PC Drive Health Checking program?

[milhaus]

I have a sneaking suspicision that one of my hard drives is failing; is there a PC utility that helps to check the status of my hard drives?

Can anybody recommend something free?
TIA.

[bnb]

you can use speedfan http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php
or everest home edition http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
You might have to configure speedfan... but no so with everest.

[jollyeskimo]

back up the most important stuff, and then run the deepest scan setting that the manufacturer's utility allows

ultimatebootcd.com's boot cd covers most of your bases as far as drive manufacturers go. Fantastic utility disc as well.

[steve.m]

http://www.hddlife.com/

[Blackjack]

For a Maxtor drive PowerMax (http://maxtor.com/portal/site/Maxtor/menuitem.3c67e325e0a6b1f6294198b091346068/?channelpath=/en_us/Support/Software%20Downloads/Top%20Downloads&downloadID=22) and a Seagate drive SeaTools (http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/)

[willy]

I agree with jollyeskimo. Backup all the important stuff before you start playing around with it.

Install Speedfan and take a quick look at the SMART tab.

[mp328]

spinrite 6.1
supposed to be one of the better tools out there to check and try to fix ur hard drive. but depending on the size of the drive it might take daysssssssss to finish the check.