Testing the Hard Disk Drive

Hard Disk Drive is also known as hard drive. This is the computer's main storage device used to store all data on the computer permanently. Commonly, hard drives are permanently place in an internal drive bay at the front of the system case and are connected with either ATA, SCSI, or a SATA cable and power cable. Some Hard drives nowadays are portable which use USB ports and USB cable for connection. 

Time will come that you will experience some computer problems relating to hard disk drive failure. The problem is some parts on the computer will cause the same error or problems, so it will not be easy to identify which part causes it. So to make sure that the real culprit is the hard disk drive, we could diagnose it using some hard disk drive testing software. The good thing is there are a lot of free hard drive testing software available and ready to download. Aside from that, Microsoft Operating System already have a utility software used to test the hard drive so you don't need to download other programs. 

Here are some reasons why you need to test the hard disk drive

1. Computer shows error during copying, moving, or  deleting data on the computer.
2. Computer is performing slow.
3. boot disk failure always appear on boot up. 
4. Computer always restart.
5. Blue Screen of death or BSOD.  

Here are some of the software that you could use in testing the hard disk drive

1. Error Check tool for hard disk drive in Windows. 

To use this tool, you need to right click on Drive Icon and select properties, then under tools, click Check Now. 

2. Check Disk (chkdsk)

Check Disk (Chkdsk) is a another utility software in Windows that enable the user to checks the computer's hard disk drives' status and shows errors with the hard disk drive, if there is an error and the system can fix it, hard disk drive will be back to normal.

To access the chkdsk utility, open command prompt by typing cmd in Run command line

On Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f then press enter.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? . Of course you need to press Y here so the system will restart and chkdsk will be done behind Windows. 

The chkdsk screen appear after the Windows reboot so you need to wait until it finish or reach the 100 percent.

Well, I think that chkdsk is the first aid for problems like, system is restarting, slow Windows operation, Windows Log in is stucked in the progress bar, 

3. HDD Tune

This is a third party program that can be download for free, it is also available in Hirens BootCD 31.0. Just look under programs, under Hard Disk/Storage tool

 

To Check for error using this tool, all you need to do is click Error Scan tab and click Start button.

The Legend Says that if you see Red mark, there is a error, Green mark means OK

The good thing about this tool is it has a Benchmark Tool. Using this tool you could compare the performance of your hard disk drive if it is in normal condition. 

There are lot of testing program for hard disk drive available to download and its free, all you need to do is learn how to use it and how to interpret it.

Testing The Memory

Memory failure can cause different problem on your computer. You have learned that the memory will be the one to handle the program that will enable the computer to start so if it is not working you might experience the following problems. 

1. Computer has no display and you get a beep code. In some motherboards it is a long beep sound. 

2. Computer always restart that might cause BSOD, General Protection Fault error messages, Illegal Operations, Fatal Exceptions, etc.

3. Computer fails during O.S. installation or other program installation fails.

If one of the above are the one you experience on your computer, that is the time you need to test your computer memory. If you have 2 or more memory installed on your computer, test it one by one so then take note the results for each memory. 

So what software should be use in testing the memory? Here are few good memory testing software: 

1. Windows Memory Diagnostic. 

To Access this on your computer just open start menu and type on run box "memory" without quotes and press enter. 

 Then in Windows Memory Diagnostic Window, Select the recommended settings and restart the computer.

You can also use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool in Hirens 13.0. Just boot your computer in Hirens boot cd and select the first menu 

 Then Select Windows Memory Diagnostic.

 This tool  performs a series of extensive tests to determine what, if anything, is wrong with your computer memory.  so you could easily tell if it is really defective.

2. MemTest86+

 This is the best third party software used in testing the memory, aside from its free, it will give you a good detail about the current status of your computer memory. Good thing is it is also included in Hirens boot CD. Just look inside Testing Tools. 

Then Select MemTest86+

Below is the screen of MemTest86+ currently testing a memory. If there are errors, you could see it under Errors. 

You can get the free version of MemTest86+ here . Download it and burn it on a disc. 

You may also get the USB Version of MemTest86+ here.

And if you want the Hirens boot CD, you can get it on their website. http://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd

Note: You must remember that the memory you are testing is really compatible with your computer motherboard. Incompatibility will cause problems like BSOD, No Display, Memory Failure and others.