Hard Disk Monitoring

I just purchased HD Sentinel and I think all the features are great, except for the false alarms I'm getting for the temperature alerts.

I have two WD WDC WD3200BEKT hard drives in my laptop that get very hot on a regular basis, so I customized the temperature thresholds to be higher than the defaults of 50 degrees C and 57 degrees C.
However, besides a couple 2.5" USB drives, I also use an external desktop 3.5" USB 3.0 drive, a Samsung D3 Station to be exact. Inside the cheap plastic Samsung housing that lacks a fan is a 4TB Seagate ST4000DM000 that has SMART attribute 190 Airflow Temperature. This attribute has a threshold of 45, which means that it fails at only 55 degrees C. The first one I had overheated by just loading 3TB of data at once. I was able to exchange it through the seller, but now I'd have to go through Samsung for replacement which they may not approve if that attribute has failed. That's why for this drive I've custom set the temperature thresholds to 45 degrees C and 50 degrees C. Since I must definitely unplug this drive before 55 degrees C is attained, I've turned on the audible alerts for the red temperature level.

This is where the problem comes in. Since you use the default temperature thresholds to determine alert level, I never get an alert when the Samsung drive gets to 50 degrees C which is in the red for this drive. In addition, I'm always getting the red audible alerts for the temperature of the WD drives even though they are still in the yellow.

The audible alerts need to be changed to color only for temperature so that they will work on drives with customized temperature thresholds.

Thanks for your message and thanks for using registered version of the software.

> This is where the problem comes in. Since you use the default temperature thresholds to determine alert level,

Sorry, I do not really understand.
I can confirm that if the custom temperature threshold is set for the particular hard disk on the upper right area of the Temperature tab, then it determines its alert level.

> I never get an alert when the Samsung drive gets to 50 degrees C which is in the red for this drive.

If the audible alert is confgured for the Red level, the Red level threshold is set to 50 degrees, then the alert should be issued of course.


> In addition, I'm always getting the red audible alerts for the temperature of the WD drives even though they are still in the yellow.
> The audible alerts need to be changed to color only for temperature so that they will work on drives with customized temperature thresholds.

Excuse me, I do not really understand. If the drive is in the yellow level, then there are no alert issued for the red level.

I suspect there may be an issue with the settings / configuration.

I try to describe how things work, how I'd configure, as it may illustrate how things work in general:

1) on Configuration -> Thresholds / Tray Icon, I'd configure settings which is good for MOST of the hard disks.
If I understand correctly, you set to 50 Celsius (yellow warning level) and 57 Celsius (red alert level) because of the WD3200BEKT drives.

2) on Configuration -> Alerts page, I'd associate the "Sound alert" to the red alert level, where the "above 57 Celsius" displayed.

3) after OK, on the main window, select the 4 TB HDD and the Temperature tab. In the upper right area, the "Set custom temperature thresholds" label would help to configure different thresholds for this one hard disk, for example set 45 Celsius as yellow warning level, 50 Celsius as red alert level.

Then the sound alert will be issued if
- the 4 TB hard disk will reach 50 Celsius (below that, it is in the yellow level or below 45 it is in green level)
or
- any other hard disk will reach 57 Celsius (below that, they are in the yellow level or below 50 they are in green level)

The sound alert will be issued when the Red level (global or the custom setting for the drive) reached.

Making it differently (eg. to color only but with no alert) would make confusion.


Not sure, but maybe the "Repeat sound alert" option used and caused the false assumption that there is a sound alert even in yellow level? This is not true.

I can confirm that if you have enabled the "Repeat sound alert" option at Configuration -> Alerts, then the sound alert will be repeated even if the drive cools back to yellow level, to make sure that it will be noticed. Then you'd need to use the small speaker button on the button bar (3rd from right) in Hard Disk Sentinel main window or right click on the tray icon and select the "Disable sound alerts" to acknowledge and prevent further sound alerts.

Ps. personally I'd try to manage some additional cooling, at least to position a small USB fan or similar for the external drive. Even the plastic housing may not allow too much cooling, it may help to reduce the temperature at least with some Celsius.

> Maybe it had to do with the 5 minute update interval and repeat sound alert checked and the that I didn't realize that alerts must be manually re-enabled.

