Ubuntu – Checking HD SMART status on a fresh install

For the desktop, you can use "Disk Utility" (aka palimpsest or gnome-disks depending on the Ubuntu release) for this.

For the command line I suggest you install the smartmontools package and play around with smartctl. Eg:

sudo smartctl --all /dev/sda

At this point in time I wouldn't. Hard Drive manufacturers, normally pack spare sectors in the drive just for situations like this. Keep an eye on it, and always have a backup of your data handy. Also I would suggest that you run the manufacturers diagnostic tool, and that can be acquired form the drive manufacturers website. Once you do that, and it gives you an error code, and providing htat the drive is still under warranty, then call the manufacturer,and get it replaced.

Important note to keep: Disks that start with 1 bad sector, will probably get worse. I can't stress enough the importance of a backup.