Opinions on Hard Drive Testing Software

This will be a 2 part question, since I'm new to this forum.
First, I own both a MBP and an iMac. The question I posted in the MBP section was this:
--------START OF POST-------
Hello friends!
I came across the following link on hard drive test tools and was curious about the opinions people have for them, against them, or no opinion. Here's the link:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1544280
I would caution to read really only the first post because it contains the information I'm interested in, and later on the discussion quickly turns into complaint session about "Mac Keeper" which I have absolutely no interest in replicating.
In advance, I thank you for your input!
---------END OF POST---------
The other question has to do with this forum. The question above isn't system specific since all Apple computers have a hard drive or SSD of some sort. Is there a way to post a question into all hardware related forums instead of doing what I've done above, which is copy and paste from a previous thread to the other?
As before, in advance, I thank you for your input!

He wants to test his hard drives because it's fun and entertaining!!!
I've seen that list before. I think it's become somewhat of the DeFacto list of those types of tools on the web.
I use Scannerz myself because I didn't see any point in paying $100 for some of the other tools when a new drive costs anywhere from $40-$70 (US) for a "normal" sized drive. If you use its cursory mode it can scan SSDs and to the best of my knowledge it's the only tool that's capable of presenting Fusion Drive's to the end user on both a component basis (ie the SSD and the hard drive individually) or as a single entity (ie the entire Fusion Drive as a single unit). At present I don't have an SSD because I've been reading too many stories about third party units being problematic, but I'm assuming (is that safe??) that this will change in the next year or two.
Considering how differently SSDs handle data vs. a hard drive, I have to wonder how good some of the features of the more expensive tools will be in the long run. For example, right now if a file is erased on a traditional hard drive, the data isn't really gone until it's overwritten, it's just marked as free space. This allows "recovery tools" to recover data. On an SSD with garbage collection enabled, I would think this would more or less kill that option. And of course, with an SSD, defragmentation isn't needed at all.
It's sort of interesting how somehow or other, Mac Keeper managed to make it's way into that thread. If I open up a weather web site, there's an ad for Mac Keeper telling me I need to clean my Mac. If I log into a newspaper, once again, there's Mac Keeper telling me to clean my Mac. Some guy does a post on a web about drive testing tools, and in one way or another Mac Keeper STILL manages to end up dominating it...although in this case not so favorably!

Similar Messages

Software based hard drive tests?

Is there a software based hard drive tester out there? I have no idea how to test my now 7 year old hard drive on my MDD,just wondering if there are software based solutions as well as hardware,and where to get them,thanks!

Excellent,thank you,just one more question,can the power supply be tested the same way,with software?Or am I stuck using a power supply tester,which I dont currently have(a link to a decent one would be nice,if I cant do this with software,that is).Again thanks for this,as I totally forgot which ones were the best :)Oh,and BTW,japamac,I just joined the Quicksilver club(if one exists )and found your blog an excellent resource for deciding on which one to get,as well as which upgrade parts to use.Recieving one this week,with an Radion 9800Pro card.Alraedy have a Firmtec card and am using a 1TB Hitachi jupiter series hard drive.The Quicksilver is a DP 800,and I'm running Leopard.I for one just want to take this time to thank you for all the help you have been to me and everyone who loves their Power PC G4's!!

HT5622 My Ipod Classic shows a red circle with a cross in the middle. I've completed diagnostic tests which have popped up, however any HP/FW/Hard Drive tests freeze the ipod, as if the hard drive won't spin. What do I do?