Yes, if you click on the "Disable sounds alerts" button (the speaker) then it disables the sound alerts.
Just click on it again to re-enable sounds alerts. So basically you only need to have one more click: the first one acknowledges (and disables) the sound alert and the next click enables them again.

> I definitely need some type of cooler for the Samsung D3 Station.

Yes, I completely agree.

> The maximum temperature of 55 degrees C before SMART failure seems to be too low.

Generally, the temperature value should not really trigger SMART failure directly, but yes, using a drive with such high temperature may shorten its lifetime, so it would be better to keep it below 50 Celsius.

> Is it possible to add an option to auto reset the temperature alert after a set amount of time that's adjustable?

Excuse me, I do not really understand.

Do you mean that even if the alert acknowledged, the original problem (the overheat in this case) should trigger alert again after some time?
This is true now, the alert automatically re-enables once per day, at midnight.

You can re-enable the sound alert any time with the speaker button.
If you prefer to re-enable the alerts generally, the 2nd button in the button bar "Re-enable alerts" (two arrows with an exclamation mark) would help.


> but there is no way to tell that the audible alerts for that drive are permanently disabled.

The small speaker icon has a red symbol in its lower right corner, over the "sound" symbol coming from it, indicating if the sound alerts disabled in general.
There is no setting for each drives - just option to generally enable / disable.


> Since you allow alerts on each drive to be disabled individually,

Sorry, I do not really understand, I do not know about such function


> Right now there doesn't seem to be a function assigned to single-clicking the system tray icon other than bringing the main window to the front if open.

Please try RIGHT click on the tray icon. The popup menu has the "Disable sound alerts" option. If selected, then it switches to "Enable sound alerts".
The menu item has an icon also, to visually reflect the status (enabled / disabled) just like in the main window.

> Maybe, when the audible alert sounds, you could show the icon bubble and flash the icon of the drive causing the alert
> and a single click of that icon would disable the audible alert for that drive. The icon would continue to flash, indicating that the
> audible alerts have been disabled, until the set amount of time for auto reset passes. Then the icon would stop blinking.

Thanks for the tip.
Not sure if this would be more usable, and it may be even confusing if it would blink, especially if it'll continue blinking after clicking on that (which should disable the sound alert).

Currently the icon can blink when it's configured to reflect the health status also, in addition to the temperature. Then the health symbol and temperature value displayed blinking. See Configuration -> Thresholds/Tray icon -> Display hard disk health sign on tray icon options (there are 3, to show corresponding symbol for green / yellow / health level) and by default it blinks when red level reached, to visually indicate the problem.

> That way the user wouldn't have to open the main window, click the speaker icon and then hopefully remember to turn the
> alert back on after the drive has cooled sufficiently.

The functions can be accessed from the tray icon, no need to open the main window for this purpose.


> Also, why can't the icons bubbles be configured to work without also having the display message on screen checked.

This works exactly that way. The tray icon bubbles show no alerts, except if they're enabled at Configuration -> Message settings -> Display message on screen.
If this option enabled, then the alert shows an alert window as well, in addition to the tray icon bubble.

> I can see why there's an option to disable them because you don't need two display windows, but
> it would be nice to just see just the bubbles when there is an alert.

There is such option, just disable at Configuration -> Message settings -> Display message on screen.

> I definitely need some type of cooler for the Samsung D3 Station.

Yes, I completely agree.

The alerts and the nondestructive surface testing to fix weak sectors are the main reasons I purchased your program. After burning up my first Samsung D3 Station under normal usage, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen again. Samsung shouldn't be selling this drive in an enclosure that can't dissipate the heat fast enough. The case should have been designed properly and I shouldn't have to buy a cooler just to use the drive.

> Is it possible to add an option to auto reset the temperature alert after a set amount of time that's adjustable?

Excuse me, I do not really understand.

Do you mean that even if the alert acknowledged, the original problem (the overheat in this case) should trigger alert again after some time?
This is true now, the alert automatically re-enables once per day, at midnight.

