HD Diagnostic Tools and an Odd One from WD

[W. Watson]

I recently had a need to use a disk diagnostic tool on a WestDig drive. Someone told
me about a program called Sandra. Although there's a trial version, it doesn't
contain the diagnostic program. Anyone have experience with it. Another possibility
is Active Smart. I did download the trial version, and liked the user interface. A
third choice is the WD tool. I was surprised how old it was. They still distribute a
DOS version, and a Windows version called WinDLG was a mystery. It came as
WinDLG.exe. When I tried to open it (in XP), it wanted to know where to put the
results. I gave it a folder name and it put WinDlg in it. I found that odd. I then
clicked Open for that file, and it put up a small window dialog about who I want to
have have rights to execute it. I checked Admin. Tried again. Same results. Anyone
know what this is all about?

--
Wayne T. Watson (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N, 2,701 feet, Nevada City, CA)
-- GMT-8 hr std. time, RJ Rcvr 39° 8' 0" N, 121° 1' 0" W

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are,
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Like a diamond in the sky."
-- Jane Taylor, Rhymes for the Nursery (1806)

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[Rod Speed]

I recently had a need to use a disk
diagnostic tool on a WestDig drive.

Someone told me about a program called Sandra.
Although there's a trial version, it doesn't contain the
diagnostic program. Anyone have experience with it.

Its nothing like a drive manufacturer's diagnostic.

Another possibility is Active Smart. I did download
the trial version, and liked the user interface.

Trouble is that it isnt even a real hard drive
diagnostic. It JUST does the SMART stuff.

A third choice is the WD tool. I was surprised how old it was.

It isnt old at all.

They still distribute a DOS version,

Almost all of the hard drive diagnostics are dos programs, for a reason.

Only the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic provides
the most comprehensive test of their hard drives.

Just cut to the chase and use the dos program.

and a Windows version called WinDLG was a mystery.

DataLifeGuard is more than just a diagnostic. Its closer
to ActiveSmart, but does more than just SMART.

It came as WinDLG.exe. When I tried to open it (in XP), it wanted
to know where to put the results. I gave it a folder name and it put
WinDlg in it. I found that odd. I then clicked Open for that file, and
it put up a small window dialog about who I want to have have rights
to execute it. I checked Admin. Tried again. Same results. Anyone
know what this is all about?

I'll have a closer look later once I've been thru the newsgroups.

 

[Rod Speed]

Its nothing like a drive manufacturer's diagnostic.

Trouble is that it isnt even a real hard drive
diagnostic. It JUST does the SMART stuff.

It isnt old at all.

Almost all of the hard drive diagnostics are dos programs, for a reason.

Only the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic provides
the most comprehensive test of their hard drives.

Just cut to the chase and use the dos program.

DataLifeGuard is more than just a diagnostic. Its closer
to ActiveSmart, but does more than just SMART.

It actually asks for confirmation of where to install the PROGRAM.

Why ? Nothing odd about it.

You're sposed to run it from the Start menu, just like every other program.

Just you having a massive brain fart. It works fine.