Hd utility (Mug you asked me to post this)
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:25 pm
In addition to all the various Vendor Dos & windows utilities ie:-
Western Digital Data Life Guard,
Seagate SeaTools,
Hitachi Drive Fitness & Hitachi Feature Tool
Most of the non vendor tools on the market bar the excellent professional "SpinRite" software http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; are limited to mainly just SMART monitoring.
One though I use which has a trial and a paid for standard and pro versions is HDsentinel.
http://www.hdsentinel.com/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Pro version has a Surface Test function with several options, most of which are destructive. However there is a "Re-energise" function, ideal for those who can't/don't want to backup their data when the Vendor HD software suggest in a read test that the HD has a bad sector. Usually you would either run (ideally in Dos/Linux) Wdc/Seagates/Samsungs etc utility and/or the write "Zero's" to the drive to attempt to fix the problem clearing the drive of data too.
So with HdSentinel suite of tests you can just "lift" the data whilst re-writing a specific data pattern (to fix the sector) and "drop" your data back all in one process.
It's worth checking out just for all the other features it has
** Not sure if I've posted this on the right SubForum?
Western Digital Data Life Guard,
Seagate SeaTools,
Hitachi Drive Fitness & Hitachi Feature Tool
Most of the non vendor tools on the market bar the excellent professional "SpinRite" software http://www.grc.com/sr/spinrite.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; are limited to mainly just SMART monitoring.
One though I use which has a trial and a paid for standard and pro versions is HDsentinel.
http://www.hdsentinel.com/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Pro version has a Surface Test function with several options, most of which are destructive. However there is a "Re-energise" function, ideal for those who can't/don't want to backup their data when the Vendor HD software suggest in a read test that the HD has a bad sector. Usually you would either run (ideally in Dos/Linux) Wdc/Seagates/Samsungs etc utility and/or the write "Zero's" to the drive to attempt to fix the problem clearing the drive of data too.
So with HdSentinel suite of tests you can just "lift" the data whilst re-writing a specific data pattern (to fix the sector) and "drop" your data back all in one process.
It's worth checking out just for all the other features it has
** Not sure if I've posted this on the right SubForum?