That's good, but I don't think that once a day is often enough. Usually the sound alerts for temperature will activate when the drive is in use, not just idling. So, once it sounds, I stop all activity on that drive (reading, writing or defraging) and then wait for the drive to cool at idle while it's still connected. If I come back later and see that the icon is no longer red, I continue what I was doing before it overheated. However, unless I remember to turn the sound alerts back on, there will be no sound alert if the drive overheats again, until after midnight. If there was an option to re-enable the sound alerts automatically, say after an hour, then I know the drive will be protected if I forget. Actually, all alerts could be set to re-enable after a set time period. Also, you could add a time delay for shut down that only shuts down the computer if the sound alert isn't turned off after a set time. Right now there is no time delay for shut down. You could make them sliders, like the detection frequency.

> but there is no way to tell that the audible alerts for that drive are permanently disabled.

The small speaker icon has a red symbol in its lower right corner, over the "sound" symbol coming from it, indicating if the sound alerts disabled in general.
There is no setting for each drives - just option to generally enable / disable.

The way it works for me, it is like individual settings. There is no way to enable sound alerts on a per drive basis, but clicking on the speaker when there's an alert only disables the alerts for that drive. The sound alerts are still active for the other drives. There is no indication that the alerts are disabled on that drive at all. If you click a second time, then it shows the speaker is disabled and sound alerts for all drives are disabled.

> Right now there doesn't seem to be a function assigned to single-clicking the system tray icon other than bringing the main window to the front if open.

Please try RIGHT click on the tray icon. The popup menu has the "Disable sound alerts" option. If selected, then it switches to "Enable sound alerts".
The menu item has an icon also, to visually reflect the status (enabled / disabled) just like in the main window.

Yes, but I was talking about a single-click solution, at least for temperature, since that is what the icons display. There doesn't seem to be any advantage to using the icon menu. Also, the first time you right-click on the icon and select disable sound alerts, the menu item still says disable sound alerts as if they are still enabled. There is no way to tell that the sound alerts are now disabled for that drive. The steps to re-enable the sound alerts for all drives from the system tray are:

• 1. Right-click on icon and select disable sound alerts
  2. Click OK on window that pops up
  3. Right-click on icon and select disable sound alerts again to disable alerts for all drives
  4. Right-click again on the icon and select enable sound alerts to re-enable alerts for all drives

> Maybe, when the audible alert sounds, you could show the icon bubble and flash the icon of the drive causing the alert
> and a single click of that icon would disable the audible alert for that drive. The icon would continue to flash, indicating that the
> audible alerts have been disabled, until the set amount of time for auto reset passes. Then the icon would stop blinking.

Thanks for the tip.
Not sure if this would be more usable, and it may be even confusing if it would blink, especially if it'll continue blinking after clicking on that (which should disable the sound alert).

Okay, the icon doesn't have to blink at all for the temperature alert if the tray icon bubbles worked alone, but you could apply the same idea for the sound alerts as you do with the health status. You could add an option to display that the sound alert is disabled by switching between a disabled speaker icon and the temperature icon.

> Also, why can't the icons bubbles be configured to work without also having the display message on screen checked.

This works exactly that way. The tray icon bubbles show no alerts, except if they're enabled at Configuration -> Message settings -> Display message on screen.
If this option enabled, then the alert shows an alert window as well, in addition to the tray icon bubble.

That is what I'm trying to ask. Why do I have to see both the window and the tray icon bubble at the same time? You only need one display and right now I can only select both or none.

> Samsung shouldn't be selling this drive in an enclosure that can't dissipate the heat fast enough.
> The case should have been designed properly and I shouldn't have to buy a cooler just to use the drive.

Yes, it's true, I completely agree.

While the tests make intensive use of the drive, the temperature can rise very quickly even during any other file operation, like copy/move files, perform an antivirus scan or degragmentation.


> That's good, but I don't think that once a day is often enough.

Otherwise the too frequent alerts (especially if the user configures e-mail alerts in addition) may cause more stress

But yes, it may be good idea to have an automatic re-enable after some time (eg. after one hour or so), so it may be available in a later version.

> and then wait for the drive to cool at idle while it's still connected. If I come back later and see that the icon is no longer red
> I continue what I was doing before it overheated.

Yes, but personally (regardless of the options and alerts) this can't be done for longer time.
The whole idea of the overheating alerts is to increase attention - and if this happens (only once or so) then it is recommended to improve the situation by using an additional cooler / fan.
Yes, sometimes we may need to fix bad design of manufacturers - to increase the lifetime of our devices.

