What tool can be used to determine if a hard drive is failing?

The selection of HP Support Assistant and Windows Error Checking tool as the appropriate choice for determining if a hard drive is failing is based on their functionalities specific to diagnosing drive issues.

HP Support Assistant is designed to provide a variety of support tools, including system diagnostics that can help identify hardware issues. It can run checks on various components of the system, including the hard drive, to alert users to potential problems. The Windows Error Checking tool (often accessed by checking the properties of a drive) scans the file system for errors and can repair some issues, potentially indicating that a drive is failing or has existing errors that could lead to failure.

In comparison, while HP CrystalDiskInfo is indeed a useful tool for monitoring hard drive health through S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data, it wasn't selected as the answer. Acronis Disk Management focuses primarily on partitioning and backup rather than health diagnostics. Windows Task Manager provides an overview of resource usage but lacks in-depth diagnostic capabilities for hard drive health.

This understanding of the functionality of each tool illustrates why HP Support Assistant and the Windows Error Checking tool is the most comprehensive choice for determining the failure of a hard drive.