My Ipod Classic shows a red circle with a cross in the middle. I've completed diagnostic tests which have popped up, however any HP/FW/Hard Drive tests freeze the ipod, as if the hard drive won't spin. What do I do?
After holding down the Select and Play/Pause button, I was able to restart the Ipod and then it brought me to a Diagnositc test. I have tried doing both the Mannual and Annual test on the ipod however in each test, the ipod freezes on different access tests. The HP (headphones) test, shows the headphones are detected, but then if it tries to play a song to make sure they work it freezes and goes back to the red cross. I have looked at various other questions regarding the FW cable, however I don't believe i have such a cabel. Then the Hard Drive test freezes up and I can hear a ticking noise coming from the drive but it doesnt seem to be spinning. Alongside these test issues, any computer cannot see the Ipod when plugged in (including itunes). Therefore some tests for the USB drive cannot be completed. I do not recall dropping it badly, though I have dropped it previously. Does all this mean there is damage to the drive? Should I instead take it to an apple store?
Many Thanks

The stats look fine. Try the DFU Restore method shown in Corrupt iPod classic. It may pay to disable any anti-virus software and use the staged transfer method to reload data, assuming you get that far.
tt2

Laptop dropped - trying to run hard drive test in bios, but can't find

CAn someone tell me how to run a hard drive test in bios - I am not seeing it in the menu at the initial screen after hitting F2. Is there a disk I need to insert?

The BIOS doesn't provide a HD diagnostic. The BIOS is firmware and is limited to providing
basic functions like recognizing devices on the buss or providing the user the ability to
load software to the HD.

I cannot install, only hard drive test. please help!

hi,
my iBook G4 crashed about 2 months ago and I got a new harddrive but it came with no operating system. I borrowed a friend's disks but everytime I put in disk 1 it will only go to Hard Drive Test and I cannot make it go to a section where I can actually reinstall. I have tried pressing command, c, command and c, and nothing. every time it goes to the Hard Drive Test and I have already run it and I passed.
the girl with the disks also has an iBook G4 and I do not understand what the problem is. she just bought it after I did.
I bought my laptop in the US but I am currently in Denmark and could not get Apple to actually fix my laptop but there should be no problem.
please help!

heychristaay,
As I asked in My Previous Reply;
"What OS was installed on your iBook before you replaced the HD?
Have you tried installing, using either the disks that shipped with the iBook, or a Full Retail Version of an OS, that you may have upgraded to? Your own disks?'
If the borrowed disks, do not look Exactly like THESE, they will not work to install Panther 10.3.x.
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
ali b

I did a hard drive test and got this error code.. what does it mean?

4MEM/4/40000000: 0x6a494c18

You did the Apple Hardware Test (not "hard drive test"), I presume? That error suggests RAM.
You can do the extended AHT for more, or try downloading and running Rember:
http://www.kelleycomputing.net/rember/

Whats the best recommended hard drive testing tool

what hard drive testing tool would you guys recommend??
not just for lenovo's, for all PCs.& Notebooks
thanks
this should be easy...?

I use HD Tune.
If you're assessing damage, the free HDD Regenerator might be useful.
W520: i7-2720QM, Q2000M at 1080/688/1376, 21GB RAM, 500GB + 750GB HDD, FHD screen
X61T: L7500, 3GB RAM, 500GB HDD, XGA screen, Ultrabase
Y3P: 5Y70, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, QHD+ screen

Owerbook g4 not starting up after new hard drive and software update

Hello,
I know that there are several postings that are similliar to this query, but none have answered my question.
I have a Powerbook g4 15 inch 1.67/1.5 Ghz with 1 gig of Ram.
A few months ago I suddenly found myself unable to log into my computer after trying to render an effect on Final Cut.  After going through Disk Utilities and repairing the Hard drive, the computer seemed to work for a day or so, but then ran into the same problem.  This time Disk Utilities found
Keys out of order
rebuilding catalog B-tree
I feared the worst and replaced my hard drive with a Seagate PATA 2.5" Internal Notebook Drive.  Installed OS 10.4 and everything seemed dandy until I tried to re-install Final Cut, which would not allow me to install Live Type.  I remembered that there were some updates for livetype and OS X, so I tried updating the OS X dual update, which got about 90% of the way and then the Kernal Panic display told me to restart the computer.  Okay, this time the computer would hang in the gray apple screen for awhile and then the screen would turn blue.  Ran disk utilities off of the start up disk, and ran into the same B-tree problems (I'm guessing the directory is still damaged somehow).
So I erased and installed OS X again, and after that tried updating OS X, and the same thing happened.  Although this time disk utilities says the hard drive is OK.  Tried resetting PMU, fsck, PRAM, and still the blue screen after initial gray apple screen. Tried safe-mode, but it went to a single user "welcome to Darwin" screen and I didn't know what to do after that.
So, should I try to erase and install again, this time running a repair permission before updating software?  ANY other ideas?  It seems like a directory issue, but I don't know what else to do.

