

• Immediate back up all important data and files.
• Run a Hard Disk Test to verify the condition of the hard disk.

While the SMART Hard Disk error may not indicate the imminent loss of the hard disk, it is best to be prepared, just in case the disk does fail.

Perform a Hard Drive test

To perform the Hard Drive Test in the System Diagnostics (F2) environment, do the following steps.

1. Turn on the computer and immediately press the esc key to display the Startup Menu.
2. Press the System Diagnostics (F2) key, and then select the Hard Drive Test option.
3. Allow the Hard Drive Test to complete. Test may take thirty to sixty minutes or more to complete depending on the size of the drive and the extent of the problems.

Outcomes of the Hard Drive test

When the Hard Drive disk test is complete, a message is displayed to indicate what actions have been taken.

• Indicate no problems. You can use the computer as usual.
• Fix the problem entirely. You can use the computer as usual.
• Re-map the sector if the issue was caused by a bad sector. You should restart the computer. If the bad sector is repaired, you can use the computer as usual. Repeat the Hard Drive test if indicated.
• Indicate a specific error and generate a warranty ID code. You should contact HP for assistance.

Contact HP

If the Hard Drive Test displays an error message and a warranty ID code, please Contact HP.

The customer service agent will ask you for the warranty ID if they need to setup a repair or replace the hard disk. The HP warranty ID contains four fields of six characters each, such as XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX-XXXXXX , where X is an alpha-numeric character.

See also

Customer Support . Individual countries and regions have their own procedures for providing product support and customer service. For your country or region, go to the Hewlett Packard Technical Support page, select a country or region, and then click Contact HP. Alternately, click the Contact HP link near the upper corner of this web page

Return to HP Notebook PCs - HP Startup Menu Overview for additional topics.