Hard Drive Test Utility

[akers]

Does anyone know of a non-destructive hard drive test utility. My PC is acting kind of flaky (random reboots or lockups) and I would like to isolate the problem starting eith the hard drive. The PC has been running fine for a couple of years with no changes.

Thanks

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Most of the major HDD manufs. have just such a utility on their website. If yours does not, Western Digital has a utility that does pretty well on most HDD's.

 

[VirtualLarry]

WD's util only works on WD drives. IBM's Drive Fitness Test (DFT) runs on multiple drive mfgs.

 

[Zepper]

If the free ones don't cut it for you, there is always SpinRite ( http://www.grc.com ) . Kind of pricey but probably the best there is.

.bh.

 

[akers]

Oh my God ... SpinRite !!!!!!

SpinRite has been around about as long as the Loch Ness Monster or Sasquatch.

Maybe they would trade me for my "brand new", still shrink wrapped copy of MSDOS 6 (no kidding.) I kept it because it was the only version of DOS that was so bizarre that it might have some collector value some day. You know, kind of like having Bill Gates' hemorrhoid in a bottle of formadahyde on your desk at work, great conversation starter.

Chuck

 

[conlan]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
WD's util only works on WD drives. IBM's Drive Fitness Test (DFT) runs on multiple drive mfgs.

The WD diag tool works with every Hdd i've ever tested it with. It's my favorite freebie Hdd diag tool.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, the WD DLGDIAG tool doesn't work on Maxtor or Seagate drives, I've never tried it on IBM or Hitachi or Samsung.

 

[conlan]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
Well, the WD DLGDIAG tool doesn't work on Maxtor or Seagate drives, I've never tried it on IBM or Hitachi or Samsung.

Strange, it's worked for me on every Seagate and Maxtor Hdd i've ever tried it on, maybe we're talking about two different tools?

 

[Zepper]

You may have to have at least one compatible WD drive installed to use their diagnostic tool on other drives. majorgeeks.com is also a good place to look for clean and useful utilities.

Apparently there is a web based version of WD tools that will test any drive:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Western_Digital_Data_Lifeguard_Tools_d2855.html
I just tried the above and there was no test utility in sight, but I have no WD drives installed.

The locally run software will work with WD drives only. I tried this one too and it won't even start up without a WD drive present.

So get the one provided by your drive mfr. and run the most thorough level. Beyond that, SpinRite. Even ScanDisk or ChkDsk in Win set on the most thorough level can do a decent job on those sectors it can test - I don't think those can get to all sectors.

.bh.

 

[akers]

 

[Skitzer]

What is the make of the drive? Most manufacturers have drive utility programs free for download on their sites.