How to Fix Disk SMART Event Error on Windows 11: One of Your Disks Is at Risk

There are a lot of problems you'll come across on Windows 11, but the scariest of all issues are those that affect your storage devices. The potential to lose valuable data is something you should always take seriously, so when Windows throws up the "One of your disks is at risk (SMART Event)" error message, you need to take it seriously. So follow along as we guide you through some important steps you can take to avert a potential crisis.

What does "One of your disks is at risk" mean?

When the error appears, there are a couple of different messages it might use.

One of your disks is at risk (SMART event). Please open the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Application for details.

or

One of your disks is at risk (SMART event). Please open the Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management application for details.

This warning pops up when your system detects a SMART event. SMART, which stands for Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology, is a built-in monitoring system found in most HDDs and SSDs. It continuously checks drive health and alerts users when signs of hardware failure are detected.

While it is possible to get a false report from this technology, you should always take it seriously, as you do not want to lose your data because you ignored an important notification. So, before you do anything, back up your data as quickly as possible.

How to Fix Disk SMART Event Error on Windows 11: One of Your Disks Is at Risk

The first step is to verify whether the drive is actually reporting health issues.

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

Check the results carefully. If the status shows OK, the drive is not currently reporting SMART errors. If you see any other status, such as Pred Fail, the drive may be failing and should be replaced as soon as possible after backing up your files. The best course of action is to back up the drive, then replace the drive. Once you have replaced the drive, you can use the risky drive for stuff that isn't super important. For example, a backup of a backup or even just running games on if the speed isn't affected.

Check Disk Health

File system corruption or logical disk errors can sometimes trigger storage-related warnings.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

This command scans the drive for errors, repairs file system issues, and attempts to recover readable information from damaged sectors. If CHKDSK successfully repairs the errors, keep an eye on your system to see if the warning comes back. If Check Disk shows serious issues that cannot be fixed, the drive may be nearing the end of its life.

Update Intel Storage Software

Update whatever Intel storage application is installed on your computer.

• Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST)
• Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management

Download and install the latest version available from Intel. After updating, restart your PC and check whether the warning persists.

Check the Drive in Device Manager

Check what's happening inside Device Manager.

• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand Disk drives and Storage controllers.
• Look for devices displaying a yellow warning icon.
• Right-click the affected device and select Uninstall device.
• Restart your computer.

Windows will automatically reinstall the required drivers during startup, which may resolve detection or driver-related issues.

Update the BIOS

If it's been a while since you updated your BIOS, now's a good time to go ahead and do it. Having the latest BIOS version will guarantee you are getting the most accurate system data reports.

Run the Manufacturer's Diagnostic Tool

If you still aren't sure there are plenty of tools you can use.

Use the tool corresponding to your device:

• HP: HP PC Hardware Diagnostics
• Dell: SupportAssist
• Lenovo: Lenovo Vantage
• ASUS: MyASUS
• MSI: MSI Center

Run a complete hardware scan and review the results. These tools can often detect drive failures, controller issues, and other hardware faults that standard Windows utilities may miss.