Now, the procedure described above can be performed on multiple drives at once (linux is a multiuser/multiproccess). If none of the above produce an error, then the drive should be safe to use. info on the drive, just in case there is an inherent problem with the hdd You can also use the utility shred but i don't know ih knoppix has it.ĭo a surface test with the linux command badblocksĪlso, it wouldn't hurt to do a s.m.a.r.t.

google-search 'How to wipe a hard drive clean in Linux' on wikiacom, read the tutorial and chose your poison. (usb do sata adaptors can work just as well if you have one handy)ĭo a hdd whipe (for better testing, use use multiple whipe data, first something random, then zeros) if you can spare the time. Plugin as many drives in one computer as you can. I'll recomend Knoppix because it has the widest range of tools already bundled with the live cd. Here are some tips on optimising your time.įirst prepare a live linux distribution on a cd/dvd/usb.

this is the free version, no hardware buying involved. Try Knoppix, linux DSL, or if you feel confident in your linux knowledge you can create your own linux distro on rBuilder Online linux site or susestudiocom. You can also do it by use a live linux CD with some hdd diagnostics software and scan the drives on the machines themselves. I use the last method on a regular basis, and until now, no drive has failed me by surprise The simplest one of them is the dd command with witch you can write random data to each sector of the drive, read the response. So to test all of these on a single system, you can use smartctl from linux but also find a hdd stress test software for it. The only problem is that not all of them are on the same os: western-digital ( WD Diagnostics) is on windows/dos, seagate ( SeaTools) is only on windows (and not very good i might add), Hitachi is on windows/linux etc the best way to physically test the drives is a manufacturer provided software. But from experience, every hdd manufacturer has it's own quirks.

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