Hard drive diagnostic tool for end users

—   White paper regarding Drive Fitness Test.

—   Download Drive Fitness Test for end users.

Highlights

• Tests the operation of desktop PC and notebook hard drives
• Enables end users to easily perform real-time analysis of hard drives
• Automatically logs significant error events to track potential hard drive problems
• Helps prevent misdiagnosis of a system problem, preventing unnecessary disruptions to operation
• Reduces unnecessary replacement of hard drives, helping to lower operating costs

A new way to diagnose hard drive operation
Has your computer ever crashed or failed to boot up, causing you to suspect that your hard drive might be broken? Have you ever dropped your notebook computer, only to wonder whether your hard drive would still function? If so, you can probably remember the anxiety of thinking that all the data and software stored on the hard drive might possibly be lost.

Experiencing a potential hard drive failure can be one of the most disruptive computer problems users might ever face. Even though the hardware can be replaced, the data and software on it might be irreplaceable. We have found that, in many problem situations where hard drive replacement occurs, the replacement could have been avoided. That's because most hard drives returned by customers are not actually damaged-meaning that the problem was caused by something other than a hard drive malfunction.

To help users quickly determine whether or not a hard drive is really malfunctioning, Drive Fitness Test (DFT) — part of the drive fitness technologies -- uses a PC-based program that accesses special hard drive microcode, enabling users to diagnose proper drive operation.

DFT can be integrated into system diagnostic packages, which system integrators can distribute by diskette, CD-ROM, or in a special, protected partition on a hard drive. Users can then invoke DFT at the direction of the system integrator's telephone support staff. A version of DFT with a menu for users is also available for downloading at www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm (select "download").

Drive fitness technologies
Drive fitness technologies is a set of diagnostic tools to help ensure the quality and reliability of hard drives. These tools include DFT, Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.), and Predictive Failure Analysis* (PFA).