Hard drive testing

[mbauerle]

Is there a good program to install on linux to check a hard drive and to run utilities on fixing issues.

[Habitual]

smartmontools in a repo near you.
Fixing? Haven't seen any 'fixing' tools for failing HDs.

[phd21]

Is there a good program to install on linux to check a hard drive and to run utilities on fixing issues.

Hi mbauerle, and anyone else interested in this,

Yes, there are numerous very good Linux tools to check Linux drives, MS Windows and Mac drives too:

"testdisk" is a great tool, but it takes a little time to get proficient (experienced) with it; So, see Step by Step instructions link below. It should be in the Software Manager or SPM.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

TestDisk - Step by Step
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

10 Linux rescue tools for recovering Linux, Windows, or Mac machines
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-thi ... -machines/

WHDD is a HDD diagnostic and data recovery tool for Linux.
http://whdd.org/

WHDD - downloads in a 32-bit or 64-bit ".deb" file. Just double click the file you downloaded to install it.
https://launchpad.net/~eugenesan/+archi ... ilter=whdd

Other tools:
"Recoverdm", "diskscan", "gsmartcontrol", "smartmontools", "ext4magic" (undelete), etc...

Disk check (install "e2fsprogs")
Try typing "man fsck" or "man e2fsck" or "e2fsck --help" into the console and you'll see how to use it.

Drive info: from a console terminal command prompt, type in:
sudo smartctl -a /dev/sda | less

Amount and location of bad blocks on hard drive
sudo badblocks -v /dev/sda

** Top 20 free disk tools
http://www.gfi.com/blog/top-20-free-dis ... sysadmins/

** Here are 20 of the best free tools for partitioning, cloning, diagnostics, repair, recovery, encryption, wiping or drive information.
* Note: Some are Linux (open source) others are Windows, but there are good Linux alternatives as well for each type of program, ex: "OSFmount" MS Win - In Linux use "fuseiso" and or "gisomount"; no defrag needed in Linux; etc ...

Hope this helps ...