Survey Hard Disk Drives Disgnostics

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Hard Drive test data from the Backblaze data center. Backblaze is. Hard Drive Stats for Q3 2018: Less is More, Q4 2018. How Long Do Disk Drives Last? Tutorials: how to perform hard drive diagnostic in Windows 10 to test and repair disk errors. You can try these hard drive diagnostic tools one by one to run a scan to test and repair your hard disk health for errors, corruptions & bad sectors. After fixing all the hard disk.

note:
HP Insight Diagnostics is included on CD with some computer models only.
The HP Insight Diagnostics utility allows you to view information about the hardware configuration of the computer and perform hardware diagnostic tests on the subsystems of the computer. The utility simplifies the process of effectively identifying, diagnosing, and isolating hardware issues.
The Survey tab is displayed when you invoke HP Insight Diagnostics. This tab shows the current configuration of the computer. From the Survey tab, there is access to several categories of information about the computer. Other tabs provide additional information, including diagnostic test options and test results. The information in each screen of the utility can be saved as an html file and stored on a diskette or USB flash drive.
Use HP Insight Diagnostics to determine if all the devices installed on the computer are recognized by the system and functioning properly. Running tests is optional but recommended after installing or connecting a new device.
You should run tests, save the test results, and print them so that you have printed reports available before placing a call to the Customer Support Center.
note:
Third party devices may not be detected by HP Insight Diagnostics.

Accessing HP Insight Diagnostics

You must boot to the Documentation and Diagnostics DVD, as described in the steps below, to access HP Insight Diagnostics.
  1. While the computer is on, insert the Documentation and Diagnostics DVD into an optical drive on the computer.
  2. Shut down the operating system and turn off the computer.
  3. Turn on the computer. The system will boot to the DVD.
    note:
    If the system does not boot to the DVD in the optical drive, you may need to change the boot order in the Computer Setup (F10) utility so that the system attempts to boot to the optical drive before booting to the hard drive. Refer to the Computer Setup (F10) Utility Guide on the Documentation and Diagnostics DVD for more information.
    You can also change the boot order so that the system boots to the optical drive on a one-time basis by pressing the Esc key at startup.
  4. Select the appropriate language and click Continue.
    note:
    It is recommended that you accept the assigned default keyboard for your language unless you want to test your specific keyboard.
  5. In the End User License Agreement page, click Agree if you agree with the terms. The HP Insight Diagnostics utility launches with the Survey tab displayed.

Survey Tab

The Survey tab displays important system configuration information.
In the View level field, you can select the Summary view to see limited configuration data or select the Advanced view to see all the data in the selected category.
In the Category field, you can select the following categories of information to display:
All—Gives a listing of all categories of information about the computer.
Overview—Gives you a listing of general information about the computer.
Architecture—Provides system BIOS and PCI device information.
Asset Control—Shows product name, asset tag, system serial number, and processor information.
Communication—Shows information about the computer parallel (LPT) and serial (COM) port settings, plus USB and network controller information.
Graphics—Shows information about the graphics controller of the computer.
Input Devices—Shows information about the keyboard, mouse, and other input devices connected to the computer.
Memory—Shows information about all memory in the computer. This includes memory slots on the system board and any memory modules installed.
Miscellaneous—Shows HP Insight Diagnostics version information, computer configuration memory (CMOS) information, system board data, and system management BIOS data.
Storage—Shows information about storage media connected to the computer. This list includes all fixed disks, diskette drives, and optical drives.
System—Shows information about the computer model, processor, chassis, and BIOS, plus internal speaker and PCI bus information.
Survey Hard Disk Drives Disgnostics