supersonicavengers:
So, should I try to erase and install again, this time running a repair permission before updating software?
If you do not have anything on the HDD you need to preserve, that is probably a good idea. Here's how I would proceed:
Formatting, Partitioning Erasing a Hard Disk Drive
Warning! This procedure will destroy all data on your Hard Disk Drive. Be sure you have an up-to-date, tested backup of at least your Users folder and any third party applications you do not want to re-install before attempting this procedure.
• With computer shut down insert install disk in optical drive.
• Hit Power button and immediately after chime hold down the "C" key.
• Select language
• Go to the Utilities menu (Tiger) Installer menu (Panther & earlier) and launch Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select Partition tab in main panel. (You are about to create a single partition volume.)
• Click on Options button
• Select Apple Partition Map (PPC Macs) or GUID Partition Table (Intel Macs)
• Click OK
• Select number of partition in pull-down menu above Volume diagram.
(Note 1: One partition is normally preferable for an internal HDD.)
• Type in name in Name field (usually Macintosh HD)
• Select Volume Format as Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
• Click Partition button at bottom of panel.
• Select Erase tab
• Select the sub-volume (indented) under Manufacturer ID (usually Macintosh HD).
• Check to be sure your Volume Name and Volume Format are correct.
• Click Erase button
• Quit Disk Utility.
Installation Process
While still booted from the install disk
• Open Installer and begin installation.
• Select installation option
• Choose to Customize and deselect Foreign Language Translations and Additional Printer drivers.
Optional: Check box to install X11 (Tiger and later) BSD Subsystems (Panther & earlier).
• Proceed with installation.
• After installation computer will restart for setup.
• After setup, reboot computer.
• Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select First Aid in main panel.
• Click Repair Disk Permissions.
• Connect to Internet.
• Download and install Mac OS X 10.4.11 Combo update (PPC) (Tiger)
Computer will restart.
• Repair Disk Permissions as previously.
• Go to Apple Menu > Software Update.
• Install all updates.
Computer may restart after updates.
• Go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
• Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in left side bar.
• Select First Aid in main panel.
• Click Repair Disk Permissions.
Please do post back with questions or comments.
cornelius

Hard Drive Failure: Software or Hardware

My computer stopped working recently. I had not installed anything new and nothing else changed, but one day I could not log in or even boot (grey screen spinning dial). Disk repair indicated I had an "invalid node structure: that was not repairable. Disk Warrior said my directory could not be repaired, but allowed me to back up, thank goodness.
After consulting tech support, I then erased the hard drive and reinstalled from the original Leopard Disk. OK, but when I ran software update to the newest version of Leopard, the install process hanged (during "patching"). I erased, reinstalled and again the install process hanged (during "writing package receipt"). So I then erased and installed but did not update. Computer is quirky (sometimes can be unpredictably very slow), but has a minimum functionality. Disk utility indicates the computer again has an unrepairable "invalid node structure."
My hard drive is still under hardware guarantee. Is this a hardware problem?

Sounds like it could be the hard drive failing. I have yet to see a directory that Disk Warrior 4.0 cannot rebuild/replace unless there is a hard drive problem preventing it. Three things you can try before calling Apple support. First bootup to the install Disk but before going through the installation process, under the Utilities menu at the top, open up Disk Utility. Here you want to reformat the drive but click on security options and select to Zero Out Data. This will write zeros to every block on the drive and usually if there is a bad block the format will fail. Second, hold down the D key and boot to the Apple Hardware Test on original install disk. This doesn't really check your hard drive but it checks the rest of your hardware and Apple will probably have you run this test anyway. Run the extended test. Finally if you have Apple Care then install TechTool Deluxe from the cd that came in the Apple Care box. Run TechTool and under the options select Surface Scan. This will check the drive for bad blocks. If the drive is bad you are bound to find an error somewhere. Just make sure all of your data is still backed up.
George

Comprehensive Fusion hard drive test - are there any.

is there any software to do a comprehensive test on my fusion hard drive.
I have a new imac and I swear, i hear a beep sometimes while accessing data.
I ran disk utility and it was OK.

