disk diagnostic/repair software

[GlintingHedgehog]

Can someone recommend a piece of software that will diagnose errors
on a pc (disk problems, registry conflicts, etc) and repair them?
Preferably something that's straightforward to use.

TIA

 

[socrtwo]

Can someone recommend a piece of software that will diagnose errors
on a pc (disk problems, registry conflicts, etc) and repair them?
Preferably something that's straightforward to use.

TIA

There doesn't appear to be a program that will both fix registries
and diagnose and fix disk problems, e.g. an all in one PC repair
freeware. For a commercial program that does most of this, look at
Ontrack's EasyRecovery™ Professional Product.

However, there are scores of pieces of freeware to repair various
specific kinds of PC problems. See below:

http://www.s2services.com/baddiskfreeware.htm - diagnose and repair
hard, floppy, zip, and flash disks freeware.
http://www.s2services.com/corruptfreeware.htm - repair corrupt file
freeware.

As for registry fixing, you'll find three pieces of freeware
recommended over and over:

http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm - RegSeeker is a super cool
program that does other things too. Tip - After it has found the
unneeded items, choose "Select All" then hit the delete key on your
keyboard to remove them from the registry.
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm - toniarts
easycleaner. This is the official site after somebody hijacked his
domain name and started charging for his software! About as egregious
a crime in freeware circles you can see. The link given is his new
still free site.
RegCleaner - this seems to be a lite version or section of the famous
jv16 PowerTools and may be the first major free registry cleaner and
maybe still the best. If you want it, you can either pay for it (if
you conscience tells you so), at http://www.jv16.org or download it for
free at
http://freeware4u.com/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=49.

If you want to get semantic about what you're asking, Ad-Aware and
Spybot are freeware spyware infection fixers. Also in Spybot, in the
Advanced Interface, there is a registry cleaner in the tools section
that Patrick Kolla the programmer reports, will clean registry items
other cleaners overlook.

 

[jmatt]

You hav'nt mentioned your operating system , keep in mind Scandisk or
Chkdsk .

http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/scandisk.htm
http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/ASP/FileView.asp?File=/KB/ScanDisk.TXT
http://www.geocities.com/thegorx/Windows/Help/Scandisk.htm

------------------------------------

Scandisk
Toggle F8 or Press Ctrl ( depends on your comp ) during bootup ( just
before , verifying DMI pool , message comes on )
Select Safe Mode .
If that dos'nt work .
In Windows , Start > Shut Down , select Restart in MS-Dos mode .
At the DOS prompt , get to c:\Windows> and then type in win.com
/d:m , press Enter & it will reboot to Safe Mode .

===================================

Scandisk is called CHKDSK in XP
http://www.activewin.com/winxp/tips/basic/3.shtml
http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/ASP/FileView.asp?File=/KB/ScanDisk.TXT
Windows XP Tips
Where has Scan Disk gone?
Posted By: Byron Hinson

Scandisk is not a part of Windows XP - instead you get the improved
CHKDSK. You can use the Error-checking tool to check for file system
errors and bad sectors on your hard disk.

1: Open My Computer, and then select the local disk you want to check.

2: On the File menu, click Properties.

3: On the Tools tab, under Error-checking, click Check Now.

4: Under Check disk options, select the Scan for and attempt recovery
of bad sectors check box.

All files must be closed for this process to run. If the volume is
currently in use, a message box will appear prompting you to
indicate whether or not you want to reschedule the disk checking for
the next time you restart your system. Then, the next time you
restart your system, disk checking will run. Your volume will not be
available to perform other tasks while this process is running.
If your volume is formatted as NTFS, Windows automatically logs all
file transactions, replaces bad clusters, and stores copies of key
information for all files on the NTFS volume.

=======================================

Also , you can go back to a good copy of the registry .

Toggle F8 ( when , verifying DMI pool message comes on ) or Press
Ctrl during bootup , depends on your computer .

Select , Safe mode Command prompt

After the C prompt , type > scanreg /restore

Follow the prompts and select a registry dated prior to the problems .

This article describes how to restore a backup copy of the Windows 98
or Windows Millennium Edition (Me) registry scanreg /restore
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q221/5/12.ASP&NoWebContent=1

Restore Operation Failed
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q220878
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt in Windows XP
(Q304449)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q304449

How to save / restore the W2K Registry .
http://www.akadia.com/services/win_save_registry.html

--------------------------------------------

Try going back to a good Restore point
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306084
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/managing/restore.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q306084
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-2.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-3.html

Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to
start.
The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most
recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER.
If a boot menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft
Windows XP and then press ENTER. Windows XP restores the computer to
the most recent restore point.
* Posted via http://www.sixfiles.com/forum