test hard drive for errors

Is there a non destructive utility that will check a hard drive for
errors? I prefer not to use Windows 7 scandisk because it will move
problems into .chk fragments.

d wrote:
> Is there a non destructive utility that will check a hard drive for
> errors? I prefer not to use Windows 7 scandisk because it will move
> problems into .chk fragments.

Check the disk manufacturer web site.

A good diagnostic is not concerned with partitions or files. It
checks SMART, it checks sectors. Some diagnostics are read only.
If a diagnostic has an option which is DESTRUCTIVE, it will be
marked as such. At least one utility, has an option for write
testing. The one I use here, from Seagate, is read-only.

*******

If the disk is suspect already, you should have a backup. One
way to make a backup, is with dd_rescue. It can be used in two
passes, copying accessible sectors on a first pass, and spending
more time on a second pass. This is preferable in extreme cases,
to attempting to use other utilities - on at least one hard drive
I had here, each sector was taking an eternity, and I had to
stop copying because basically my attempt to copy the disk
would have taken forever.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Damag....27ddrescue.27

One advantage to a sector copy utility, is the head moves slowly over
the surface during the copy. File by file copying requires more head
movement, and a sick drive may not like that very much. Sector by
sector is a sequential access pattern.

Which approach you use, depends on how sick the drive is. If you think
you have time, by all means, try file by file methods. If it looks like
the drive will die, the next time the power is cycled, then you may need
another method.

Paul

On 4/25/2011, d posted:
> Is there a non destructive utility that will check a hard drive for errors? I
> prefer not to use Windows 7 scandisk because it will move problems into .chk
> fragments.

You can tell chkdsk not to make any changes.

Run chkdsk /? in a command window to see its options.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 4/25/11 10:57 PM, Paul wrote:
> d wrote:
>> Is there a non destructive utility that will check a hard drive for
>> errors? I prefer not to use Windows 7 scandisk because it will move
>> problems into .chk fragments.
>
> Check the disk manufacturer web site.
>
> A good diagnostic is not concerned with partitions or files. It
> checks SMART, it checks sectors. Some diagnostics are read only.
> If a diagnostic has an option which is DESTRUCTIVE, it will be
> marked as such. At least one utility, has an option for write
> testing. The one I use here, from Seagate, is read-only.
>
> *******
>
> If the disk is suspect already, you should have a backup. One
> way to make a backup, is with dd_rescue. It can be used in two
> passes, copying accessible sectors on a first pass, and spending
> more time on a second pass. This is preferable in extreme cases,
> to attempting to use other utilities - on at least one hard drive
> I had here, each sector was taking an eternity, and I had to
> stop copying because basically my attempt to copy the disk
> would have taken forever.
>
> http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Damag....27ddrescue.27
>
>
> One advantage to a sector copy utility, is the head moves slowly over
> the surface during the copy. File by file copying requires more head
> movement, and a sick drive may not like that very much. Sector by
> sector is a sequential access pattern.
>
> Which approach you use, depends on how sick the drive is. If you think
> you have time, by all means, try file by file methods. If it looks like
> the drive will die, the next time the power is cycled, then you may need
> another method.
>
> Paul
Thanks Paul. I have excellent backups. I am just being careful.

On Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:45:41 -0400, d wrote:

> Is there a non destructive utility that will check a hard drive for
> errors? I prefer not to use Windows 7 scandisk because it will move
> problems into .chk fragments.

Boot a Linux Live CD and run 'badblocks'.