If you have more than one user account, these instructions must be carried out as an administrator.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:
syslog -k Sender kernel -k Message CSeq "I/O error" | tail | open -f -a TextEdit
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C).
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V).
The command may take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
A TextEdit window will open with the output of the command. Post the contents of that window, if any — the text, please, not a screenshot.

Hard drive diagnostic software available? A105

Toshiba Satellite laptop A015 - S4074
Want software to check my hard drive. Am running a chkdsk, but would like some software to check my hard drive.
I can not boot into XP. Get the blue screen. Did a

Maybe the A105-S4074?
To test the hard drive determine what brand of hard drive you have. You can check the Bios/Setup to find out or run SIW or Belarc Advisor. Go to that manufacturer's support site and download their Self Booting Diagnostic CD ISO image, create the CD using the Burn From Image option (see http://iso.snoekonline.com/iso.htm for more information on doing this), then boot to it and run the most exhaustive tests available. If you have a Toshiba drive you will need to use the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test as Toshiba doesn't supply their own.
If you don't post your COMPLETE model number it's very difficult to assist you. Please try to post in complete sentences with punctuation, capitals, and correct spelling. Toshiba does NOT provide any direct support in these forums. All support is User to User in their spare time.

Dead hard drive or software problem

Hello Everyone!!
I recently picked used 600 Mhz iMac
It came with 10.3 installed, wanted to install 10.2.8 and the computer crashed when I started off the 9.1 install CD
After the crash, the computer would not start up off the hard drive, and I've tried several different installation CD's (including a 10.3 installer) and the hard drive does not even show up in the Disc Utility.
My first thought maybe my hard drive is dead, but the more I think about it the more I think that it must be some sort of software problem (i.e. data corruption on the drive or something). I mean, I don't believe it's even possible that a computer crash could kill a hard drive!
But from there, I'm lost!
I've reset the PRAM, and that didn't work. The only other thing I can think of is something like Norton Utilities.
Does anybody have any suggestions?
Best Regards,
Bryan

Bryan,Welcome to Discussions.
If the hard disk isn't showing in Disk Utility I would suspect the drive is dead or not connected properly - given it's age probably the former - although if's the machines been movede around a bit you could crack the case and check all the connections. Whilst I agree that a crash shouldn't kill a hard disk - a hard disk dying would cause a crash.
I, any many other's here, would counsel against using Norton on an OS X machine - Norton doesn't know and understand OS X structures and can cause serious issues.
Probably time for a new HDD.
mrtotes

Hard drive test failed

Hi
My HP Pavilion G6 is showing HARD DISK IMMINENT FAILURE on startup and asks to go in diagnostics.
When I run any test it shows SMART CHECK - FAILED.
Failure ID: OTSE1F-5LC77B-XD015G-60FV03
Product ID: QA498EA#ABV
HARD DISK 1.
However, when i choose to continue startup, it loads Windows but runs very irritatingly slow.
How can i get it fixed?

Hi,
The 24 character error code for the Smart failure would indicate that the Hard Drive is failing and needs to be replaced. This is also consistent with the slow loading/performance issues you describe.
If your notebook is still under warranty, contact HP and arrange to have the drive replaced - you can check your warranty status Here.
If you live in the US, contact HP Here.
If you are in another part of the world, start Here.
If you are out of warranty and would like a guide on replacing the Hard Drive yourself, please let me know.
Regards,
DP-K
****Click the White thumb to say thanks****
****Please mark Accept As Solution if it solves your problem****
****I don't work for HP****
Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience

Hp Envy Dv7 Hard Drive Test

I have bought this Hp computer about 9 to 10 months ago and I have already got an issue with the computer. My computer is a Hp Envy Dv7. I tryed to start up my computer and it went extremely slow. I attempted to log into my account on my computer but nothing would work. I went to go check if any of my parts we failing which one of them is, the hard drive did not pass the "Hard Drive Short Dst Check". It gave me this failure Id: 9TWFTW-6B86R5-QFPK0K-60VU03
I can't log into my computer, I don't know how to fix this problem please help.