Diagnose Tab

note:
The Diagnose tab is only available in HP Insight Diagnostics Online Edition.
The Diagnosis feature of the HP Insight Diagnostics Online Edition enables high system availability by performing various non-intrusive, in-depth system and component checks while the operating system is up and running.
There are two types of diagnosis on the Diagnose tab: Smart Array Drive Diagnosis and Power Supply Diagnosis.
The Power Supply Diagnosis allows you to assess the health of select power supply models.
Smart Array Drive Diagnosis is the premier feature of hardware diagnosis and it provides the ability to assess the health of hard disk drives attached to Smart Array controllers and select Modular Smart Array (MSA) products. The Smart Array Drive Diagnosis supports SCSI, serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), and serial attached SCSI (SAS) disk drives that are attached to Smart Array controllers and select MSA controllers configured as part of a logical volume. To determine the health of a hard disk drive, Diagnosis looks at operational history provided by the hard disk drive and proprietary information provided by the Smart Array controller or the MSA controller. HP has found through experience that looking at operational history is one of the best ways to diagnose disk drive problems.
Systems Insight Manager (SIM) and Diagnosis are now the only tools that can be used to qualify the replacement of defective disk drives under pre-failure warranty.
The Smart Array Drive Diagnosis feature should be used:
  • To determine if a disk drive in a fault mode should be replaced.
  • When Systems Insight Manager reports that a disk drive has failed.
  • When there is data corruption or storage related problems but there are no error LEDs or error messages.
  • When there are inconsistent, intermittent, or repeated disk drive failures.
note:
Smart Array Drive Diagnosis has the unique capability of identifying multiple disk drives in a single volume that are functioning normally, but should be replaced.
  1. Under Smart Array Drive Diagnosis, click + to expand Storage.
  2. Select the logical volumes to diagnose and click the Diagnose button.
  3. The test status of the logical volumes selected will be displayed on the Status tab when Diagnosis has completed.

Test Tab

The Test tab allows you to choose various parts of the system to test. You can also choose the type of test and testing mode.
  • Quick Test—Provides a predetermined script where a sample of each hardware component is exercised and requires no user intervention in either Unattended or Interactive mode.
  • Complete Test—Provides a predetermined script where each hardware component is fully tested. There are more tests available in the Interactive mode, but these require user intervention.
  • Custom Test—Provides the most flexibility in controlling the testing of a system. The Custom Test mode allows you to specifically select which devices, tests, and test parameters are run.
For each test type, there are two test modes to choose from:
  • Interactive Mode—Provides maximum control over the testing process. The diagnostic software will prompt you for input during tests that require your interaction. You may also determine whether the test passed or failed.
  • Unattended Mode—Does not display prompts and requires no interaction. If errors are found, they are displayed when testing is complete.
  1. Select the tab for the type of test you want to run: Quick, Complete, or Custom.
  2. Choose how you want the test to be executed, either Number of Loops or Total Test Time. When choosing to run the test over a specified number of loops, enter the number of loops to perform. If you desire to have the diagnostic test for a specified time period, enter the amount of time in minutes.
  3. If performing a Quick Test or Complete Test, select the device to be tested from the drop-down list. If performing a Custom Test, Click the Expand button and select the devices to be tested or click the Check All button to select all devices.
  4. Click the Begin Testing button at the bottom right corner of the screen to start the test. The Status tab, which allows you to monitor the progress of the test, is automatically displayed during the testing process. When the test is complete, the Status tab shows whether the device passed or failed.
  5. If errors are found, go to the Log tab and click the Error Log to display more detailed information and recommended actions.

Status Tab

The Status tab displays the status of the selected tests. The type of test executed (Quick, Complete, or Custom) is also displayed. The main progress bar displays the percent complete of the current set of tests. While testing is in progress, a Cancel Testing button is displayed for use if you want to cancel the test.
After testing has completed, the Cancel Testing button is replaced with a Retest button. The Retest button will retest the last set of tests executed. This enables you to re-run the set of tests without having to re-enter the data in the Test tab.
  • The test status (running, passed, or failed) of each device being tested
  • The overall test progress of all devices being tested
  • The elapsed test times for each device being tested

Log Tab

The Log tab contains a Test Log tab and an Error Log tab.
The Test Log displays all tests that have been executed, the number of times of execution, the number of times failed, and the time it took to complete each test. The Clear Test Log button will clear the contents of the Test Log.
The Error Log displays the tests for devices that have failed during the diagnostic testing and includes the following columns of information.
  • The Test section displays the type of test run.
  • The Description section describes the error that the diagnostic test found.
  • The Recommended Repair will give a recommended action that should be performed to resolve the failed hardware.
  • The Failed Count is the number of times the device has failed a test.
  • The Error Code provides a numerical code for the failure. The error codes are defined in the Help tab.
The Clear Error Log button will clear the contents of the Error Log.

Help Tab

On the Help tab contains an HP Insight Diagnostics tab, an Error Codes tab, and a Test Components tab.
The HP Insight Diagnostics tab contains help topics and includes search and index features.
The Error Codes tab provides a description of each numerical error code that may appear in the Error Log tab located on the Log tab. Each code has a corresponding error Message and a Recommended Repair action that should help solve the problem. To find an error code description quickly, enter the code in the box at the top of the tab and click the Find Error Codes button.
The Test Components tab displays low-level information on tests that are run.

