The built-in check
- Press Windows + R, type cmd, press Enter.
- Type wmic diskdrive get model,status and press Enter.
- "OK" means the drive is not currently reporting a failure. It is a blunt check, but a fast one.
What SMART data actually reports
Every modern drive tracks its own wear and errors. These are the values that decide whether a drive is sellable:
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Power-on hours
How long the drive has been running. Context, not a verdict.
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Reallocated sectors
(mechanical drives) — sectors that failed and were swapped for spares. Anything above zero is a warning; a climbing count means the drive is dying.
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Percentage used
(SSDs) — how much of the drive's rated write endurance is gone. Under 10% after several years is common and perfectly healthy.
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Media and data integrity errors
(NVMe) — should be zero. Anything else is a problem.
What stops a sale
We do not buy drives that fail their health check, because we will not resell a failing drive to somebody else. If yours fails, bring it anyway — we recycle old computer gear free rather than sending you home with it.
Reading the health data is also why we can price storage properly rather than guessing from the label. It is measured, not estimated.
Do not bother wiping it first
Every storage device we buy is securely erased at no charge once the purchase is complete, and you can watch if you ask. Wiping it yourself first is fine, and changes nothing about the offer.
Common questions
My drive says 30% used. Is it worthless?
No. Percentage used tracks write endurance, and modern drives are rated for far more writing than most people ever do. A drive at 30% after five years has plenty of life left and sells normally.
Does a high power-on hours count kill the value?
Not on its own. A drive that has been powered on for years in a lightly used machine can be in better shape than a younger drive that was hammered. We look at wear and errors, not just age.