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  • Keep your PC's internals and externals in tiptop shape by following the sage advice of Contributing Editor Kirk Steers.
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Hardware Tips: Boot Passwords Put Your PC Under Lock and Key

Kirk Steers

Disk Early Warning

Many hard drives are equipped with Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (SMART), which collects hard-drive performance data and watches for signs of trouble. SANtools' $20 Smartmon program monitors and displays SMART data and warns you when a failure or other problem is right around the corner. Visit the company's site to download the limited-function, 30-day trial version of Smartmon.

Click here to view past Hardware Tips columns. Send your tips and questions to kirk_steers@pcworld.com. We pay $50 for published items. Kirk Steers is a PC World contributing editor.
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