Quickest way to test hardware?

[16k_zx81]

I do think this is an interesting question though

"Quickest way to test hardware"

Anyone ever done any comparisons on, for example, RAM testing apps and HDD testing apps for speed?

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[JustCallMePirate]

Well I know geeksquad's cd has that program from soldierx that tests all hardware on the computer, would their be a legal way of getting that boot cd? not geek squads disc obviously but the soldierx hardware tester?

 

[easytechnician]

I do think this is an interesting question though

"Quickest way to test hardware"

Anyone ever done any comparisons on, for example, RAM testing apps and HDD testing apps for speed?

.

Believe it or not, two of the best testing programs out there have been around the longest. Mem386 one for Mac as well.

http://memtest86.com/

The Hard Drive answer I would give is not a free one but is Spinrite, it does more than simply test it also is one of the best at data recovery and repair. Used in conjunction with chkdsk /f /r it covers about everything that can be. It obviously can not repair controler board or mechanical problems.

http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm

The other obvious answer to test hard drives and likely the best is to find the free testing software provided by the hard drive manufacturer.

 

[NYJimbo]

http://memtest86.com/

Don't use that, use this :

http://www.memtest.org/

 

[easytechnician]

Don't use that, use this :

http://www.memtest.org/

Oh Crap!! sorry!! I was doing three things at once and put the wrong one up. Thanks for the catch Jimbo!

 

[Turcoloco]

Unless manufacturers started adding circuitry onto the backlight and added an extra pin to the connector, there would be no way to test the backlight. An extra pin and specific circuitry would be needed as well, to test the inverter.

No way for software to test this. All the computer would be able to do is report if it is plugged in or not, which it typically does in the form of an LED. There isn't any way to logically implement this.

Really, this is the only feasbile thing that a post card could test for, but so many laptops have embedded graphics, that the utility of a POST card is questionable.

Again, no real way to test this without additional circuitry. Even then, the only thing that the computer would report would be whether or not it's receiving power to the board, not whether the power is actually getting to the board.

I have to agree with everything ATTech wrote on this thread. You have to use your 5 senses, POST indicators based on vendor and known good parts to test suspect components.
For laptops, there isn't a whole bunch you can do since most everything other than RAM and CPU is integrated. So, if an integrated part is bad, logically the mobo would have to be replaced.

I never had much faith or use for software diagnostic tools, such as MemTest. I have run into bad RAM where MemTest couldn't detect anything wrong. The RAM was the supported kind and appeared to be functional but the system wasn't running OK. Using a known good RAM stick narrowed down the culprit very quickly. Perhaps the application has gotten better since the last time I used it but I rather have a known good test part at hand than rely on a software for this.

Tarik, for DC connector or testing any power related part, using a multimeter aka multitester is probably the best.

Just my $0.02's worth.

 

[acesdeals]

thats great to know memtest is not perfect

testing a laptop or desktop after refurbishment is key, as you dont want to sell a unit only to have it come back with a simple failure

something that tests ram, hdd, processor, i/o ports, audio and video are the main components that should be tested