Hard drive diagnostic program?
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Thread: Hard drive diagnostic program?

  1. #1
    Registered User Darkstar's Avatar
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    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!

  2. #2
    Avatar Goes Here Radical Dreamer's Avatar
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    Not exactly free, but I use Gibson Research Corporations SpinRite

  3. #3
    Driver Terrier NooNoo's Avatar
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    Powermax runs very happily on a toshiba...

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

  4. #4
    Registered User Darkstar's Avatar
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    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?

  5. #5
    Banned TripleRLtd's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Darkstar
    Is that Powermax from Maxtor, Noo?
    Yes, it is.

  6. #6
    Registered User Darkstar's Avatar
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    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?

  7. #7
    Driver Terrier NooNoo's Avatar
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    Last edited by NooNoo; October 13th, 2003 at 03:39 PM.

  8. #8
    Registered User Darkstar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NooNoo
    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!

  9. #9
    Driver Terrier NooNoo's Avatar
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    Maxtor do the same to ensure you send the old drive back..... Make sure you have a tracking number for the old drive!!

  10. #10
    Registered User BOB IROC's Avatar
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    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.

  11. #11
    Registered User cabal's Avatar
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    Cool

    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.

  12. #12
    Registered User nunob's Avatar
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    I use Data Advisor 5.0 which you can download here its on the bottom of the page.

  13. #13
    Registered User Darkstar's Avatar
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    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.

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