Linux live-CD utility for hard drive error checking

[wanchan]

I am looking for a solid Linux-based hard drive live-CD utility that helps with hard drive error-checking. The utility must support eSATA and ideally as well as USB/Firewire interfaces.

I use hard drive utility software with primary focus on error-checking.

I buy a lot of hard drives, most of which are Western Digital's, for my file servers. As most of you guys do upon arrival of new hard drive the first thing is to error-check and benchmark it. I'm totally fed up by pretty much all Windows-based hard drive software such as HD Tune, WD Diagnostic Tools and the like. Those either give false alerts or just does not detect errors at all.

BTW hard drives will be used on Windows XP SP3.

Thanks for advising!

 

[lsv]

Knoppix comes with TestDisk, PhotoRec, dd and dd_rescue. Could try that.

http://www.knoppix.net/

 

[Soulkeeper]

stresslinux
I havn't tried this myself, but it's a small download and likely has e2fsck and other useful tools. It caught my eye the other week.
the gentoo live-CD is pretty good also, i've tried that before.