Saving and Printing Information in HP Insight Diagnostics

You can save the information displayed in the HP Insight Diagnostics Survey and Log tabs to a USB 2.0 flash drive (64MB or higher). You can not save to the hard drive. The system will automatically create an html file that has the same appearance as the information displayed on the screen.
  1. Insert a USB 2.0 flash drive (capacity must be 64MB or higher). USB 1.0 flash drives are not supported.
  2. Click Save in the bottom right corner of the screen.
  3. Enter a file name in the File Name box and click the Save button. An html file will be saved to the inserted USB flash drive.
    note:
    Do not remove the USB key until you see a message indicating that the html file has been written to the media.
  4. Print the information from the storage device used to save it.
note:
To exit HP Insight Diagnostics, click the Exit Diagnostics button in the bottom left corner of the screen then remove the Documentation and Diagnostics DVD from the optical drive.

Downloading the Latest Version of HP Insight Diagnostics

  1. Click the Software & Driver Downloads link.
  2. Enter your product number (for example, dx2810) in the text box and press the Enter key.
  3. Select your OS.
  4. Click HP Insight Diagnostics Offline Edition.
note:
The download includes instructions on how to create the bootable CD.

There are many free hard drive testing programs available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.

Tools like Windows Error Checking and the chkdsk command are included in your Windows-based operating system already but some others, like those below, are available from hard drive manufacturers and other developers.

Hard

Depending on the issue found, you may need to replace your hard drive if it fails some part of one of these hard drive tests.

Many excellent Commercial Hard Drive Repair Software programs are available as well. Be sure to first try the free hard drive diagnostic software options below before paying for any program!

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Seagate SeaTools

What We Like

  • Works from both inside and outside of Windows

  • Completely free

  • SeaTools for DOS works on any operating system

  • SeaTools for Windows lets you test a hard drive from any manufacturer

What We Don't Like

  • SeaTools for DOS can be hard to use and install

  • SeaTools for Windows runs on Windows only

  • SeaTools for DOS can deal with only 100 errors before restarting

  • SeaTools for DOS might not work well with RAID controllers

Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:

SeaTools Bootable and SeaTools for DOS support Seagate or Maxtor drives and run independent from your operating system on their own USB drive or CD, respectively.

SeaTools for Windows is a program that installs on your Windows system. You can do basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive — internal or external — from any manufacturer.

External Hard Disk Drives

For those looking for SeaTools Desktop, SeaTools Online, or Maxtor's PowerMax software, please note that the two tools above have replaced all three. Seagate now owns the Maxtor brand.

Seagate's SeaTools programs are excellent programs. They're used to test hard drives by professional computer services but are easy enough for anyone to use.

The Windows version of SeaTools works with Windows 10 through Windows XP.

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HDDScan

What We Like

  • Works with all hard drives

  • No installation need (portable)

  • Easy to use

  • Includes a SMART test

  • Runs on all modern versions of Windows

What We Don't Like

  • Runs on Windows operating systems only

  • Doesn't include help docs or tips for how to use the different options

  • Can't install the program to your computer (it runs as a portable program automatically)

HDDScan is a free hard drive testing program for all types of drives, no matter the manufacturer.

There are several tools included in HDDScan, including a SMART test and a surface test.

The program is very easy to use, is completely portable, supports almost all drive interfaces, and seems to be regularly updated.

You can use HDDScan in Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP, as well as Windows Server 2003.

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DiskCheckup

What We Like

  • Keeps track of SMART attributes to predict hard drive failure

  • Can be configured to email you when certain events take place

  • Well-organized and easy-to-use interface

  • Small download size

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't scan SCSI or hardware RAIDs

  • Free for home/personal use only, not commercial/business

Tool

DiskCheckup is a free hard drive tester that should work with most hard drives.

SMART info like reading error rate, spin-up time, seek error rate, and temperature is displayed, as well as the ability to run a short and extended disk test.

Details in the SMART section can be configured to send an email or display a notification when their attributes exceed the manufacturer's recommended threshold.

Hard drives that have a SCSI or hardware RAID connection are not supported and can not be detected by DiskCheckup.

DiskCheckup works with Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP and Windows Server 2008/2003.

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GSmartControl

What We Like

  • There are three tests you can choose to run

  • Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS

  • Lets you view the drive's SMART attributes

  • A portable version is available

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't support every USB and RAID device

  • When exporting information, it includes everything, not just a specific result you want to save

GSmartControl can run various hard drive tests with detailed results and give an overall health assessment of a drive.

