hard drive is acting flaky... looking for a drive health utility

[MD_Geist]

a long time ago i saw a post on a drive health utility that monitored the health of drives.

not sure what it was called, just checking if anyone recalls and can get me a link

[NooNoo]

You mean s.m.a.r.t - an option in the bios to predict drive failure?

Or the diagnostics you can get from your hard drive manufacturer?

[Garak]

a link to the post, or a link to the software?

Gary.

[Ruslan]

All depends on what the harddrive' model...
For Quantums I would recommend HDDspeed utility for DOS.
That util can also look into drive's defect table to see manufacturer's hidden defects. S.M.A.R.T. monitoring option works also for another drives, but viewing defect table - works only for Quantums. This util can be found on net using "filesearch.com" seach engine.

There are also quite a few another utils with built-in SMART monitoring options. I use MHDD util http://www.maysoft.com.ua/files/mhdd/mhdd2743.zip
(This DOS util has also "HDD repair" an option. )

By the way, what the drive?
Did You try test utility from manufacturer of the drive?

[Garak]

Originally posted by Ruslan
All depends on what the harddrive' model...
For Quantums I would recommend HDDspeed utility for DOS.
That util can also look into drive's defect table to see manufacturer's hidden defects. S.M.A.R.T. monitoring option works also for another drives, but viewing defect table - works only for Quantums. This util can be found on net using "filesearch.com" seach engine.

There are also quite a few another utils with built-in SMART monitoring options. I use MHDD util http://www.maysoft.com.ua/files/mhdd/mhdd2743.zip
(This DOS util has also "HDD repair" an option. )

By the way, what the drive?
Did You try test utility from manufacturer of the drive?

Hehe. thanks Ruslan.. another util for the disk box

[MD_Geist]

i am not sure what i was thinking, its a samsung drive...

i am downloading the disk health utility now, and hopefully things will be ok..

if not i hope they will be nice about RMAing the drive, i don't feel like trying to go throu HP since i have already totally voided the warrenty

[Garak]

Originally posted by MD_Geist
i am not sure what i was thinking, its a samsung drive...

i am downloading the disk health utility now, and hopefully things will be ok..

if not i hope they will be nice about RMAing the drive, i don't feel like trying to go throu HP since i have already totally voided the warrenty

I'm not sure if they offer warrenty on OEM drives.
good luck anyhow.

[Orangeman]

How is your HD acting 'flaky?' What is it doing?

[MD_Geist]

well as of recently one of the games i play locks up and as soon as it does, the hard drive makes alot of noise... nothing like it normally does. Which it is quite quite and makes little to no noise at all.

i tested it and found no problems so it is probably another problem that i need to troubleshoot a little to find the cause of the lockups....

i have a feeling its a few of the pieces of speical software i have running. I Just did i clean install due to a abd xp 2000 dual boot about a week ago, so bit rot shouldn't be the problem....

but we will see

[The Computer Valet]

Try entering this SYSTEM environment variable:

STOP_CRASHING_ON_ME_DURING_GAMES_YOU_DARN_WINTEL_M ACHINE_I_DONT_WANT_ANYMORE_OF_THIS_SHIZZITY = yes

[freddy]

sorry mike isn,t it STOP_CRASHING_ON_ME_DURING_GAMES_YOU_DARN_WINTEL_M
ACHINE_I_DONT_WANT_ANYMORE_OF_THIS_SHIZZITY = 1 for yes and STOP_CRASHING_ON_ME_DURING_GAMES_YOU_DARN_WINTEL_M
ACHINE_I_DONT_WANT_ANYMORE_OF_THIS_SHIZZITY = 0 for no ,,,????


freddy

[Orangeman]

Hard drives should not make any noise at all. If they're making noise it isn't the hard drive, or you hard drive is broken somehow.

Did this problem happen when you installed you're 'special software?'' If so, what software is it? Who installed it? Did you follow all the instructions on installation?

Also, the problem could be as simple as a bad or poorly mounted IDE cable or power cable. There are two cables that go into the hard drive, IDE and power. IDE transfers information, power transfers power. The IDE is the 'ribbon'cable and the power cable is the other, smaller one. Make sure those cables are plugged in fully and securely and there are no stray wires going to the power cable. If there are, use another power cable connector.

Also, make sure the cables are securely mounted (pressed in) in the motherboard as well.

Good Luck,
Orangeman