SMART 301 Hard Drive Error is an unexpected error warning that means your hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) has failed. This is true whether you are using Windows 11, Windows 10, or Windows 8. Usually, you see it when you turn on your computer or laptop. SMART Hard Disk Error 301 is an unexpected error message that means the hard drive has stopped working, though there are lot of ways through which you can Fix Smart Hard Disk Error 301.
This problem is with HP laptops, which have HP SMART check built into the firmware. The HP SMART check is a modified version of the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) check that checks for problems with the hardware when you turn on the system. During the check, if the firmware finds a problem with the hardware, such as a SMART hard disk error 301 with the internal hard disk, it shows an error code.
When you turn on your PC or laptop, the SMART hard disk error 301 shows up. Even though this problem can be caused by actual damage to a hard drive or a failed SMART hard disk check. But you can easily fix SMART hard disk error HP by hard restarting your device (PC/Laptop), running the chkdsk command, and resetting the BIOS.
How to Fix Smart Hard Disk Error 301
Check for File System Errors
- Go to “File Explorer” and click on “This PC” on the left side of the window. Here, right-click on your system drive and then click on the ‘Properties’ option.
- Once you’re in Properties, go to the “Tools” tab and click “Check” under “Error Checking.”
- If the pop-up says “You don’t need to scan this drive,” just click “Scan Drive.” The scan will now start and look for any problems with the file system.
Restart your computer
- Turn off your computer for good.
- If the battery plug is in the socket, pull it out.
- Take out all of the dough.
- Now, press and hold your laptop’s power button for about 30 seconds.
- Put the battery back in the device and try to turn it on again to see if the problem is fixed.
Cool Down Your Hard Disk
- Improve airflow to your hard disk.
- Regularly clean your PC’s vents.
- Monitor PC temperature and regulate your usage accordingly.
- Maintain ambient temperature.
- Don’t use your laptop on your lap, this may restrict airflow.
Perform a hard reset
- Put the computer to sleep. Unplug everything from your computer, including printers, scanners, memory card readers, USB flash drives, CDs, DVDs, and so on.
- Unplug the AC adopter and, if necessary, take the battery out of the battery compartment. Then, hold down the Power button for about 15 seconds.
- Plug the AC charger back into the HP computer and put the battery in if it has one.
- To turn the machine on, press the Power button. If a choice comes up, use the arrow keys to choose “Start Windows Normally,” then press the Enter key.
Run Hard Drive Quick Test
- Restart your computer, and if you get the error message again, press F2 to open HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.
- Click Component Tests on the top menu. Then click Hard Drive, then Quick Test, and then Run once.
- The Quick Test of the Hard Drive starts. If there are more than one hard drive in the computer, choose the one you want to test. Select Test All Hard Drives to check all the hard drives.
- When the test is done, the results show up on the screen and in the Test Logs section of the main menu.
- If the hard drive passes the Quick Test but there is still a problem, run the Extensive Test. The SMART Check, Short DST, Optimized DST, and Long DST are all part of this test. Choose each test from the Hard Drive Tests menu to run it on its own.
- If the hard drive fails one of the tests, write down the failure ID (24-digit code) so you have it when you call HP Customer Support. The information is also on the main page, under Test Logs.
Check Hard Disk from the BIOS
- Turn off your computer and then start it up again. Press the F10 key at the same time as it turns on to get into BIOS. Different brands may have different BIOS keys.
- Once you’re in the BIOS, use the keyboard to move to the ‘Diagnostics’ tab.
- Go to ‘Primary Hard Drive Self Test’ and press Enter. This will start a check of your hard disk, which will tell you about any mistakes or problems so you can fix them.
What Causes The Smart Hard Disk Error 301
- Physical damage to a hard drive
- SMART hard disk check failure
- Broken IDE/SATA controller chip in the Motherboard
- Virus/malware attack
- Outdated/Misconfigured BIOS
- Unexpected shutdown of the system
Final Words
This is the end of the full guide on how to turn off error 301 on a smart hard drive. We’ve talked about everything, from the smart disk error to ways to get your info back if you lose it. you need to be ready to act quickly and correctly to avoid losing info, so you must be ready.
