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Drive diagnostic utilities compendium

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  #41  
Old 06-12-2007
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Missouri, USA
Member since: May 2007, 72 posts
I have previously used ckdsk, but in a different post, it was suggested that I try a more comprehensive diagnostic tool to test my drives. We are currently trying to narrow down the possible issues that could be causing my problem. So you think that chkdsk is sufficient? If so, I won't worry about any more disk diagnostic tools.
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  #42  
Old 06-12-2007
jobeard's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Southern Calif.
Member since: Apr 2005, 7,906 posts
get a copy of Everest Home Ed (free) and use the Storage section to access the S.M.A.R.T. feature.

this will show you (if the HD supports it) different kinds of conditions that the
drive is monitoring for itself. Run it ONE/day for a few days, then once/week and
finally once/month. You can then track the 4-5 variables that are not mark
all values allowed for changes, indicating there is a growing problem in that area.
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  #43  
Old 06-12-2007
TechSpot Member
 
Location: Missouri, USA
Member since: May 2007, 72 posts
Will do. Thanks for the help!

EDIT: Actually, I won't be able to use the Home Ed., because I am needing this for a server. I'm going to look around for a different tool that will still be free before I decide to pay for the Corporate Edition of this.

Last edited by chance1138; 06-12-2007 at 03:35 PM..
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  #44  
Old 08-31-2007
d0c-h0liday's Avatar
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Aug 2007, 1 posts
Thanks Rick

Ran into same scenerio with a Dell that has a Seagate SATA drive. Too many errors for chkdsk to fix, said drive has unrecoverable errors. Was not looking forward to re-install due to the fact that this PC has very customized software that takes forever to configure. Seagate utility scanned (about 4 hours) and fixed all errors on the drive! Then was able to run chkdsk to fix all file errors. Easily saved me hours of "in front of PC time" and I looked like a hero to my customer. I am no novice and have run into drive errors on countless occaisions, but never had one I couldn't fix either through recovery console, repair installation or physically removing the drive and scanning / repairing it from another PC. Was never a fan of Manufacturer Drive Utils, but obviously they have come a long way. Thanks Again!
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  #45  
Old 10-16-2007
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Member since: Oct 2007, 4 posts
thx, for the list
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  #46  
Old 11-25-2007
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Nov 2007, 1 posts
what to do if writhen unknown disk inthe place of "C or D"

Hello, what , to do if writhen, unknown disk in the place of "C or D" when you want to reinstal XP? And tried before to give racovery "CHKDSK" and said unracovery problems??????
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  #47  
Old 04-04-2008
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Member since: Apr 2008, 1 posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by atmikes
Hi,

Any of you guys have experience with HDD regenerator?

I had a I/O error on an external USB drive (Maxtor 5000DV - 160GB - 7200 RPM)

I dissasembled the enclosure and installed it in one of my spare system:
a pentium III@665Mhz, 384 MB ram (it's the only one i can afford missing for a week or so)

now i booted to the "HDD regenerator" floppy-disk, and it has run for about 12 Hours an it indicates it's has scanned 20Mb... (and found 41751 sectors with 10069 Bad sectors, 9973 bad sectors recovered)

so a little calculation :

Drive formatted capacity of about 152 GB (1 gigabyte = 1024 megabyte)
152GB = 155648 MB
at 20 Mb / 12 hours or 2.5MB / 12 hours
or 155648MB / 62259.2 hours

it will be about 7.3 years to finish the job, do you think this is normal? :knock:

(and the lifetime of the drive indicates only 5 years...)

see you in a few years...
atmikes

i use this program quite a bit. The scan rate is about 40 Gig/hour. How long it will take to repair the drive is based on the quantity of bad sectors found. If your disk is really badly damged, it can take a very long time to repair. My typical run time for a disk that won't boot is around 8 hours. That is a long time if you are standing over it watching, but the program doesn't require user input until it is finished, so running it over night is the best option.
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  #48  
Old 04-29-2008
astrolabe's Avatar
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Member since: Aug 2005, 31 posts
Quick note for "File Scavanger v3.7"

When all else has failed this little package will revover most of the files on your hard disk even when most of the other packages say there;s no hope... You do need a second hard drive though as it won't write corrections to the damaged beast . probably a good idea...

Regards

Tom
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  #49  
Old 07-13-2008
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jul 2008, 1 posts
Thanks Rick! I hope you could help us if ever I have some questions. God bless.
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  #50  
Old 08-09-2008
Newcomer, in training
 
Location: New York
Member since: Jul 2008, 1 posts
System specs
Rick
Very informative & thanks...

Later...
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  #51  
Old 08-15-2008
hoy hoy is offline
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Aug 2008, 10 posts
hi guys! can anyone help me to solve my problem on my pc! i use my pc regularly but in the middle of working it restarting the windows! a little help is appreciated thanx...
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  #52  
Old 08-15-2008
hoy hoy is offline
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Member since: Aug 2008, 10 posts
pls. help me! email me : [COLOR="Red"]email removed[/COLOR]

Last edited by kimsland; 02-14-2009 at 12:52 AM..
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  #53  
Old 08-15-2008
nickc's Avatar
TechSpot Maniac
 
Location: Friona, Tex, USA
Member since: Jun 2004, 1,525 posts
System specs
Post this in the right forum if u would.
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  #54  
Old 11-13-2008
Newcomer, in training
 
Location: Rochester NY
Member since: Nov 2008, 8 posts
USe the seagate sea tools to check your drive, it works for every brand I have tried it on.
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  #55  
Old 02-14-2009
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Feb 2009, 1 posts
if you have bad sectors on the hard disk, you'll need to low-level format it.

I would keep a lookout on the hard disk. Developing bad sectors are a sign of failure.
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  #56  
Old 03-19-2009
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Sep 2006, 42 posts
Updated List ?

Hi All,

I see the list was last updated in 2007. I am starting to get a lot of "cyclic redundancy check" errors out of utorrent and I have not changed anything in months on this PC.

The drives are only a few months old ( 2 sata drives in a raid) and I am worried I may lose this stuff. I would love to hear some opinions on which of these would test best under vista. Thanks for any/all advice!

Cheers,
GBE300
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  #57  
Old 04-06-2009
jopower's Avatar
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Apr 2009, 2 posts
The util list is missing one of the all time greats: SPINRITE (now ver 6). I've used it off and on since the 20 MB drive days and it would always give you the straight dope. It would also resurrect many drives or at least run them long enough to save the data when all hope was lost. If you REALLY have troubles, go to Gibson Research for enlightenment.

see: GRC.COM

The site also has other good utils and excellent data on the function and testing of all hard drives, ancient and new.

My fave great little aplet: Shoot The Messenger (shut off or turn on Windows Messenger with ONE little util).

Last edited by kimsland; 04-06-2009 at 01:11 PM.. Reason: removed Bold
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  #58  
Old 07-03-2009
Newcomer, in training
 
Location: Heredia, Costa Rica
Member since: Jul 2009, 9 posts
System specs
Drive Management

Installed a SATA Seagate Barracuda 3.5 1.5TB. Documentation says: After installing, Disconnect the Primary Drive...after following directions, I find that windows no longer booted! I did change the Boot Sequence. Thus, I now have installed; (d) Seagate SATA; (C) Samsung 160GB; (j) External LaCie 500GB.
This configuration becomes rather confusing & I'd really appreciate assistance regarding Partitioning etc..particularly, what to move into the partitions.
I use the LaCie for backups thus I shut it down when not needed.
Thanks for any help.
Bill
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