There are many free hard drive diagnostic softwares available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.
Some of these diagnostics tools may be built in to your operating system already while others are available from hard drive manufacturers.
Maxtor Hard Drive Diagnostic Tools by Frank Jones. If you think you have a failing Maxtor hard drive, there are several tools available that can help with diagnosing the problem. If you don't already have your data backed up, you should do so immediately and before the hard drive completely fails. Seagate's diagnostic software also works. Seagate's creates two hard drive testing programs — SeaTools Bootable. Failing, one or both of these tools from Seagate will help you determine what's wrong. A Full Review of Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool, a Free Hard Drive Testing Tool.
1. Seagate SeaTools
Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:
Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:
- SeaTools for DOS supports Seagate or Maxtor drives and runs independent from your operating system on its own CD or disk, making it highly reliable.
- SeaTools for Windows is a program that installs on your Windows system. You can do basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive – internal or external – from any manufacturer.
Note: You do not need to own a Seagate or Maxtor hard drive to use SeaTools.
2. Hitachi Drive Fitness Test
Hitachi Drive Fitness Test is free hard drive diagnostic software available for use on most drives available today.
Hitachi Drive Fitness Test is free hard drive diagnostic software available for use on most drives available today.
The Hitachi Drive Fitness Test software is available as an ISO file which can be burned to a CD and then used to boot the computer.
Note: You do not need to own a Hitachi hard drive to use Drive Fitness Test (DFT).
3. Microsoft Windows Built-In Error Checking
Error Checking, sometimes referred to as scandisk, is a hard drive testing tool that comes with Microsoft Windows that can scan your hard drive in search of a wide range of errors.
Error Checking, sometimes referred to as scandisk, is a hard drive testing tool that comes with Microsoft Windows that can scan your hard drive in search of a wide range of errors.
This tool can also attempt to correct a number of hard drive problems.
4. Samsung HUTIL
Samsung HUTIL is a free hard drive diagnostic utility for Samsung hard drives. HUTIL is sometimes called ES-Tool.
Samsung HUTIL is a free hard drive diagnostic utility for Samsung hard drives. HUTIL is sometimes called ES-Tool.
Samsung’s HUTIL tool is available as an ISO image for burning to a CD. This makes HUTIL operating system independent and a better testing tool, in general, than those designed for use within Windows. It’s also possible to run HUTIL from a bootable floppy disk.
Note: HUTIL will only test Samsung hard drives. HUTIL will load and find your non-Samsung drive you will not be able to run any diagnostics on the drive.
5. Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic
Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic is free hard drive diagnostic software designed for Western Digital branded hard drives only.
Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic is free hard drive diagnostic software designed for Western Digital branded hard drives only.
The Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic software is available in a bootable, ISO format and allows for a number of hard drive tests. See the installation instructions from Western Digital in the link below for details.
Note: Data Lifeguard Diagnostic will also run diagnostics on hard drives from other manufacturers but the primary drive in the computer must be a Western Digital drive.
6. Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool
Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool is a free hard drive testing tool designed for Fujitsu hard drives.
Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool is a free hard drive testing tool designed for Fujitsu hard drives.
The Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool (FJDT) is available in both a Windows version and an operating system independent, bootable DOS version. Unfortunately, the bootable version is designed for floppy disks – a CD image is not available.
Two tests are available with Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool, a “Quick Test” (about 3 minutes) and a “Comprehensive Test” (time will vary based on hard drive size).
Note: Fujitsu Diagnostic Tool will perform hard drive tests on Fujitsu drives only. If you have any other make of hard drive, try one of the manufacturer independent tests listed toward the beginning of this list.
Important: Replace your hard drive if it fails any of your tests.
Related posts:
If you experience problems with your Seagate external storage, you can run diagnostic tests on its hard drive. Windows and Mac offer utilities to test and repair hard drives and Seagate provides utlities for Windows.
Seagate diagnostic tool (Windows only)
Download Seatools for Windows and follow the steps below to help determine the health of your device. Make certain to back up data on your storage device before running the test.
- Close all open applications before running the hard drive diagnostic tests.
- Before starting the test, make certain that the computer is powered on. The computer must be plugged into its power supply and the power supply should receive power from a wall socket.
- Power management controls must be suspended during the tests. To adjust power management settings:
- Click Start or the Windows icon on the bottom left corner of your Windows desktop.
- Go to Control Panel.
- Choose Power Options.
- Choose Change plan settings.
- Choose Change advanced power settings
- Expand the Hard Disks in the window.
- Confirm that the setting Turn off hard disk after is set to Never.
- Confirm that you have the correct storage device connected to your computer. Seatools for Windows can be used with Seagate, Samsung, LaCie and Maxtor storage devices. Safely remove all other hard drives.
- If you have not done so, back up data on your storage device before running the test.
- Launch Seatools and choose the tests to run from the menu:
- Fix all
- S.M.A.R.T. check
- Short Drive Self Test
- Short Generic
- Long Generic (progresses at 1% increments and can take several hours to complete)
Following the test, a log for each drive is saved to the program installation folder. To read the log, click Help>View Log File. You can also view a log in Help by clicking Pass Info or Fail Info, depending on your results.
Windows diagnostic tool
Windows includes a utility called Check Disk (ChkDsk) that can be used to repair bad sectors on the hard drive. Always back up your data before running Check Disk scans on your hard drive. If a bad sector is found, data that had been available can be inaccessible once the bad sector is reallocated.
Follow the steps below to run Check Disk:
- Launch Command Prompt. Go to the start menu or start screen to type cmd and then click Command Prompt.
- Type chkdsk X: /f. “X“ is the letter for your hard drive
The length of time for the test to complete can vary and is usually longer for higher capacity storage devices.
Mac diagnostic tool
Mac OS includes Disk Utility, a tool for formatting, testing and repairing hard drives. Disk Utility’s test and repair option is called First Aid.
Always back up your data before running First Aid scans on your hard drive. If a bad sector is found, data that had been available can be inaccessible once the bad sector is reallocated.
Follow the steps below to run First Aid:
- From the Finder, click Go > Utilities > Disk Utility.
- Hard drives are listed on the left of the Disk Utility window. Find your Seagate device and click it. Information about the drive is available, including the file system. Additionally, partitions are visible in the left column as a second indented row under the storage device. There may be cases in which a partition is mounted on the desktop but does not appear in Disk Utility. You can still run the test on the hard drive.
- Click a partition to select it.
- Click the First Aid tab/button.
- To check the volume:
- Mac OS 10.10 and earlier: click Verify Disk. If Disk Utility reports that the disk needs to be repaired, click Repair Disk.
- Mac OS 10.11 and later: click Run to begin the test.
- If you have additional partitions, repeat the test on each one.