> If there was an option to re-enable the sound alerts automatically, say after an hour, then I know the drive will be protected if I forget.
> Actually, all alerts could be set to re-enable after a set time period.

Currently these are done at midnight, so the admin (even he left the system unattended) would receive alerts once per day - until he fixes / improves the situation.
Yes, if you actively use the system, then a more fast re-enable would be good.


> Also, you could add a time delay for shut down that only shuts down the computer if the sound alert isn't turned off after a set time.
> Right now there is no time delay for shut down. You could make them sliders, like the detection frequency.

Yes, currently there is only option to initiate shut down upon the problems. If shutdown iniated, it is possible to cancel it (if you're actively using the computer) but if not, yes, the shutdown happens exactly to prevent further increase of temperature and/or degradation of health.


> he way it works for me, it is like individual settings. There is no way to enable sound alerts on a per drive basis, but
> clicking on the speaker when there's an alert only disables the alerts for that drive.

Yes, sorry for the mistake, I forgot to mention that the button may work differently, based on the actual situation:
- if the sound alert is playing, then the button only "acknowledges" the sound alert, to make silence. But it does not disable the alerts (for other drives), so the button remains as displayed before (no red symbol displayed, indicated that the sound alerts are still active, so _other_ drive can trigger the sound alert).
- if the sound alert is not playing, then the button disables the sound alert and the red symbol displayed on the button, indicating that the sound alerts disabled globally.

> The sound alerts are still active for the other drives.

Yes, this is true.

> There is no indication that the alerts are disabled on that drive at all.

Yes. Because then sound alerts not disabled - just acknowledged.

> If you click a second time, then it shows the speaker is disabled and sound alerts for all drives are disabled.

Yes.

> the first time you right-click on the icon and select disable sound alerts, the menu item still says disable sound alerts as if they are still enabled.

Yes, because this works 100% same as the button in the main window: if the sound alert is playing, this option just acknowledges the alert for this drive but leave the sound alert (for other drives) enabled.

> The steps to re-enable the sound alerts for all drives from the system tray are

If you prefer to re-enable, then the fastest is to double click (to open the main window) and click on the "Re-enable alerts" button in the button bar (the two arrows with the exclamation mark).


> Okay, the icon doesn't have to blink at all for the temperature alert if the tray icon bubbles worked alone, but you could apply the same
> idea for the sound alerts as you do with the health status. You could add an option to display that the sound alert is disabled
> by switching between a disabled speaker icon and the temperature icon.

Thanks, yes, this may be useful.

> That is what I'm trying to ask. Why do I have to see both the window and the tray icon bubble at the same time?

You do not need. Just disable the "Display message on screen" at Configuration -> Message settings page.

> You only need one display and right now I can only select both or none.

No, if that option disabled, then you'll see the tray icon bubble only.

The idea is that for alerts you may prefer to have an e-mail alert and/or a message displayed.
The tray icon bubble is displayed upon probkem if the e-mail alert is enabled, NET SEND method used (for older OSes) or the "Display message on screen" option selected. Some users may prefer to have the message window also - as it may be a bit more stable as it remains displayed - while the tray icon bubble disappears after some time.

Thank you for your detailed reply and your patience.

Since there is no change in the display after a sound alert is acknowledged, maybe you would at least consider adding that even if you don't add anything else.

On my system, the icon bubbles will only display if display message on screen is also checked. For alert displays, I either get two notices or none at all. I can't find a way to only display the icon bubbles.

Although I was suggesting adding a variable delay for shutdown, I should have tried it first to see the built in delay before added that to my reply.

> Since there is no change in the display after a sound alert is acknowledged,
> maybe you would at least consider adding that even if you don't add anything else.

Yes, I completely agree: this would help as then it indicates that the alert is acknowledged.
I'm thinking lots about the automatic re-enable of alert after some time as you suggested and yes, this may be useful so it will be available in a later version as well.

> On my system, the icon bubbles will only display if display message on screen is also checked.
> For alert displays, I either get two notices or none at all. I can't find a way to only display the icon bubbles.

Thanks, I'm checking.
If you can use Report menu -> Send test report to developer option, that may help to check what can be wrong.