Hello, i'm owner of a HP Envy DV6 7280SL and, right now, i've encountered a problem with my hdd, it seem to be broken, is divided in two partitions, one containing a windows 7 system, and the other one with windows 8.
Until now, both partitions had working perfectly but, from this morning, the partition with windows 8 mounted dosen't work. After a check, with the hp application for testing the hardware, the result of the HDD test is : failed.
It report a failure id : 94LD51-6A06R5-QFPK0K-60TV03.
Anyway, if i use the other partition ( the one with windows 7 mounted ...) everything is working ... in fact right now i'm using my notebook to write to you this post.
I've read a lot of posts on this regards and most of them refer a problem that can be solved only changing the HDD.
Could i solve this problem in another way or the only way is to change the HDD ?
If the only solution is to change the HDD, i will buy an hdd that can improve the performance of my notebook, any suggestions on this regard ?
I've give it a look to this : http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=790
Could you suggest something else avoiding the SSD due to the high price that they have at the moment ?
Sorry for my english and thanks to anyone that will help me to solve this issue.
Massimiliano.

PC- Doctor and hard drive test results

I have a T61 that has not been logging past the "sign-in" screen, so it's not exactly BSOD...
I ran the PC Doctor diagnostic and my laptop "failed" 3 tests...
Hard Drive: SMART extended self-test FAILED
Hard Drive: Surface scan test FAILED
also SMBIOS: SMBIOS: standards test FAILED
I went thru the whole "start BIOS setup utility" and
etc., etc, selected "hard drive" and pressed the F6 key to move to the first boot position.
etc. I even went through the ThinkVantage process to go back to "original factory settings"
but I still FAIL the 3 tests above, when I redo the testing in PC Doctor.
Is my internal hard drive "fried" ??
thanks for anyones help on this. I purchased this machine model 7658-CTO back in November 2007
and the warranty is no longer in place.
-Susan J.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

your hdd is on the verge of dying, so before it does, this is what you should do.
Burn yourself a set of recovery media, by going to start, program, thinkvantage, create recovery media. It should burn you 3 DVDs.
Also you may need to backup any files that may need, by using the rescue and recovery feature under thinkvantage program list. Make sure you backup the hdd content to an external source, like an large usb drive, usb dvd burner or burnable dvd discs.
Now you would need to get a new hdd from somewhere (you don't need to buy it from Lenovo if you don't want), the hdd must be 2.5 inch form factor, 9.5 mm thick and have SATA connection. WD, Seagate, Hitachi, Samsung, Fujitsu all produce these drives up to 500 gig in size.
After you bought the hdd, you would need to remove the hdd, there is a screw that you need to unscrew. Now take off the cover for the internal hdd bay. Pull on that black mylar pull tab on the hdd, to remove it from the drive bay.
Remove the two rubber railings on both side of the hdd drive (anti shock). There four screw that holds the old hdd in the makeshift anti-static caddy, you would need a phillip screwdriver, after the screw is removed, replace the old hdd with the new one you bought.
After you have reinstalled the new hdd in the laptop, run the Recovery media discs (3 DVD) from startup discs and follow the on screen prompts. This should restore the recovery partition, and reinstall all your OS and drivers like when you first got the laptop. If you have also created a rescue and recovery backup, you can restore the laptop to the original condition, by choosing restore.
www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/MIGR-67980.html
if you have problem following the worded instruction on removing the hdd that i provided, you can look at the illustrated hardware manual provided in the link.
Good luck
Regards,
Jin Li
May this year, be the year of 'DO'!
I am a volunteer, and not a paid staff of Lenovo or Microsoft

Opinions on Hard Drive Testing Software

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