Hard drive diagnostic program?

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October 13th, 2003, 11:59 AM
Darkstar

Hard drive diagnostic program?

Is there a free hard drive diagnostic program I can run pre-Windows such as what Maxtor or Western Digital offer for their drives? The problem is this is a Toshiba hard drive and those other programs are all proprietary to their own drives.

Let me know what you use!
October 13th, 2003, 12:12 PM
Radical Dreamer

Not exactly free, but I use Gibson Research Corporations SpinRite
October 13th, 2003, 12:20 PM
NooNoo

Powermax runs very happily on a toshiba...

and if you look up Ruslans posts, he has a nice free util as well.
October 13th, 2003, 12:32 PM
Darkstar

Quote:

Originally Posted by NooNoo

Powermax runs very happily on a toshiba...

and if you look up Ruslans posts, he has a nice free util as well.

Is that Powermax from Maxtor, Noo?
October 13th, 2003, 01:37 PM
TripleRLtd

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstar

Is that Powermax from Maxtor, Noo?

Yes, it is.
October 13th, 2003, 03:05 PM
Darkstar

Thanks for the tip - Powermax did indeed work. Problem is it passed all the diags, but I know this drive is crappy because I can hear it grinding and sometimes it just won't even be detected or boot. Occasionally it just completely locks-up in Windows too.

If I had an error code I could call Toshiba and get it replaced. Any suggestions on getting this thing RMA'd? :(
October 13th, 2003, 03:37 PM
NooNoo

give em a call ?

or online rma
October 13th, 2003, 03:57 PM
Darkstar

Quote:

Originally Posted by NooNoo

give em a call ?

or online rma

Good idea. I didn't know they had a separate storage division. Their regular phone support is frustrating - poor English (but the people are usually very nice).

That RMA looks a little shady - they go ahead and charge a "refundable" $350 deposit on your credit card. That might be tough to argue against if something went wrong.

I'll let you know if it works!
October 13th, 2003, 04:27 PM
NooNoo

Maxtor do the same to ensure you send the old drive back..... :) Make sure you have a tracking number for the old drive!!
October 13th, 2003, 07:09 PM
BOB IROC

GWSCAN from Gateway should work

Gateway has a utility that is similar to the utilities from WD and Maxtor. It can be downloaded here: http://support.gateway.com/support/d...m=GWSCAN&st=kw or go to www.gateway.com and search downloads for GWSCAN. It doesnt seem to be brand specific and seems to work pretty well. Hope this helps. :thumbs:
October 14th, 2003, 09:33 AM
cabal

One more recommendation when you call about your rma: Lie and tell them the drive is not recognised in bios. If you tell them it comes up at all they will want you to run diagnostics and give them some kind of error code, and you said this drive checks out but is making noises and is crappy for want of a better description. It will just slow down your rma process.
October 14th, 2003, 10:25 AM
nunob

I use Data Advisor 5.0 which you can download here its on the bottom of the page.
October 14th, 2003, 11:08 AM
Darkstar

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabal

One more recommendation when you call about your rma: Lie and tell them the drive is not recognised in bios. If you tell them it comes up at all they will want you to run diagnostics and give them some kind of error code, and you said this drive checks out but is making noises and is crappy for want of a better description. It will just slow down your rma process.

Another good idea. I'm going to try the advanced RMA first, but if I have to call Toshiba I'll use this technique.