Self-Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.)

Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) is an interface between a computer's start-up program or BIOS (basic input/output system) and the computer hard disk. It is a feature of the Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE) technology that controls access to the hard drive. If S.M.A.R.T is enabled when a computer is set up, the BIOS can receive analytical information from the hard drive and determine whether to send the user a warning message about possible future failure of the hard drive.