Disk and PC diagnostics

2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory testing?

Thanks,
Michael Culley

What version of Windows?
--


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"Michael Culley" wrote in message
u...
2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory
testing?

Thanks,
Michael Culley

For RAM testing:

http://www.memtest86.com


--
DaveW



"Michael Culley" wrote in message
u...
2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory
testing?

Thanks,
Michael Culley

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:41:17 +1000 There I was minding my own business
and then "Michael Culley" wrote :

2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Your hard drive maker will most likely have a dos diagnostic program
for the drive if you need one.If not then the free,"Powermax" from
Maxtor,
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm

Will test most drive makes.Do,"NOT" ever use the parts of the program
to do a low level format or you may screw the drive up!!!!



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On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:41:17 +1000, "Michael Culley"
wrote:


Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Try to check the HD maker site.
You can download a free copy of the HD diagnostics program from them.


Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory testing?


Memory test ?
Check "DocMemory RAM Diagnostic"
http://www.simmtester.com


--
WebWalker

"WebWalker" wrote in message
...
You can download a free copy of the HD diagnostics program from them.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll check them all out as I've got hold of the
machine I wanted to test. Alceryes, it is running XP but I guess I'm
interested in testing programs for all MS OSs.

--
Michael Culley

2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Your hard drive maker will most likely have a dos diagnostic program
for the drive if you need one.If not then the free,"Powermax" from
Maxtor,
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm

Will test most drive makes.Do,"NOT" ever use the parts of the program
to do a low level format or you may screw the drive up!!!!

It depends on whether you class all of the data being removed as "screwed
up". That's what the low-level format does (although it doesn't, strictly,
do a low-level format), and IME the llf from the right manufacturer works
fine for what it does. Sometimes you just want to get the drive in the
just-out-of-the-factory condition.

HTH.

CK

"CK" wrote in message
...
2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Your hard drive maker will most likely have a dos diagnostic program
for the drive if you need one.If not then the free,"Powermax" from
Maxtor,
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/powermax.htm

Will test most drive makes.Do,"NOT" ever use the parts of the program
to do a low level format or you may screw the drive up!!!!

It depends on whether you class all of the data being removed as "screwed
up". That's what the low-level format does (although it doesn't, strictly,
do a low-level format), and IME the llf from the right manufacturer works
fine for what it does. Sometimes you just want to get the drive in the
just-out-of-the-factory condition.

My computer has a Maxtor drive, so I downloaded Powermax and gave it a shot.
I chose the 'long test' version, which took about 2 hours to run (250 GB
drive). After the scan it said 'passed'. My question: what did it do? A
surface scan?

HankG

"DaveW" wrote in message
news:4sZad.460180$8_6.212243@attbi_s04...
For RAM testing:

http://www.memtest86.com

Thanks dave, this is a pretty good program. I was a bit concerned when the
download completed in 1 second :-) It confirmed that the problem with the
machine was the ram and that the new ram has no faults so it's solved my
problem.

Cheers,
Michael Culley

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 22:41:17 +1000, "Michael Culley"
wrote:

2 quick questions

Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is
scandisk enough?

Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory testing?

Thanks,
Michael Culley


You may want to look at SpinRite 6 at http://grc.com/

It's commerical, but not too dear.

YMMV