@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ A rather thorough test is possible with [[http://www.memtest86.com/|Memtest86]].
First of all you have to find out what type of harddisk you are using. When running Linux (e.g., Knoppix if you don't have a running Linux installation on the box) you can look it up in the /proc filesystem. E.g., for first IDE harddisk (hda, master on the first IDE port) look at the file /proc/ide/hda/model . You will find something like ''IC35L040AVVN07-0''. Enter this model name in a [[http://www.google.com/|Google search]] to find some data sheets and testing software made by the manufacturer (in the example mentioned, a [[http://www.hgst.com/hdd/desk/ds120gxp.htm|IBM/Hitachi Deskstar 120GXP with 40GB]]).
Some often used test programs for harddisks:
* [[http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm|Drive Fitness Test]] by IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. ISG administrators find it under ~isg/tests/Hardware-Tests or in the net-boot menu
* [[http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT|Drive Fitness Test]] by IBM/Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. ISG administrators find it under ~isg/tests/Hardware-Tests or in the net-boot menu
* [[http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/index.html|SeaTools Diagnostic Suite]] by Seagate Technology. ISG administrators find it under ~isg/Hardware-Tests or in the net-boot menu
***independent of the manufacturer**: try to read the entire hard disk once (or a couple of times). E.g., start with [[http://www.knoppix.org/|Knoppix]] (local [[http://debian.ethz.ch/mirror/knoppix/|mirror]]) and use dd with a command similar to this: ''dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/null bs=1024''
* some drive infos: ''smartctl -a -d ata /dev/discs/disc0/disc '' (ide=ata, scsi, 3ware)
