Does the check cost anything?

No, the drive health check is free. If there turns out to be a problem, we tell you what a recovery or a copy costs, and you decide.

Can the check damage my drive?

We only read; nothing is written. For a drive that is already failing we keep the reading as short as possible.

Does this work for an SSD too?

Yes. For an SSD we mainly look at the volume written against the expected lifetime, the spare blocks and the error counters.

My drive is red. What now?

Stop using it. Switch the device off and request a free analysis: we first make a copy of the data before the drive deteriorates further.

Drive health check: free SMART analysis • Datarecuperatie

What we look at

SMART values: reallocations, pending sectors, read errors and power-on hours
firmware status and known weak series
temperature history and start-stop cycles
for an SSD: the volume written against the expected lifetime

Technical: what SMART is

SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) is the log a drive keeps itself. It counts, among other things, how many sectors were replaced by spare sectors, how many are waiting for replacement, and how often reads failed. One value says little; it is the trend and the combination that count. That is why we also look at the series and the firmware: some models fail in a recognisable way.

What you get back

A short assessment in plain language, with the reason. No raw table you have to interpret yourself.

Green

Nothing wrong. A good back-up stays wise, but there is no hurry.

Orange

The drive shows wear or its first errors. Make a back-up now and plan the replacement.

Red

The drive is failing. Stop using it, and have the data secured first.

How to have the check done

Bring or send the drive Through one of our drop-off points, by post, or straight to the lab in Ypres.
We read it Read only, nothing is changed. A drive that is red is not kept running longer than needed.
You get the verdict Green, orange or red, with an explanation and advice.

Want a first look yourself? Our free software Recover also reads the SMART data and refuses to scan a failing drive.

Download Recover for free →

Important

This check is a snapshot. A drive that looks fine today can fail tomorrow. It does not replace a back-up; it helps you decide in time.

Already hearing ticking, a drive that is not recognised, or files that disappear? Switch the device off and call us. Carrying on often makes the damage worse.

Why it works here

More about our lab →

Nearly 20,000 donor drives The right part is usually ready.
X-ray in-house First see, then act.
Rework and reballing Chips removed and refitted safely.
Our own software Up to hundreds of terabytes.
Mobile cleanroom The device stays in your building.
Since 1988 Nearly forty years of equipment and experience.

Rather have it looked at straight away?

The analysis is free and without obligation. You hear what is wrong and what it costs before you decide anything.

free analysis request → +32 (0)800 11 400