CNET Editors' review
You can't predict every hard-drive failure. But when a drive goes down because certain hardware components are slowly degrading, then S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) can help warn you of an impending crash, so you have time to run a last-minute backup. Mac OS X already uses S.M.A.R.T. to track the health of drives, but it only runs a check whenever you use Disk Utility to verify a disk. SMARTReporter is a free, open-source tool that checks the S.M.A.R.T. status of drives hourly (by default, or at any interval you set). SMARTReporter can display a menu bar icon to let you know your drive's status (green or red), and it can also show an alert, send you an e-mail, and even execute an application if it detects a problem. SMARTReporter also supports Growl for notifications, as well as the iOS Growl client Prowl so you can get drive-failure notifications on your iPhone.
Because of the limitations of S.M.A.R.T., SMARTReporter won't catch every impending failure (and unfortunately, it is also limited by OS X to checking ATA, SATA, and eSATA drives, not FireWire or SCSI), but this app can provide a very helpful warning for many types of failures.
Publisher's Description
From Julian Mayer:
SMARTReporter is an application that can warn you of some hard disk drive failures before they actually happen! It does so by periodically polling the S.M.A.R.T. status of your hard disk drive. S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) is a technology built into most modern hard disk drives that acts as an "early warning system" for pending hard disk drive problems. SMARTReporter can notify you of impending hard disk drive failures by sending e-mails, displaying a warning dialog or executing an application. The current status of your hard disk drives is always displayed through the customizable menu item. Because SMARTReporter relies on the S.M.A.R.T. implementation of Mac OS X, it only supports ATA, SATA or eSATA hard disk drives, if you want S.M.A.R.T. support for your FireWire hard disk drive, send feedback to Apple. Please note that a S.M.A.R.T. alert doesn't mean that your HDD will completely fail for sure, nor can S.M.A.R.T. catch all possible HDD errors - it's just a very valuable indicator.
What's new in this version:
- Fixed problem where not all disks contained in connected R.A.I.D. sets would be S.M.A.R.T.-checked
- Fixed problem SMARTReporter would become unresponsive during automated attribute checks
- Fixed problem where the database would become corrupted and SMARTReporter would refuse to launch
- Improved the optional disk-space check not to check removable volumes (DVD, USB-stick) or special volumes (MobileBackups)
- Improvements for sending emails through Apple Mail
- ... See all new features
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All versions:
4.3 starsout of 38 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"Hard drive failed and "SmartReporter" gave no warning."
Version: SMARTReporter 2.6.2
Pros
none that i know of
Cons
Doesn't do anything
Summary
I had this installed on my MacBookPro since it was new.
All the time the icon was green.
Eventually my hard drive failed, and needed to be replaced.
This product gave no warning, and as such is useless. -
"This app is an excellent way to diagnose your harddrive"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.6.2
Pros
An excellent program and worth a download.
Cons
None at this time.
Summary
This program keeps an eye on my hard drive at all times.
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"Works without problems"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.8
Pros
No effort to use. Updates automatically.
Cons
Nothing I can think of.
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"Seems to work as advertised"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.7
Pros
Unobtrusive but always there
Cons
None discovered yet
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"How is your Hardrive doing?"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.7
Pros
If you want to know the condition of your hardrive, I highly recommend SMARTReporter 2.5.7. SMARTReporter will give advance notice that your hardrive is about to quit.
Cons
No Negatives on SMARTReporter.
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"SMARTReporter is great!!!"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.6
Pros
SMARTReport is important if you want to know the condition of your hardrive. I t will let you know when the hardrive is about to quit so you can be prepared to fix the problem.
Cons
I found no problem with SMARTReporter.
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"Seems to work well in the background."
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.6
Pros
Works in the background
Cons
I have found none.
Summary
Would recommend if needed.
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"An app, apple should insert to 10.7 or 6.x"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.6
Pros
small, do what is necessary to have a chance before the HD burns out...
Writes an email if you want - with the data of the HD, that has an error.
Great!
Annoy me, that I had these app not already a half year ago!Cons
non found yet
Summary
Should be on every Mac!
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"Good to know it's there"
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.6
Pros
Configurable SMART status monitor puts an icon in the menu bar, so you know that all is well -- or not. The user interface is well considered, and you can't beat the price.
Cons
There is nothing not to like.
Summary
It does what it says it will do, it does it well, and it is free.
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"Smooth, efficient and reliable."
Version: SMARTReporter 2.5.6
Pros
Works reliably in background without a lot of user attention.
Cons
What?s not to like?
Summary
This is the best app of its kind I?ve ever seen.
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