You can view and save SMART attribute values like the power cycle count, multi-zone error rate, calibration retry count, and many others.

GSmartControl can run three self-tests to find drive faults:

  • Short Self-test: Takes around 2 minutes to complete and is used to detect a completely damaged hard drive.
  • Extended Self-test: Takes 70 minutes to finish and examines the entire surface of a hard drive to find faults.
  • Conveyance Self-test: This is a 5-minute test that's supposed to find damages that occurred during the transporting of a drive.

GSmartControl can be downloaded for Windows as a portable program or as a regular program with a normal installer. It works with Windows 10 through Windows XP. It's also available for Linux and Mac operating systems as well as included in a couple of LiveCD/LiveUSB programs.

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Windows Drive Fitness Test (WinDFT)

What We Like

  • Very easy to use

  • There are two HDD testing functions

  • An option lets you perform a deep test for better results

  • Lets you test more than one drive consecutively

  • SMART attributes can be viewed

  • Also lets you erase a hard drive

What We Don't Like

  • Can't scan the primary hard drive where Windows is installed

  • No tutorials, instructions, or tips are included in the program

  • Unable to change where the LOG file is saved

  • Works on Windows operating systems only

Windows Drive Fitness Test is free hard drive diagnostic software available for use on most drives available today.

The download link below installs the Windows Drive Fitness Test software to the Windows OS, but you can't use the program to scan the drive that has Windows installed.

Unfortunately, only USB and other internal hard drives can be scanned with Windows Drive Fitness Test.

You can install WinDFT to Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.

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Samsung HUTIL

What We Like

  • Tests hard drives regardless of the OS that's installed

  • Not too difficult to use

  • Lets you erase data from the drive, too

What We Don't Like

  • Tests Samsung HDDs only

  • Isn't as easy to install as a desktop-based program

  • You have to have access to a working computer in order to set up the program

  • The interface is completely text (no buttons you can click)

Samsung HUTIL is a free hard drive diagnostic utility for Samsung hard drives. HUTIL is sometimes called ES-Tool.

Samsung's HUTIL tool is available as an ISO image for burning to a CD or USB drive. This makes HUTIL operating system independent and a better testing tool, in general, than those designed for use within Windows. It's also possible to run HUTIL from a bootable floppy disk.

Because Samsung HUTIL is a bootable program, you'll need a working hard drive and OS to burn it to a disc or USB device.

HUTIL will only test Samsung hard drives. HUTIL will load and find your non-Samsung drive but you will not be able to run any diagnostics on the drive.

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Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic (DLGDIAG)

What We Like

  • Runs from within Windows

  • The Windows program can scan hard drives from any manufacturer

  • Lets you boot to the program if you don't have Windows (or have no OS installed)

  • The Windows version is easy to use

  • Lets you scan external and internal HDDs

  • Also shows basic information about the drives

What We Don't Like

  • The DOS program scans Western Digital hard drives only

  • The DOS program isn't as easy to set up as the Windows version

  • Using the DOS program might be harder than its Windows counterpart

Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic (DLGDIAG) is free hard drive testing software that's available for download in both a portable Windows program as well as a bootable, ISO file and allows for a number of hard drive tests.

See the installation instructions from Western Digital in the link below for details.

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Bart's Stuff Test

What We Like

  • Runs a stress test by writing data to the drive

  • Tests all hard drives, internal and external, regardless of the OS or file system

  • Lets you tweak lots of settings

  • Really easy to use and understand

  • Runs in portable mode

What We Don't Like

  • No option to install it to your computer

  • Officially supports up to Windows XP only

  • No longer gets updated with improvements or new features

Bart's Stuff Test is a free, Windows-based hard drive stress test.

There aren't a lot of options in Bart's Stuff Test and it's not as thorough as some other tests on this list.

All things considered, Bart's Stuff Test is a decent addition to your hard drive testing arsenal, especially if you're having problems testing with an ISO based tool above but want something besides the Windows default tool.

Bart's Stuff Test is said to work only with Windows XP through Windows 95. However, I tested the most recent version of Windows 10 and Windows 8 without any issues.

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Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool

What We Like

  • One of the easiest hard drive testing apps to use

  • Provides two hard drive testing functions

  • Runs from within Windows, but there's also a floppy version if you don't have Windows

What We Don't Like

  • Tests Fujitsu hard drives only

  • The bootable program runs from a floppy disk only (not a disc or flash drive)

  • The floppy program isn't as easy to install and use as the Windows version

  • The desktop program runs on Windows only

Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool is a free hard drive testing tool designed for Fujitsu hard drives.

The Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool (FJDT) is available in both a Windows version and an operating system independent, bootable DOS version. Unfortunately, the bootable version is designed for floppy disks — an image that works with a CD or USB drive is not available.

Two tests are available with Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool, a 'Quick Test' (about three minutes) and a 'Comprehensive Test' (time will vary based on hard drive size).

The Windows version of Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool should work in all versions of Windows, from Windows 10 to Windows 2000.

Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool will perform hard drive tests on Fujitsu drives only. If you have any other make of hard drive, try one of the manufacturer independent tests listed toward the beginning of this list.

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HD Tune

What We Like

  • Tests several types of storage devices

  • Includes helpful tests

  • Information can be saved to a screenshot and copied to the clipboard

  • The program isn't confusing to use

What We Don't Like

  • Can't export results to a text file like most programs support

  • Officially works on up to Windows 7 only, not newer Windows OSs

  • Only home/personal use is allowed

HD Tune is a Windows-based hard driver tester that works with any internal or external hard drive, SSD, or memory card.

You can run a benchmark read test with HD Tune, check the health status with Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART), and run an error scan.

Only Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000 are said to be supported, though I was also able to use HD Tune in Windows 10 and Windows 8, too.

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Free EASIS Drive Check

Hard Drive Failure Rates 2018

What We Like

  • Scan results can be emailed to you automatically

  • Runs a surface scan to check for errors

  • Shows SMART attributes

  • Checks errors on both internal and external hard drives

  • Scan results show useful information

What We Don't Like

  • Hasn't been updated in a long time (the last official supported OS is Windows 7)

  • Works on Windows computers only

  • Doesn't include as many features as most other hard drive testers

Free EASIS Drive Check is a hard drive tester that has two main testing utility built-in — a sector test and a SMART value reader.

The SMART test can list over 40 values about a hard drive while the sector test checks the surface of the media for reading errors.

The report of either test can be read straight from the program when complete, configured to be sent to you by email or printed off.

Free EASIS Drive Check is said to work with Windows 2000 through Windows 7, but I was able to use it properly on Windows 8 and 10 as well.

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Microsoft Windows Built-In Error Checking

What We Like

  • No download necessary

  • Also tries to fix any hard drive errors

What We Don't Like

  • Runs on Windows only

  • Lacks features found in other free hard drive testing software

Error Checking, sometimes referred to as scandisk, is a hard drive testing tool that comes with Microsoft Windows that can scan your hard drive in search of a wide range of errors.

This tool can also attempt to correct a number of hard drive problems.

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Macrorit Disk Scanner

What We Like

  • Us cutter mh mac drivers. Great visuals that are easy to understand

  • Doesn't have to be installed

  • Works on several Windows operating systems

  • Updates often

What We Don't Like

  • Excludes features found only in the paid versions

  • Free only for personal/home use

  • Scans just one drive at a time

  • Includes external links you might accidentally click

Macrorit Disk Scanner is a very simple program that checks for bad sectors on a hard drive. It's easy to use and you can start using it in no time since it's fully portable and doesn't need to be installed.

The majority of this screen is used as a visual representation of the progress of the scan and clearly indicates if there's damage.

One thing in particular that I like about Macrorit Disk Scanner is that you can see how much time is remaining before the scan is over, which some hard drive scanners don't show.

The operating systems that can run Macrorit Disk Scanner are Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Windows Home Server, and Windows Server 2012/2008/2003.

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Ariolic Disk Scanner

What We Like

  • Checks any hard drive for bad sectors

  • Shows which files are affected by errors

  • Portable (no installation necessary)

  • Very clean interface that's not distracting or confusing to use

What We Don't Like

  • Doesn't support HFS (only NTFS and FAT file systems)

Ariolic Disk Scanner is very similar to Macrorit Disk Scanner in that it's just a read-only scan of a drive to check for bad sectors. It has a minimal interface with only one button, and is easy to understand if any parts of the drive contain bad sectors.

The program is completely portable and just over 1 MB in size.

One thing that's different than Macrorit Disk Scanner is that Ariolic Disk Scanner lists the files where read errors occurred. This sounds like a useful feature but I, unfortunately, was unable to confirm it because my scan returned no errors.

I tested Ariolic Disk Scanner in Windows 10 and XP only, but it should also work with other versions of Windows.

This entry was posted on 03.09.2019.