Attribute ID: 4 (0x04)

Hard drives, supporting this attribute

Samsung, Seagate, IBM (Hitachi), Fujitsu, Maxtor, Western Digital

Description

Start/Stop Count S.M.A.R.T. parameter indicates a count of hard disk spindle start/stop cycles.

Each hard disk has its own limited number of these cycles depending on manufacturer. The maximum number of spinups/spindowns is called a threshold. When the parameter’s value drops down to the threshold, it means a hard disk is unhealthy.

Recommendations

This parameter is considered informational by the most hardware vendors. Although degradation of this parameter can be an indicator of drive aging and/or potential electromechanical problems, it does not directly indicate imminent drive failure. Regular backup is recommended. Pay closer attention to other parameters and overall drive health.

More information

See also: S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring.