Check harddrive for errors / defects?

[attorneyatlaw]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

 

[Maynard Man]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

This isn't free, but it's the best.
Spinrite at http://grc.com , it will try hard to recover damaged data from
bad sectors and mark the sector as non usable after.

 

[someone]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

All capital letters is considered shouting !. Please don`t shout!.
Now to your query.
You need to know the make of your hard drive.
Go to the manufacturers site via www.google.com.
and D\load the test utilities. put them on a floppy disk, and run
the tests on your drive.
Be warned, if you think your drive is going. Backup now !.
another hard drive is cheaper than losing all your stuff.

 

[ReBorn Dude]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily.
I.....

Different HDD need different tools to make it work.
Samsung have a tool.
Maxtor have a tool
Seagate have a tool.

Some of these tools are found on "the ultimate boot disk"
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Download the ISO file. Make a CD and boot on that.
On this fantastik CD you will then find some test tools, and even the HDD
tools mentioned here.

Try it out...Im sure you will find it GREAT ;-) like I did.
Happy "Bug" hunting ;-))

Best regards
Rene

 

[jmatt]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive.

Here is my info, links are like us, they die. If any of these links are
dead or are no longer freeware, at least you have the name of the
program which you put into a search engine like Google & maybe you can
let me know the latest info.
I am not recommending anything, my list gives you a starting point to
find something to suit your operating system ( most people do not even
mention it ) & skill level. What will work on my computer, may not be
happy on yours. What I can understand, re how to install & run, may not
apply to you.

Troubleshoot hard drive failures in seven easy steps
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-22_11-5430585.html#
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-22-5430585-2.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-22-5430585-3.html

200 ways to revive a hard drive
http://lstech.org/resource_lib/hardware/desktops/200waysfixHD.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6255-5029761.html
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=c...ys.pdf+200+WAYS+TO+REVIVE+A+HARD+DRIVE+&hl=en

Adenix S.M.A.R.T. Explorer
http://www.adenix.net/downloads.php
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=8&var1=0&var2=95
http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=158

PassMark DiskCheckup
http://www.tudogs.com/windows5.php?pass=set
http://www.passmark.com/products/diskcheckup.htm

HDD Health
http://www.panterasoft.com/
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?page=87&cat=007

HDDScan
http://hddguru.com/content/en/software/2006.01.22-HDDScan/
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?page=87&cat=007

Media Test
http://www.sover.net/~wysiwygx/WinUtils3.html

HD Tune
http://www.hdtune.com/

S.M.A.R.T. Monitor
http://jstmm.netfirms.com/

Understanding ScanDisk
http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/scandisk.htm

CHKDSK
http://www.activewin.com/winxp/tips/basic/3.shtml
http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/ASP/FileView.asp?File=/KB/ScanDisk.TXT
Information about the chkdsk command
http://www.computerhope.com/chkdskh.htm

 

[safesurfer]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

If your hard drive is S.M.A.R.T. compatible, then Speed fan will do
this as well as monitoring Temperatures and Fan Speeds
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

[Lee Babcock]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

Instead of looking for 'a program', you should first:

Make sure your system is free of viruses.

Repair the boot sector (with a bootable maintenance disk}

Regards
Lee

 

[Carl McNair]

Try this SCAN DISK that runs in Windows:

http://hard-drive-scandisk-pro.en.softonic.com/ie/8906






Different HDD need different tools to make it work.
Samsung have a tool.
Maxtor have a tool
Seagate have a tool.

Some of these tools are found on "the ultimate boot disk"
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Download the ISO file. Make a CD and boot on that.
On this fantastik CD you will then find some test tools, and even the HDD
tools mentioned here.

Try it out...Im sure you will find it GREAT ;-) like I did.
Happy "Bug" hunting ;-))

Best regards
Rene

 

[El Gee]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

For PHYSICAL issues,
HDD Health
http://www.panterasoft.com/
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld/links.php?page=87&cat=007
(as suggested by another poster) Works well.

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
El Gee Www.mistergeek.com <><
Know Christ, Know Peace -- No Christ, No Peace
Remove .yourhat to reply
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[ms]

Here is my info, links are like us, they die. If any of these links are
dead or are no longer freeware, at least you have the name of the
program which you put into a search engine like Google & maybe you can
let me know the latest info.
I am not recommending anything, my list gives you a starting point to
find something to suit your operating system ( most people do not even
mention it ) & skill level. What will work on my computer, may not be
happy on yours. What I can understand, re how to install & run, may not
apply to you.

Thanks, John.

Your good words can apply to most anything listed on ACF. The old phrase YMMV.

Mike Sa

 

[jmatt]

ms wrote:
Thanks, John.
Your good words can apply to most anything listed on ACF. The old
phrase
Mike Sa
Thanks Mike, though I did have to google YMMV.

 

[Marten Kemp]

I am randomly getting drive booting errors on my harddrive. I THINK
the harddrive is going bad. but I hate to repalce it unnecessarily. I
ran 'scandisk' in windows xp pro. It seemed to help. but I want to
make sure the drive isn't going bad.. I'd rather know now while I can
stil get the info off of my harddrive.

Therefore, IS THERE A FREEWARE PROGRAM LIKE SCANDISK THAT I CAN SIMPLY
RUN AND IT WILL TELL ME IF THE HARDDRIVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND/OR
FIXES PROBLEMS.

I am not sure if there is anything better than 'scandisk' built into
windows xp pro, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.

ANY info is much appreciated.

If you're getting errors, assume the drive's just about
to fail and take your data with it. Don't fool around
with backups, get a new drive and copy the old one to it.
You don't need to throw away the old drive if you can find
a less-critical application for it. Building a secondary
machine reserved for web browsing and a place to keep
miscellaneous stuff comes to mind.

These days, he says in a slightly condescending voice, drives
are much better than the ones we had back in the Pleistocene,
_but_ the margin for error seems to be smaller. The new ones
don't fail as gradually so your warning time is much less.

In my experience, of course. YMMV.

--
-- Marten Kemp
(Fix name and ISP to reply)
-=-=-
.... Trouble is, there's ingredients. And then there's process. Many powder
mills experienced precipitate disassembly figuring out the process.
-- Paul F Austin on rec.arts.sf.written
* TagZilla 0.059 * http://tagzilla.mozdev.org

 

[Lou]

If you're getting errors, assume the drive's just about
to fail and take your data with it. Don't fool around
with backups, get a new drive and copy the old one to it.
You don't need to throw away the old drive if you can find
a less-critical application for it. Building a secondary
machine reserved for web browsing and a place to keep
miscellaneous stuff comes to mind.

These days, he says in a slightly condescending voice, drives
are much better than the ones we had back in the Pleistocene,
_but_ the margin for error seems to be smaller. The new ones
don't fail as gradually so your warning time is much less.

In my experience, of course. YMMV.

--
-- Marten Kemp
(Fix name and ISP to reply)
-=-=-
... Trouble is, there's ingredients. And then there's process. Many powder
mills experienced precipitate disassembly figuring out the process.
-- Paul F Austin on rec.arts.sf.written
* TagZilla 0.059 * http://tagzilla.mozdev.org

For any who do not get the sig. They Blew Up

 

[Marten Kemp]

Marten Kemp wrote: {miscellaneous blithering}

For any who do not get the sig. They Blew Up

However, Lou, don't you agree that 'experienced precipitate
disassembly' is more elegant language than 'They Blew Up?'

I'll need to go dig out the exact quote for a new .sig:
"Murphy and Darwin are typically found together, and
they both date the ****up Fairy."

--
-- Marten Kemp
(Fix name and ISP to reply)
-=-=-
.... >Thus again, we have successfully proven that I cannot read minds.

It doesn't help. Almost all you ever get is "This mind intentionally
left blank."
-- Steve VanDevender, to AJS, in the Monastery (alt.sysadmin.recovery)
* TagZilla 0.059 * http://tagzilla.mozdev.org