Top 4 Free Hard Drive Testing Tools

There are many free hard drive testing tools available to help you determine what, if anything, is wrong when you suspect there may be a problem with a hard drive.

Some of these tools are built in to your operating system already and are ready to use right now while others are available from your hard drive manufacturer.

If you're interested, there are some slightly more costly but arguably better third-party hard drive testing tools available.

1. Microsoft Windows Built-In Error Checking

Error Checking, sometimes referred to as chkdsk, is a hard drive testing tool that comes with Microsoft Windows that can scan your hard drive in search of a wide range of errors. This tool can also attempt to correct a number of hard drive problems.

2. Seagate SeaTools

Seagate SeaTools is free hard drive testing software that comes in two forms for home users:

• SeaTools for DOS supports Seagate or Maxtor drives and runs independent from your operating system on its own disk or CD making it highly reliable.
  
  
• SeaTools for Windows is a program that installs on your Windows system but it really easy to use. You can do basic and advanced testing of any kind of drive - internal or external - from any manufacturer.

For those looking for SeaTools Desktop, SeaTools Online, or Maxtor's PowerMax software, please note that the two tools above have replaced all three. Seagate now owns the Maxtor brand.

3. Hitachi Drive Fitness Test

Hitachi Drive Fitness Test is free hard drive diagnostic software available for use on most drives available today.

The Hitachi Drive Fitness Test software installs on a floppy disk which is then used to boot the computer. See the installation instructions from Hitachi in the link below for details.

4. Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic

Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic is free hard drive testing software designed for Western Digital branded hard drives. Data Lifeguard Diagnostic will also run diagnostics on hard drives from other manufacturers as long as the primary drive is Western Digital.

The Western Digital Data Lifeguard Diagnostic software installs on Windows operating systems and allows for a number of hard drive tests. See the installation instructions from Western Digital in the link below for details.