1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure Error at Bootup? Here Are 6 Must-Try Fixes

The “1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure” error appears when a hard drive is about to fail. Although hard drives are durable, they can still fail due to user abuse or poor manufacturing.

What Is a Hard Drive Imminent Failure?

Have you encountered the “1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure” error while booting up your computer? This only means that the status circuitry and firmware embedded in your drive have detected that the hard drive itself is set to fail soon. When that happens, all your files might be lost or your hard drive will eventually stop working.

When you see the error, it’s an important early warning sign. In most cases, hard drives fail without prior notice. So, take action as soon as you can.

How to Fix Hard Drive Imminent Failure

If you get the “1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure” error, try any of the solutions below. Start by creating a backup of your most important files.

1. Back Up Your Files.

Windows devices have this handy backup feature that’s been around since Windows 7. It allows you to create a system image file that you can load to restore your files in the event that something comes up. You can’t find it under the Settings app. Instead, it is hidden somewhere in the Control Panel.

To generate a backup system image of your Windows device, follow these steps:

1. Go to Control Panel.
2. Select System and Security.
3. Choose Backup and Restore.
4. Navigate to the leftmost portion of the window and select Create a system image.
5. Select where you prefer to save the backup system image: DVD or external hard drive. Your best option is to use an external hard drive. So, connect an external drive, click On a Hard Disk, and hit Next.
6. Click Start backup.
7. Wait as your system starts to create a system backup image.

2. Use the Command Prompt.

Once you have this backup ready, you can use the Command Prompt to fix the error. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key. This will launch the Start menu.
2. In the search bar, input command prompt.
3. Click on the first item in the search results.
4. Enter the following command:
5. wmic diskdrive get status
6. Hit Enter.
7. Check your hard drive status. If it is fine, the result status should display ‘OK‘. Otherwise, it will return a ‘FAIL‘ message.

3. Run System File Checker.

Your Windows device is equipped with a basic tool that you need to fix errors that may not be known to you. This tool is called the System File Checker. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the search bar, input cmd.
3. Hit Enter.
4. Right-click on the first item in the search results. Select Run as Administrator.
5. In the command line, enter the sfc /scannow command.
6. Hit Enter.

4. Perform a Quick Disk Check.

If the error still persists, try running a quick disk check. Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to the Start menu.
2. In the search bar, input cmd.
3. Hit Enter.
4. In the command line, enter the partition drive letter you need to check followed by the chkdsk command. Hit Enter. The command should look like this: chkdsk c:/.
5. If a problem is detected, it will be fixed right away.

5. Check the Bad Sectors of Your Hard Disk.

If there is no problem with your partition file system, try testing your hard drive health condition. It is likely that on your hard drive, there are bad sectors affected by malware or threats.

For this solution, you might consider using a reliable third-party tool, always ensuring that you download software from trusted sources to safeguard your privacy and security. After downloading and installing, launch it and have your disk checked for bad sectors.

The process may take time, especially if the partition you are scanning contains large files. After the checking process is completed, you should see a report of your drive’s bad sectors.

6. Seek Help from Experts.

The last thing you would want to do is contact the support team of your drive’s manufacturer or take it to the nearest repair center. Oftentimes, you will need to use special tools and machines to fix technical problems with your drive. Only professionals have access to these tools.

Bottom Line

Of course, you have to pay attention to the “1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure” error. But make sure you do not panic. Simply follow the solutions above, and you should be able to fix your problem.

Once everything’s back to normal, you might consider using reliable PC Repair tool. Please ensure that such tools are downloaded from reputable sources to maintain your system’s security. This way, you can ensure that your computer performs well and that speed-reducing problems won’t stand a chance.

Have you encountered the “1720-Smart Drive Detects Imminent Failure” error? How did you deal with it? Comment on your experience below.