Error 1720 SMART Hard Drive Failure? What It Means

Error 1720 is a SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology) alert that your hard drive has detected a critical condition and predicts imminent failure. If you see this message, back up your important data immediately and prepare to replace the drive — it is not a false alarm, and continued use risks permanent data loss.

What Is SMART and Error 1720?

SMART is a monitoring system built into most modern hard drives (both HDDs and SSDs). It tracks dozens of attributes — like read error rates, spin-up time, reallocated sectors, and temperature — and compares them against factory-set thresholds. When a value crosses a dangerous threshold, the drive firmware sets an internal flag. The computer’s BIOS or operating system then displays an alert, often with a code like “1720” (a common Dell-specific SMART error) or a generic message like “S.M.A.R.T. status bad.”

Error 1720 specifically indicates the drive’s own firmware has concluded that a failure is likely soon. It is not a Windows error or a software bug; it originates from the drive itself. The code is most frequently seen on Dell desktops and laptops during the Power-On Self-Test (POST), but the underlying condition applies to any brand.

How Does a Drive Decide It’s Failing?

Modern drives continuously log operational data. The most telling indicators include:

Reallocated sectors: The drive has found bad sectors and moved their data to spare areas. A growing count means physical damage is spreading.
Pending sectors: Sectors that are unstable and waiting to be reallocated — a sign of imminent read/write problems.
Uncorrectable errors: The drive could not read data even after retries, which means data is already lost.
Spin-up retries: The motor or bearings are failing, making the platters hard to start.
High temperature: Prolonged heat accelerates component wear.

When any of these attributes exceed the manufacturer’s threshold, the drive sets a “FAIL” bit. Error 1720 is simply the computer’s way of reporting that bit. The drive is not predicting a failure with a specific date; it’s saying the probability of failure in the near term is high enough that you should stop trusting it.

What to Do Immediately (Before It Dies)

Your priority is data preservation, not diagnosis. Follow these steps in order:

Back up your files now. Copy documents, photos, videos, and any other irreplaceable data to an external drive, cloud storage, or another computer. Use a tool like a file copy or a disk imaging program. Do not run disk repairs or defragmentation first — those stress the drive further.
Do not ignore the warning. The drive might work for days or weeks, but it can fail at any moment. Treat it as already broken.
Replace the drive. If it’s your system drive, install a new one and reinstall your OS and applications. If it’s a secondary drive, simply disconnect it and install a replacement.
If the drive is under warranty, check the manufacturer’s RMA process. Many drives have 2–5 year warranties, and a SMART failure is a valid reason for replacement.

If you have a recent backup, you can also try to read the drive one last time to copy any files created since the last backup. But every minute of use is a gamble.

Can You Fix Error 1720 or the Drive?

No. Error 1720 is a hardware-level warning, not a software problem. You cannot “clear” it by reinstalling Windows, updating drivers, or running CHKDSK. Some users try to disable SMART in the BIOS to stop the message, but that only hides the symptom — the drive is still failing. Attempting to repair bad sectors with tools like “HDD Regenerator” is generally ineffective for physical damage and can make things worse by causing the drive to work harder.

The only real fix is replacement. If the drive is an SSD, the same logic applies: NAND flash cells wear out, and the controller detects excessive error rates. There is no user-serviceable repair for either technology.

How to Confirm the Diagnosis (If You Have Time)

If you have already backed up and want to verify the drive’s status before throwing it away, you can use the drive’s own SMART data:

Windows: Open a command prompt as administrator and type wmic diskdrive get status. If it returns “Bad”, the drive has already failed its SMART check. For detailed attributes, use a free tool like CrystalDiskInfo or HDDScan.
macOS: Use Disk Utility’s First Aid, or a third-party tool like DriveDx, which reads SMART data.
Linux: Install smartmontools and run sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda (replace sda with your drive). Look for the “SMART overall-health self-assessment test result” line.

These tools show you the raw attribute values. A high reallocated sector count (e.g., hundreds or thousands) confirms physical degradation. Even a single pending sector is a red flag.

Common Misconceptions

Myth: “Error 1720 just means the drive is old.” Age alone doesn’t trigger SMART alerts; a drive can run for a decade without a single bad sector. The alert means a specific measurable parameter has crossed a dangerous threshold.

Myth: “It’s a Dell error, so only Dell drives fail.” Dell uses the code 1720 in their BIOS, but the underlying SMART failure exists on any brand. Other manufacturers use different codes or messages, but the meaning is the same.

Myth: “I can fix it by formatting.” Formatting only rewrites the file system; it does not repair physical media. Bad sectors will reappear, and the drive will continue to fail.

What About SSDs?

SSDs also use SMART, but the failure modes differ. Instead of mechanical wear, NAND flash has a limited number of program/erase cycles. When the controller detects too many block errors or the spare area is exhausted, it sets a SMART alert. Error 1720 can appear on an SSD too, though it’s less common because SSDs typically fail suddenly rather than gradually. The same advice applies: back up and replace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my computer still boot if I ignore the error?

Often yes, at least for a while. The BIOS may require you to press a key (like F1) to continue past the warning. The drive may still read and write for days or weeks, but the failure can happen at any moment — including mid-write, which can corrupt files.

Can I copy the drive to a new one without reinstalling Windows?

Yes. Use disk cloning software (like Clonezilla or Macrium Reflect) to make a bit-for-bit copy to a new drive. This works best if the old drive is still readable. If it has bad sectors, the clone may fail or produce a copy with missing data — that’s why a regular backup is better.

Is error 1720 the same as “SMART status bad”?

Yes. “SMART status bad” is the generic message; 1720 is a specific code used by Dell. Both indicate the same thing: the drive’s self-assessment has failed.

Can I use the drive as a secondary storage device after replacing it?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. The drive is failing and could take your data with it. If you must use it, only store non-critical, easily replaceable files, and keep a backup.

How long does a drive with error 1720 last?

There is no reliable prediction. Some drives fail within hours, others last months. The SMART threshold is set conservatively, but the failure curve is unpredictable. Assume it will fail soon and act accordingly.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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