Hello,
can you know any way to thoroughly test a drive - or help me in doing this?
I sort of did write data to all sectors and then delete it and look if the SMART-readings have changed, but I know it has to be done better.
I learned that one good way is:
1. Read SMART and save report
2. constantly write files (like 8MB big) in two concurring processes to the drive (i.e. two copying processes at one time, to make the head jump)
3. read the data with 2 or 4 concurring processes.
4. check SMART again
How do I do step 3? I mean I can't e.g. open every 8MB file (I mean ok, if it were to movies, I could play both at the same time, but then again, the movies would have to have a bigger file size/ longer duration).
I know there is "DD". But I don't understand how to compile it. There is a GUI on another page to download, so one doesn't have to use command line, but you first have to compile the app, I think.
For SAMRT reading I have Volitan SMART Utility (SMART reporter is not detailed and also I found not reliable). SMARTmon-tools is free, but again, one has to compile it.
Background:
1. I would like to test my drives / new drives anyway
2. there is one special drive I always have problems with, with data that can't be read and when writing to it in some areas it seems to take longer. However I noticed, that this seems to be only the case, if it is formatted FAT32 under 10.4.11. - I experienced that three cheap 32GB USB sticks I have, tend to be untrustable and data gets unreadable, too (FAT32 here, too). Also FAT32 formatted drives always take much longer until they appear on the desktop.
Help or any advice would be great!
can you know any way to thoroughly test a drive - or help me in doing this?
I sort of did write data to all sectors and then delete it and look if the SMART-readings have changed, but I know it has to be done better.
I learned that one good way is:
1. Read SMART and save report
2. constantly write files (like 8MB big) in two concurring processes to the drive (i.e. two copying processes at one time, to make the head jump)
3. read the data with 2 or 4 concurring processes.
4. check SMART again
How do I do step 3? I mean I can't e.g. open every 8MB file (I mean ok, if it were to movies, I could play both at the same time, but then again, the movies would have to have a bigger file size/ longer duration).
I know there is "DD". But I don't understand how to compile it. There is a GUI on another page to download, so one doesn't have to use command line, but you first have to compile the app, I think.
For SAMRT reading I have Volitan SMART Utility (SMART reporter is not detailed and also I found not reliable). SMARTmon-tools is free, but again, one has to compile it.
Background:
1. I would like to test my drives / new drives anyway
2. there is one special drive I always have problems with, with data that can't be read and when writing to it in some areas it seems to take longer. However I noticed, that this seems to be only the case, if it is formatted FAT32 under 10.4.11. - I experienced that three cheap 32GB USB sticks I have, tend to be untrustable and data gets unreadable, too (FAT32 here, too). Also FAT32 formatted drives always take much longer until they appear on the desktop.
Help or any advice would be great!