Best Software to Test Hard Drives.

[TechRandy]

What is Y'all's opinion on what is the best software to test hard drives?
We currently use Seatools for windows as it seems to work with most drives.
Is there something better?

 

[MichaelBits]

I use seatools as well, its good for most tests.

I will also use hddscan and crystal disc info as well. When I have need of more info about a HD or just want a "second opinion" so to speak.

 

[pc-rebuilders]

I use drive http://www.hdsentinel.com/

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Gsmart control for the win. They have a short 2 minute scan that will show you what the drive attributes are, etc. It's included in parted magic, I think they have a standalone Windows version, and I think it's open source.

 

[AlexCa]

MHDD is my favorite!

 

[Frozwire]

I've used Seatools, WD Lifeguard, MHDD, HDDscan and CrystaldiskInfo so far.

 

[cypress]

I use crystal disk info to check smart status quickly but for diagnostics I use gSmartcontrol.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Yeah, like I said gsmart, if gsmart even hints there are issues, I recommend replacement.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Manufacturers own tools...but to be honest, you can tell when a hard drive is getting flakey. If it's suspect...we just clone it to a new HDD. Takes less time than running tests on a suspect drive. Client ends up with computer that is faster (because new drives are faster than old ones...in same category), and a longer life expectancy of the computer. Win-win for them. Esp with the super low cost of new HDDs now.

 

[Altster]

I use many different programs. But I never test a hard drive from within WINDOW$ - always from the outside (dos/freedos/Linux). IMO, you just can't get a good test using something from within a program which wants to have total control over what you are doing.

 

[Magic Miguel]

I used to LOVE Hitachi's Drive Fitness test which worked on every single hard drive regardless of manufacturer. They stopped development of the dos based version of it. There is a Windows version of it but IIRC it's locked to Hitachi drives or there was some weird quirk, maybe it was it won't read hard drives attached via USB.

 

[zaoka]

Hi

I use UXD QuickTech Pro, it has all kind of tests including SMART...etc

The ones I LOVE are Random Read Test (this is different than Quick Read Test), it helps detect surface problems on HD-s with large capacity and it pickup errors way faster than running the full read test which usually takes hours to complete.

Another test let you see how many times drive encouraged error during its lifetime. Its like reliability test...

90% of other testing tools does not have this feature and fail detect defective drives. For example you may have clicking drive that pass all tests and because of clicking you know its bad, however, testing software thinks its good. This test pickup this kind of problems.

I strongly recommend this software.
It boots from USB flash drive

 

[marianoemilio]

GSmartControl, Manufacturers own free diagnostic tools, CrystalDiskInfo

 

[gryphontek]

+1 Gsmart from live Linux distro. Had been using mint but shifting to smaller footprint distro ... Parted magic.

 

[lcoughey]

I use MHDD.

 

[mrapoc]

Usually seatools and WD lifeguard but just bought parted magic

 

[JohnKennex]

gsmartcontrol.sourceforge.net - pulls the smart logs right from the drive and shows pre failures. also you dont have to scan the disk

 

[TechRandy]

Thanks for the feedback