DriveDx vs. Diskwarrior, etc.

[jimtron]

I've been using Diskwarrior for a long time with good results, and AFAIK it's highly regarded. I just recently learned about DriveDx here on the forum, and it's showing serious errors (early signs of failing) on a couple drives that don't show any problems with DW and Disk Utility.

Anyone have opinions on DriveDX? Is it accurate? Don't want to ditch drives if they're not really bad.

 

[SaSaSushi]

DiskWarrior is data recovery software. DriveDX is a diagnostic monitoring tool that uses S.M.A.R.T. data and changing health indicators to alert of potential impending drive hardware failures.

I love DriveDX. It is my app of choice for what it does. Just recently, I was able to remove the data from a drive that was dying in time thanks to DriveDX's very accurate prediction of its imminent failure.

 

[jimtron]

Thanks for the reply. I'd like to buy DriveDX, but just wanted to be sure it's accurate.

 

[Weaselboy]

Thanks for the reply. I'd like to buy DriveDX, but just wanted to be sure it's accurate.

It is accurate. All it is doing is displaying data contained in the drive firmware as part of the SMART reporting. So DriveDX is not really making any judgements about your drive other than to report the data in a form you can understand.

 

[jimtron]

It is accurate. All it is doing is displaying data contained in the drive firmware as part of the SMART reporting. So DriveDX is not really making any judgements about your drive other than to report the data in a form you can understand.

OK, thanks. Are there other OS X applications that reveal this data?

 

[SaSaSushi]

OK, thanks. Are there other OS X applications that reveal this data?

Sure, just not as well in my opinion.

SMARTReporter and Smart Utility are two other choices.

This comparison chart is provided by the devs of DriveDX, but accurate.

 

[jimtron]

Thanks.

 

[Fishrrman]

SaSa wrote above:
[[ DiskWarrior is data recovery software ]]

Hmmm.... when did DW become "data recovery" software? It never was before.

Since its inception back in the days of the Classic OS Disk Warrior has been a "directory rebuild" program. It repaired and rebuilt disk directories, but didn't really affect the actual -data- out on the sectors of the drive.

Something like "DataRescue3" =is= "data recovery" software. By that, I mean that when the disk directory is hopelessly mangled, DR3 can "go around" the directory, right to the disk platters, and scavenge and re-assemble the data and save it elsewhere.

Since when did Disk Warrior acquire such abilities?

 

[Weaselboy]

Hmmm.... when did DW become "data recovery" software? It never was before.

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

From their front page.

DiskWarrior recovers your files including your photos, music and videos.

DiskWarrior is the safest, most technologically advanced, most powerful utility to eliminate directory damage and recover your files, folders and documents. DiskWarrior is so advanced it can even recover your data from a failing hard drive. Yet all that power is hidden behind one button.

 

[hologram]

DiskWarrior is also a very good trouble-prevention tool. Every day when I back up, I run DW on the backup disk just to make sure there aren't any problems. It always catches the same error, about the disk creation date being different, but that's normal because the backup was created on a different date.

However, sometimes it finds other errors, and when it does, I fix them, then boot from the backup and run DW from there on my main HD. It finds, and repairs, the same errors there, and I can catch any problems before they become problems.

 

[jimtron]

DiskWarrior is also a very good trouble-prevention tool. Every day when I back up, I run DW on the backup disk just to make sure there aren't any problems. It always catches the same error, about the disk creation date being different, but that's normal because the backup was created on a different date.

However, sometimes it finds other errors, and when it does, I fix them, then boot from the backup and run DW from there on my main HD. It finds, and repairs, the same errors there, and I can catch any problems before they become problems.

Yeah, I've been using DW for years, and had never heard of DriveDx. I was surprised that DriveDx found major problems that DW didn't see.

 

[hologram]

I was surprised that DriveDx found major problems that DW didn't see.

Don't be surprised, that's normal. DiskWarrior checks your directory structure while DriveDx checks your hardware. They both do different things. The hardware check in DW is just a quick S.M.A.R.T. check and doesn't go into the same detail as DriveDx. As long as your drive is within certain parameters, it will show as OK.

It's like the difference between a doctor listening to your chest in his office, or studying a set of x-rays. There's a lot more info in the x-rays that aren't apparent with a stethoscope.

 

[MisterMe]

I've been using Diskwarrior for a long time with good results, and AFAIK it's highly regarded. I just recently learned about DriveDx here on the forum, and it's showing serious errors (early signs of failing) on a couple drives that don't show any problems with DW and Disk Utility.

Anyone have opinions on DriveDX? Is it accurate? Don't want to ditch drives if they're not really bad.

DriveDx looks like a Windows port. To me, it is telling that it compares itself to SMART Reporter and SMART Utility, two SMART utilities that most Mac users never heard tell of. If DriveDx were free, then I might use it. If it were less than $10, then I might consider it. At $20, DriveDx is a waste of money.

 

[SaSaSushi]

DriveDx looks like a Windows port. To me, it is telling that it compares itself to SMART Reporter and SMART Utility, two SMART utilities that most Mac users never heard tell of.

Where have you come up with your research data, exactly? SmartReporter is a very well-known utility on the Mac and has been for many years.

Are there more well-known SMART monitoring apps you'd like to share?

If DriveDx were free, then I might use it. If it were less than $10, then I might consider it. At $20, DriveDx is a waste of money.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. Mine happens to be different. I am very happy with the purchase of DriveDX and as mentioned, it has already saved my precious data by alerting me to the impending physical failure of a HDD I had no other indications of problems with.

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SaSa wrote above:
[[ DiskWarrior is data recovery software ]]

Hmmm.... when did DW become "data recovery" software? It never was before.

http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/

From their front page.

Thanks. the word recover only appears 12 times on that page.