Comprehensive and Detailed Step-by-Step Explanation:
* S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology):
* S.M.A.R.T. is a monitoring system integrated into modern HDDs and SSDs that detects and reports on various indicators of drive health and reliability.
* A S.M.A.R.T. error indicates that the drive is showing signs of impending failure, even if the PC continues to boot and work normally for the time being.
* Next Steps:
* The appropriate action is to replace the hard drive (HDD) because a S.M.A.R.T. error is an early warning of possible hardware failure. Ignoring the warning could result in data loss if the drive fails completely.
* The technician should also back up the user's data immediately to avoid losing critical information.
Incorrect Options:
* B. Update the PC's BIOS: While keeping the BIOS updated is a good practice, it does not address the
S.M.A.R.T. error, which is specific to the HDD.
* C. Close the ticket: Closing the ticket without resolving the issue would be improper, as the S.M.A.R.
T. error is a hardware problem that needs to be addressed to prevent future data loss or downtime.
* D. Change the NIC: The NIC (Network Interface Card) is unrelated to the storage system and would not resolve a S.M.A.R.T. error.
Reference: CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam Objectives (220-1101), Domain 5.1 - Troubleshooting hard drives and RAID arrays.